SLAM CITY SKATES SUMMER 2008 LOOKBOOK
KINGS OF RETAIL SINCE 1986
introduction by Jacob Sawyer / photography by Henry Kingsford
IN 1986, MIKE TYSON WON HIS FIRST BOXING TITLE AND GREG LEMOND WON THE TOUR DE FRANCE. ARGENTINA WON THE WORLD CUP IN MEXICO AND VOYAGER 2 SPACE PROBE MADE ITS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH URANUS. THESE EVENTS RIPPLED THEIR WAY ACROSS THE WORLD STAGE WHILE MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HAD THEIR ATTENTION DIRECTED ELSEWHERE. THEIR EYES LOOKED TO THE MOVEMENT THAT HAD EXPLODED ON THE EAST AND WEST COASTS OF AMERICA AND WAS NOW BEGINNING TO GROW ON OUR CITY’S STREETS. THIS YEAR HOLDS SPECIFIC RELEVANCE FOR ME, IT’S THE YEAR MY UNCLE GAVE ME MY FIRST SKATEBOARD. THAT ONE EVENT IS THE REASON I’M SAT HERE WRITING THIS.
POWELL-PERALTA RELEASED THE SEARCH FOR ANIMAL CHIN IN ’86 AND THE GROWING NUMBERS OF SKATEBOARDERS IN LONDON WERE WELCOME BY THE FIRST INCARNATION OF SLAM CITY SKATES, OVER IN WEST LONDON.
OVER TWENTY YEARS HAVE PASSED AND SLAM CITY SKATES STILL EXISTS IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE SHOP’S OWNERS AND WORKERS ALIKE HAVING A VESTED INTEREST IN ROLLING AROUND THE SURROUNDING STREETS AND THOSE FURTHER AFIELD.
SLAM CITY SKATES HAS RIDDEN THE PEAKS AND TROUGHS; MOVED, EXPANDED AND IMPOVED; AND IT REMAINS AN INSTITUTION. IT MEANS MANY THINGS TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT’S AN ART SPACE, AN ENTERTAINMENT OFFICE AND A MEETING POINT. SLAM CITY SUPPORTS LOCAL TALENT: SKATEBOARDERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT, BUT OUR PRIMARY FUNCTION AS A RETAIL OUTLET IS WHERE WE EXCEL. A STEADY FLOW OF BOARDS KEEPS THE WALL INTERESTING AND OUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY. OFFERING THE BEST IN ESTABLISHED AND INDEPENDENT CLOTHING BRANDS, AS WELL AS TWO FLOORS OF SHOES, SLAM CITY SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR “PLACES TO VISIT” LIST NEXT TIME YOU’RE IN THE CITY.
SEE YOU THEN.
