Stussy
Encyclopedia
Stussy, or Stüssy (ˈstuːsi), is a clothing brand and private
company started in the early 1980s by Shawn Stussy. The company is one of many that benefited from the surfwear trend originating in Orange County, California
, United States
but has largely been adopted by the streetwear and hip-hop scene.
s with a broad tipped marker. He began using the logo on T-shirts, shorts and caps that he sold out of his car around Laguna Beach, California.
In 1984, Stussy and his friend, Frank Sinatra Jr.(not the singer), partnered to sell the apparel. The company expanded to Europe by 1988 and later opened a boutique store in SoHo, New York. The brand continued to open successful locations throughout the 1990s. It was reported that revenues reached $17 million in 1991 and $20 million in 1992. By 1992, the brand was sold throughout the United states at specialty boutiques and department stores alongside other high-priced "California lifestyle" clothing. Outside of the country, the brand was found in specialty shops alongside clothing from high-end international designers.
In 1996, Stussy resigned as president of the company and Sinatra bought his share of the company holdings. According to the company's website, the brand is available in company branded stores and other retailers in Europe, Asia, the United States, Canada and Australia.
s, punks
, hipsters
, and other street subcultures. In a 1992 interview Stussy said: "Everybody calls it surf wear, or urban street wear, or surf street... I don't name it, and I don't name it on purpose."
Privately held company
A privately held company or close corporation is a business company owned either by non-governmental organizations or by a relatively small number of shareholders or company members which does not offer or trade its company stock to the general public on the stock market exchanges, but rather the...
company started in the early 1980s by Shawn Stussy. The company is one of many that benefited from the surfwear trend originating in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but has largely been adopted by the streetwear and hip-hop scene.
History
The logo which has defined the brand started in the early 1980s after Shawn Stussy began scrawling his surname on his handcrafted surfboardSurfboard
A surfboard is an elongated platform used in the sport of surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding a breaking wave...
s with a broad tipped marker. He began using the logo on T-shirts, shorts and caps that he sold out of his car around Laguna Beach, California.
In 1984, Stussy and his friend, Frank Sinatra Jr.(not the singer), partnered to sell the apparel. The company expanded to Europe by 1988 and later opened a boutique store in SoHo, New York. The brand continued to open successful locations throughout the 1990s. It was reported that revenues reached $17 million in 1991 and $20 million in 1992. By 1992, the brand was sold throughout the United states at specialty boutiques and department stores alongside other high-priced "California lifestyle" clothing. Outside of the country, the brand was found in specialty shops alongside clothing from high-end international designers.
In 1996, Stussy resigned as president of the company and Sinatra bought his share of the company holdings. According to the company's website, the brand is available in company branded stores and other retailers in Europe, Asia, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Style
The early success of the brand has been attributed to its popularity in the hip-hop and DJ scenes. The brand was also embraced by skaterSkateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
s, punks
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
, hipsters
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
, and other street subcultures. In a 1992 interview Stussy said: "Everybody calls it surf wear, or urban street wear, or surf street... I don't name it, and I don't name it on purpose."