Brooklyn Projects skateshop owner Dom DeLuca has some strong opinions about the current state of skateboarding.
RELATED: Brooklyn Projects Owner Dom DeLuca Says F*CK ICE, Citing Anger Over Immigration Enforcement
This is particularly when it comes to professional skaters getting their own signature shoes.
According to DeLuca, Nike should rethink its approach because today's pros no longer have the same influence over what people want to wear.
DeLuca believes the days of professional skateboarders driving sales through their own products are pretty much over.
He argues that many sponsored skaters don't even wear the gear associated with their sponsors outside of skating, opting for luxury labels like Chrome Hearts and Balenciaga.
He also took a shot at the way some pros dress these days, calling out the combination of short shorts and knee high socks.
DeLuca compared the look to something a bizarre gym rat would wear, adding that nobody wants to dress like Ishod Wair.
RELATED: Dom DeLuca’s Life-Changing Day Giving Back to Veterans Who Gave Everything
His comments raise an interesting question about the value of signature skate shoes.
For decades, having your own pro shoe was one of the biggest achievements a professional skateboarder could have.
Names like Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez and Stefan Janoski have all had signature models that helped connect skateboarding with sneaker culture.
However, DeLuca seems to believe that the relationship between professional skaters, fashion and the products they represent has changed.
If the athletes themselves aren't wearing their own signature gear regularly, he questions why brands should continue investing in those releases.
RELATED: Brooklyn Projects Drops “Impetus,” Continuing the Story of “No Cure for the Sickness”
That doesn't necessarily mean signature skate shoes have lost their audience.
Some skaters still have loyal followings, and certain models continue to sell because of their design, history and connection to skateboarding.
Still, DeLuca's comments bring up an interesting debate about whether professional skateboarders have the same influence on skate fashion and sneaker sales that they once did.
And if Nike is going to keep giving its riders signature shoes, perhaps the bigger question is how much those products actually matter to the people buying them.
DeLuca Posted:
"Random thoughts …
-
11/9/27
-
“Houston we have a problem”
-
#brooklynprojects"