After five years of art-forward graphics, trippy edits, and a team that never felt like it was trying too hard, Umaverse Skateboards has officially come to a close.
The announcement came via a heartfelt Instagram post that looked back on everything the brand stood for - community, creativity, and, most of all, skateboarding.
Started in 2020, Umaverse was always a bit different from the rest. At a time when the world was upside down, Evan Smith and the crew decided to create something rooted in connection and mutual respect.
It wasn’t just about throwing a logo on boards and building a team. Uma had a clear point of view. From the hand-drawn graphics to the tripped-out video parts, it always felt like a DIY art collective that happened to skate really well.
The post from Mesa Distribution, who helped Uma get off the ground, shared that “the hill we’ve been climbing recently proved too steep to continue battling.” It’s the kind of message that hits a little harder when you know how much love went into the project. It wasn’t some massive company calling it quits for financial reasons. This felt personal.
The shutdown message gave thanks to the filmers, photographers, shops, and distributors who backed the brand, but it also acknowledged the limitations of keeping something like Uma going.
These kinds of passion-driven brands can be tough to maintain, especially when things start piling up - from production issues to distribution challenges and everything in between.
While it’s definitely a bummer to see Umaverse roll to a stop, there’s also something cool about ending things on your own terms.
Uma never sold out. They did what they wanted, how they wanted, and left behind a bunch of footage, artwork, and memories that people will keep coming back to.
Who knows what Evan Smith and the rest of the crew have planned next, but it’s safe to say they won’t disappear. Whatever’s coming, it probably won’t look like what anyone expects and that’s the best part.
RIP Umaverse, and thanks for keeping things weird.
Umaverse Posted:
"Uma started in 2020 amidst one of the craziest times in modern history. With the revs high the crew set course on an adventure into the unknown with the goal to take our same love for skateboarding and respect that we have for each other, and spread that to all we cross paths with. After five epic years, the hill we’ve been climbing recently proved too steep to continue battling. With heavy hearts but immense gratitude, we’ve decided it’s time to pull over and bring this beautiful journey to an end.
Special thanks to everyone who supported Uma from the start and throughout the voyage. To the team spanning the globe, the filmers, the photographers, and especially the shops and distributors who believed in us and celebrated our vision — you are the heart of what made Uma so special. Your support and encouragement have been more than we ever dreamed possible.
From all of us at @mesadistribution, thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the love. We’ll be forever grateful."