All the support I received in 08 has been phenomenal! This year started off just as good with an e-mail from Santogolds DJ Cantra. He sent a pic of him wearing a BG shirt backstage a Santogold Jay-Z show. Good looking out! I am getting a box of new stuff together for you! Yo, Santo and Contra... I am a fan!
I appreciate all the support you all have showed me in the past year. I am really excited to continue to keep building with you in 09 and the years to come! Hopefully we will see the end of the recession this year! Either way I am not going anywhere, we have made it this far already. All we can do is keep our head down and keep moving forward! It’s going to be a great year – the possibilities are endless! Here are a few sneak peaks of projects that I have in the works for 09. All the best in the new year!
Krudmart has been holding me down since I got serious with putting a line out. Through all the ups and downs they have been there. I really appreciate smaller retailers supporting the independent brands like mine. They recently updated the look of their website and held my holiday shipment for the re-launch. If you missed out on the doughboy or anything else, now is your chance. Much respect to Stevie and the crew over at the Krud in the new year.
After the Doughboy new eras sold out on my site the minute I put them up I have been getting e-mails asking where they are still available. I am here to help so I will try to give you a heads up as best as I can. Active added the holiday collection to the rest of my Fall / Winter product. Click here to get yours before they are gone for good. Happy holidays!
The online shop is updated with the holiday collection. I also updated all the inventory. If you wanted something that was sold out before I might have found an extra one with the re-count. Doing inventory was not the best way to spend a Saturday, but it had to be done. The shop is up and I am heading out for drinks with the homies... happy holidays!
One of the people I am really impressed with and look up to is Jeff Staple from the Reed Space and Staple Design. When I do decide to expand and need some help with my design and clothing line I would definitely take note from what he has acomplished. For now I am too much of a control freak to let anything go. I really do enjoy handling it all my self. The holiday collection just hit the Reed Space in NYC. Stop by their great shop and pick some up - I sent them some Doughboys so you got to hurry.
At the end of every year I always look forward to the year end wrap ups (especially Skillz Rap Up, anyone has 08 yet?). One of the best addition of online magazines this year was Steven Vogels Black Lodges. I might be a little bias because I am honored to keep a blog on his site. Check the link to the right of the page. Steven asked a bunch of friends and industry people to give their best of 2008. Check out what I had to say as well as Bobby Hundreds, Erik Brunett, Fraser Cooke, Dom DeLuca, Matt Irving, Ben Willson, Fats Sharif, Adam Bryce, Chuck Anderson, Cody Hudson and many more in part one and two. Thanks Steven — see you in 09!
Vault, in Harlem, just released a new hat that I designed for them. Baseball team inspired logo combines a pitched ball with a money sack. It took me awhile to get the C to look like it was pitching the money ball just right and still read as a C. The hat is now available at their shop along with some of my holiday collection.
If you remember awhile back I previewed a sample of a skin on my phone and asked you what you thought about it. The response was really positive, so I decided to get them produced. They are now available at the MusicSkins site. Thanks for all your feed back - I really appreciate it!
I recently completed this logo for Stevie Willams new venture Steelo Hero. The site is going to be dedicated to the kings of certain scenes. It's about the heros and the people you look up to that have that certain something. The people that inspire others. I created a custom SH monogram with a subliminal crown in it to represent the hero / king concept of the brand. The site recently had a soft launch, which I did a quick interview for during a skate mission. Full site launches soon with an online community and much more.
Shipments are out and the remainder of Holiday should be hitting shops soon. I am exhausted and have to get back to client work. The holiday line includes: Doughboy New Era inspired by Ice Cubes character in Boyz in the Hood (satin lined with tonal paper plane argyle print), matching doughboy shirt, Medium weight zip up hoodie with paper plane flight elbow pads and Gold Label Quality shirt (black / metallic gold and 49ers color way). Have a good holiday!
This week has been hectic with the launch of the on-line store and getting the last of the holiday collection out the door. With production there are ALWAYS things that you can not plan for that will set your timing back. The screen printer's power box exploded and they were out for a week. Damn... look at that first pic. My car is also waaaaaay too small and I had to make a multiple trips to pick up the boxes. Ughh... it's so frustrating and time consuming with all the setbacks that you can not plan for. It's all worth it thou and everything is finally on it's way to the shops (yes, even the doughboys). I hand delivered Fatlaces order to them yesterday - hint hint.
Everyone keeps asking when I am going to get an online shop up. For the past seasons I created extra product for it but ended up offering it to new accounts because I couldn't get the shop up. Well... now it's up - finally. Quantities are limited and I am talking to my clients to allow me to offer products I designed in the store also.
Check the red colored link, in the top navigation, to get to the shop or just click here.
There are also a few New Eras from past seasons on sale as a store opening gift (you will be lucky to find your size - I only have 2 or 3 left of each)
I just got back to SF from the Thanksgiving holiday. While out I was messing with Twitter for some mobile updates. I heard about it but never really tried it till now. I have to admit that it is pretty cool. You can follow me at http://twitter.com/bennygold.
A lot of people have been asking me how to purchase the Alive watch project. The ones I had for sale sold fast, but I recently found out that they are available directly from Alive. Click here to pick one up for yourself.
The project also received some more Japanese press. Samurai ran a nice feature on the entire project. It looks like the whole project has been well received and I am proud to have been a part of it.
For the past seasons the line has mostly been available in boutique type stores. I have been opening up the line to more skate shops. I want to keep the line close to things I am about. I grew up in skate shops, worked in skate shops through college and will always skate. Collective is a skate shop in Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas. It is owned and operated by skaters. Please support them if you are around the area. I am happy to offer the line in their shop.
A few stores this season has been kind enough to lend me their front window for the release. The latest window is up in Atlanta at Standard. The guys at Standard show me and the line a lot of love and support. They stock the full line and it moves pretty fast in their shop. If you send me a picture of you in front of any of the window displays I will send you a free sticker pack (extra points if you are holding your BG purchase).
Here is a closer look at the upcoming New Era Inspired by Dough Boy, Ice Cube’s character from the John SIngleton classic Boyz n the Hood. The hat will hit stores in the coming weeks. I took the familiar Detroit “D” and flipped it to fit the brand. Other personal touches on the hat included an embroidered paper plane at the temple and satin argyle lining that continues onto the under brim.
Big ups to Jason from Florida for the doughboy pic (nice ps work)!
The doughboy fitteds arrived from New Era yesterday. They are shipping with the second delivery of Fall / Winter. Once I unpack the boxes I will get you a closer look at the hats up. There are some really nice details. Have a good weekend!
This is the first season that the line has been offered through Active. It was a difficult decision for me because they are a bit different then the boutiques that normally stock the line. I always admired their dedication to skateboarding and the culture so I decided it is a good fit. Active is part of the elite skateboarding mail orders. They support skateboarding 100% by throwing contests and having a pro team. Active is also extremely conscious of their own brand integrity and only work with select brands. I am honored to be one of those brands. Let's get the BG line onto their top brand list.
Fatlace, in the SF, gave up their main window for the drop of the Fall / Winter line. I stopped by the shop the other day to check it out. Most of the shirts and hats are already gone. Thanks for the support guys!
The Alive watch project, that I am a part, has started to generate some good press lately. If you are in Japan check out the newest issue of Ollie Mag. Thanks Hiro for sending it over.
Krudmart just sent out their recent newsletter. Thanks for featuring the new line! Last season sold out in the first few days, on the Krud, and they wanted to re-order. unfortunately I don't offer re-orders, once it's gone it's gone. Don't miss out this time.
There are a few stores in the industry that are really memorable. One of them is San Diegos well known 5&ADIME. I am pleased to announce that San Diegos finest now stocks the Benny Gold band. Check the updated dealer list for more stores near you.
I dropped off the last local package the other day to 510 Skateboarding, in Berkeley, Ca. We have had a long relationship over the years. I have had the pleasure of designed the logos for both of their shops — 510 and Bows and Arrows. They have a great thing going across the bay. It makes sense to for me to be in their shop and I am proud to be offered there. Please support them the next time you are in Berkeley. It was good to see you Jerry!
Kingdom is a unique retail store based out of Stockton, California and they surprised me with my Stay Gold glider plane as a prominent fixture for this season's window display. Along with my line, Kingdom also stocks a lot of my friends brands that I respect and admire: Mash, Black Scale, Homeroom, and Mighty Healthy. I'm proud to have my garments sit in such good company, surrounded by friends' and family. Isn't that what it's all about? Family first.
The first drop of the F/W line is on it's way to the shops. This season continues to explore the themes of gold, youth, success and achievement and it marks a move away from a screenprinted neck tag. It's also been 10 years since the last time I made a Stay Gold glider plane t-shirt- I lived in a studio apartment and printed them by hand with a mini screen in my kitchen. The brand has progressed so much since then but I'm still growing, learning, and pushing forward with my designs. This season's collaboration comes from my friend David Potes of the photo 'zine Hamburger Eyes. Thanks for lending your hand to the shirt Dave, I love the gold accents in the photograph – Canal St. style!
finally everything is out the door. UPS just came and picked up the last of the boxes. It almost filled the entire truck - no lie. I have been expanding the distribution of the line to select stores. Check the newly updated dealer list to see where it is available. Thank you for all your support! Now I need to get some pro shots of the F/W line up on the site. Never not working..
The Bay Area stores are starting to put the new line on the shelves. Atlas, in San Mateo, Ca, is new to the stocklist this season. The store is owned by my good friend and skate homie Ryen. We have shared some amazing skate sessions together over the years and I am am really happy to have my stuff in his store. I hope your knee heals up fast so we can get on the board together soon!
Most of the packing and shipping is done. The shipments should be available at your local shop soon. I appreciate all the shops that stock the line and I will be highlighting them as the product starts finding it's way to their shelves. The first store highlighted is SF local Fatlace. They have a great store in SF's Japan town. They also share my love for bikes an boards - so you know it's good. They are being really selective of what they are stocking and only putting brands they believe in to their store. If I had a store I would run it the same way. I am honored to be part of the fatlace fam. Thank you!It is also Mark Fatlaces birthday! Happy birthday homie!
All the shirts are back from the re-labler and printer. My good friends Gene and Ed stopped by to help me pack boxes. The first drop of this season will be in local Bay Area stores this week (Fatlace, 510 and Atlas). Everywhere else gets the shipment the following week. Hit up your local shop to see when they are putting it on the shelf. Alright, I have to get back to shipping.
I recently met up with jeweler Gabriel Urist in NY to discuss an upcoming project we are working on (more on that later promise). He gave me a silver Obama pendant that he created. It is good to see so many artist coming out to support Obama! For more pics of my quick trip check Black Lodges and to pick up your own Urist / Obama pendant click here.
If you couldn't tell that I am a one man show, then you haven't been paying attention. I handle every detail of getting the line out the door and on the shelves - design, production, sales, quality control, shipping and unfortunately harassing people for payments. Yesterday I spent my day packing boxes at the printer, to get the shirts ready for relabeling. I guess that is what putting a signature line out is all about. It's knowing that the person behind it put time, love and sweat into every piece.
The shirts are printing nicely and soon to be shipped out to all the great stores that stock the line. Thanks again for all your support. Here is a sneak peak of what's coming. One more press check to go and then I have a ton of boxes to pack.
The first drop of the Fall / Winter collection is shipping really soon. This week I am stuck at the printers making sure everything prints the way it is supposed to. I don't like mistakes in the art so it is worth the time to double check the colors, screens and placement are the way I envision it. Quality control passed down from me to you.
The catalog from Alive showed up at my door this week. The layout for my watch looks great! Thank you for including me. Everyone that pre-ordered the watch from me they still are not in yet. Alive said they should be shipping mid month. Once I get them I will send the pre-orders out. Thanks for your patience.
The Freeman Transport site just went up. They have a lot of really nice product available with the logo I created for them. Check out the on-line shop to get some for yourself. They said a box of stuff is in the mail for me. Guys, I am waiting....
New stickers are in. I got a little Rasta with the colors this time. As always If you want stickers paypal me $5.00 to this e-mail and I will stuff an envelope full for you.
The first look at a pursuit track frame that Mash has been working on with Cinelli is being shown at Interbike this week. I am happy to have a hand in this project. I was responsible for the designed of the bike. The custom paint and frame stickers are meant to resemble the shape of the Mash lighting bolt and give the bike a feeling of speed. Cinelli's classic head badge worked perfect for the collaboration. Unfortunately they did not have the artwork for the crest anymore, so I had to redraw the entire thing. When the bike gets back from the trade show I am going to make some more changes to the art before it goes into production.
Highsnobiety re-launched their website today with a re-branded logo that I created. When I was asked to work on the project I was more then excited. Highsnobiety is one of the premier online magazines for street fashion and seen by thousands of people everyday. The new logo utilizes the H from their name and is shaped into a custom crown icon. The "H Crown" icon symbolizes the quality of product and features they report on. We decided to update the wax seal, from their old logo, to keep a consistent image. I really like this logo and I am proud to have been part of the re-brand. I was also asked to be a part of their columnist. You can keep up with my column on the new site here.
The new Mash site is up. The site includes a video of the Austin, Texas trip we took to meet Lance Armstrong. I designed the intro graphic for the video and the shirt for the trip. It was a pleasure hanging out and riding bikes with Lance! Thanks to everyone that made it possible.
I am so stoked on these hats. It is the first time I am offering a 5 panel in the line. I learned a lot and had a good time sourcing the fabrics and vendor. The hats are done in limited run of 100 pieces and crafted from a vintage ticking fabric. The quality is amazing. Check the gold detailing of the side vents and the gold metallic lurex thread. They will be available in a month or so with the first drop of the fall / winter line.
Alive Tokyo recently released images of the watch project that I am a proud to be a part of. My watch design includes 2 gold exhibition medals that are meant to signify a cross-continental handshake between SF and Tokyo. Other details include: paper plane second hand, gold detailing, SF coloring and paper plane argyle patten band. Contributors of this project also include good friends Dustin Klein (Cadence), Yohei (WBase) and Tyler Lepore (Super Champion). You can check out the other watches here. It looks like they shot the watches in Tokyo's Wbase display case if I am not mistaken.
Adrian sent in this photo of his Hundreds X BG screen savers. He got both of his screens covered. You got to give it to him for consistency. Thanks for the pic!
This season is shaping up really nice for the upcoming line. Here is a sneak peak of something new to the collection. Gold lurex thread detail on 5 panel caps. More pics to come..
I recently answered a few questions for the "Let's Talk" series on French website Computerlove. They are a bi-monthly series that interviews artists, designers, photographers, etc. in a conversational way. Check how the conversation went here. I appreciate them taking the time to talk to me.
The Latest Issue of Vapors is available. I like how they are running a specific theme for each issue. This issue focuses on sneakers where the last one was all about bikes. I answered a few questions about a couple of sneaker projects I was involved with. Thanks for the support guys!
Here is the first look at the Doughboy fitted. It is part of the Fall / Winter line that will be available soon. The inspiration for the hat comes from Ice Cubes character in the seminal ’90s flick Boyz N The Hood. It doesn't get much better then that movie. It is one of my favorites of all times. The hat will be available in 2 colorways, both are satin lined with a tonal paper plane argyle print. I am really excited about this one and already wearing the sample.
getting an online store up on my site is more work then I knew it was going to be. I have gotten a few requests to sell these collab shirts. Until I get an online shop on this site I am going to make them avaible through me. If you are interested you can paypall me $35 for the Black Chamber (black or white) or $20 for the Roughneck shirt (black only) to this e-mail. Please don't forget to include your shirt size and address. All orders get stickers and includes US shipping. If you are international add an additional $10 to the order. Very limited sizes and quantities.
I got this sample in the mail recently. It could be available for ipods, phones, laptops and all that. I am not 100% sold on it and making some revisions to the sample. Let me know what you think.
Keith called me this week and asked if I wanted the keep the pieces from the Twist / Adidas Project we worked on. I was more then happy to own the display and met up with him to get it out storage. I am not sure what to do with the desk, so for now it sits in my storage unit instead of his. It might be nice to donate it to a gallery and re-install the display. Here are a few pics of the desk. It was nice to see the desk and pieces again. I had a lot of fun working on that project.
WOW! This all I got to say. My friend Don-P told me to check Calvin's Blog to see his birthday cake. Calvin got a good lady to make him such an elaborate cake. It's an exact replica of the Miami BG hat. I hope you saved me a piece. Happy birthday and you better hold on to that girl.
I am about to leave for a wedding in San Diego. As I was packing I received this updated pic of the watch I am working on with Japanese watch company Alive Athletics. I am so pleased with the way the watch is turning out I had to share the pic. Have a good weekend - i'll be back Monday.
Here is a sneak peak of some hats I got in the works. I am currently juggling the clothing line and client work. It's time for me to put my head down and get through it. Honestly I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but I will manage it. I have some really exciting projects in the works for myself and for clients.
A recent addition to my stockist is Kingdom in Stockton, Ca. I need to get them added to the dealer list on this site. Thanks for the support! If you are in Stockton please stop by and check them out.
My friends at DQM sent me these pics of a customer that was shopping in the store. She adapted the etch-a-sketch skyline to represent NYC. It's amazing that the skyline, I created for HUF, makes it way around to rep different cities. To me it will always be about SF. The etch-a-sketch styled empire state and chrysler building are awesome. Too bad Huf doesn't use the art anymore, this tat would have made a great collab graphic between Huf and DQM. Here are some other adaptions of the etch-a-sketch 1, 2, 3, 4. Please keep the images coming!
This morning I got a great e-mail, about a custom laptop, on Days That End. Good looking out! I never had a laptop, but if I did it would look like this also.
I will continue to highlight shops that stock the line. Todays post is about Philadelphia's WTHN. Philly is one of those cities that I have never been to, but always wanted to visit. Most of my family is from NY so when I am in the northeast I end up visiting family and spend all my time there. Philly is so close to NY and is a famous city for skateboarding. I can't believe that I have never made the trip. It might be time to session philly and check out the shop. Thanks for carrying the line!
