OG skate head Chris Eidem has been part of the skate scene for decades.
From skating the streets to working for Dwindle Distribution's Dark Star Skateboards, he has always lived and breathed skateboarding.
Unfortunately, the skate community has been feeling the impact of tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.
These tariffs affect the wood trade and other skateboard parts imported from Canada, Mexico, and China.
The result is that production has become more expensive, and the only cheaper option now is boards from China, as the tariffs have been temporarily paused until November.
Eidem has been vocal about how these changes are hurting the skate industry.
Shops are closing, companies are struggling, and even long-time employees are facing reduced hours or layoffs.
To make his point, he created a tee to protest the tariffs and bring attention to how they are affecting the skate scene.
In a recent post, Chris said:
"26 years in the skate industry (40+ years
% skateboarder) and I’ve never seen anything like this. Tariffs are wrecking production — from decks to apparel, and especially trucks: the heart of every board. Shops are closing, companies collapsing, and even the most dedicated employees are getting laid off or having their hours cut. Meanwhile, skaters keep grinding. I made this tee as a big F U to the tariffs killing our scene.
#Skateboarding #SkateIndustry #TariffsSuck"
The skate shirt is more than just clothing, as it is a statement from someone who has been part of skateboarding for more than four decades.
It shows how much the community values the craft and culture behind skateboarding and how outside forces can affect the people who make it all happen.
Eidem’s message hits hard. Even with the skateboard world getting hit from all sides but he’s letting everyone know it matters to speak up when rules and policies mess with the scene we all love.