Zoo York is an American company focused on the

skateboarding Skateboarding is an extreme sport, action sport originating in the United States that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry Profession, job, and a ...

market. The company currently commercialises

skateboard A skateboard is a type of sports equipment used for skateboarding. They are usually made of a specially designed 7-8 ply maple plywood deck and polyurethane wheels attached to the underside by a pair of skateboarding trucks. The skateboarde ...

t-shirt A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt), or tee, is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a ''crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shirts are general ...

hoodie A hoodie (in some cases spelled hoody and alternatively known as a hooded sweatshirt) is a sweatshirt with a hood. Hoodies with zippers usually include two pockets on the lower front, one on either side of the zipper, while "pullover" hoodies ...

windbreaker A windbreaker, or a windcheater, is a thin fabric jacket designed to resist wind chill and light rain, making it a lighter version of the jacket. It is usually of lightweight construction and characteristically made of a synthetic material. ...

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

fanny pack A waist bag, or fanny pack (American English), belt bag, moon bag, belly bag (American English), or bumbag (British English) is a small fabric pouch worn like a belt around the waist by use of a strap above the hips that is secured usually with ...

s. The company's name was taken from one of NYC's oldest skate crews, "Soul Artists of Zoo York".What the hell happened to Zoo York?
on Jenkem website, 1 Oct 2018

History

The company was founded in 1993 by skateboarders Rodney Smith, Eli Morgan Gesner, and Adam Schatz, who started their own business after Smith's company, Shut, lost a legal battle over trademark infringement. The company established itself as the major firm in the East Coast due to the adding of

graffiti Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...

and hip-hop culture to their designs. The company was first sold to Marc Eckō in 2001, and four years later the Zoo York brand sold the rights to use its name to the

Iconix Brand Group Iconix Brand Group is an American brand management company that licenses brands to retailers and manufacturers primarily in the apparel, footwear, and apparel accessory industries. Its brands are available in such stores as Kohl's, Kmart, Sear ...

. In 2019, the founding partners returned to Zoo York as creative directors with the purposes of bringing strategic, design, and marketing insight to the brand. The directors also focused on new licensees and partnerships. Iconix Brand CEO Bob Galvin state that "partnering with the creators of Zoo York will help us reconnect to the brand's origins in New York City street culture and regain credibility".

Media

The company produced a popular VHS mixtape series.The History of the Zoo York Mixtape
by Aaron Frank on Red Bull, 1 Aug 2013 * Mix Tape (1998) * Peep This (1999) * Heads (1999) * E.S.T (2000) * E.S.T 2.0 (2001) * E.S.T 3.0 (2002) * Unbreakable: Mix Tape 2 (2002) * City Of Killers (2003) * E.S.T 4 (2004) * Ellis Island (2005) * Vicious Cycle (2005) * Welcome to Zoo York City (2006) * State of Mind (2009) * Z.Y Field Agent Report (2010) *the Chaz Ortiz video (2012) *true east (2013) *King of New York (2013) *Eastern Conference (2016) Zoo York produced a television show on

Fuel TV Fox Sports 2 (FS2) is an American sports-oriented pay television channel owned by the Fox Sports Media Group, a unit of Fox Corporation. The channel is based at the Fox Sports division's headquarters on the Fox Studio Lot in the Century Ci ...

called Skate Maps'' which shows the Zoo York team on tour. In 2007, Zoo York’s team appeared on

Thrasher Magazine ''Thrasher'' is a skateboarding magazine founded in January 1981 by Eric Swenson and Fausto Vitello. The publication consists primarily of skateboard- and music-related articles, photography, interviews and skatepark reviews. The magazine also ...

's cross country skateboarding contest, "King of the Road."

Former team riders

Brandon Westgate Brandon Westgate (born February 15, 1989) is a professional skateboarder. Early life Westgate was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, United States (US). When he was young, Westgate skated in his hometown and at Skater Island skate park in Rhode Isla ...

Burton Smith Burton J. Smith (March 21, 1941 – April 2, 2018) was an American computer architect. He was a Technical Fellow at Microsoft. Education Smith graduated from the Cate School in Carpinteria, California in 1958, where he established himself as ...

Harold Hunter __NOTOC__ Harold Atkins Hunter (April 2, 1974 – February 17, 2006) was an American professional skateboarder and actor. He played the role of Harold in Larry Clark's 1995 film ''Kids''. Career Hunter was born in New York City and grew up in ...

Ricky Oyola Ricky Oyola is a regular-footed professional skateboarder from Philadelphia, PA. Early life Oyola was born in Pemberton, NJ. and grew up in Medford, NJ. He received his first skateboard in 1985 as a birthday gift, a Town & Country Zoner. Before ...

Danny Supa Daniel Supasiriratana, known as Danny Supa (born October 13, 1978) is a goofy-footed American professional skateboarder. Skateboarding career In the 1998, Transworld Skateboarding video ''Feedback,'' Supa wore an all white track suit. In 2002, N ...

, Quim Cardona, Chaz Ortiz, Hamilton Harris, Jamie Story, , Zered Bassett, and many others.

References

External links

* {{Iconix Brand Group Skateboarding companies Clothing brands of the United States Clothing companies established in 1993 Retail companies established in 1993 Skateboard shoe companies