STANCE X COLE HOUSHMAND

STANCE ONCE AGAIN TEAMS UP WITH VISUAL ARTIST, PUNK AND POET, B.THOM STEVENSON ON OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. THE COLLECTION IS KNIT ON 3 STYLES OF CASUAL CREW ALL GENDER SOCKS IMAGINED THROUGH THE ARTISTS' CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA AND CURRENT ARTISTIC MODERN SENSIBILITIES. THE COLLECTION IS ALSO A PASSION PROJECT FOR B.THOM'S AS HE'S RELIVING THE ENTIRE CARTOON SERIES ONCE AGAIN WITH HIS YOUNG SON AND DAUGHTER WHO IS A SUPER FAN OF THE MUTANT FOURSOME.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE WE COLLABORATED WITH YOU ON THE CROCS PARTNERSHIP. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE THEN?

Over the past year, since our collaboration on the Crocs partnership, I've been deeply immersed in my artistic practice, producing a series of paintings, participating in several exhibitions and have been engaged in a plethora of design projects. In addition to my personal art endeavours, I've been actively curating shows at Paradise Gallery, a space I manage in my hometown.

YOU'VE WORKED ON MANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH STANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK WITH STANCE ON THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES PARTNERSHIP?

Stance always gives me the creative freedom to bring my ideas to life. I really enjoy the abstract challenge of reinterpreting something that is present in my daily life. Last time it was Crocs (i wear them everyday) and this time it was TMNT. My kids play with the same turtle toys and watch the same turtle shows and movies I grew up with.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN CREATING THE COLLECTION?

When I approached the TMNT-Stance collection, I revisited the visceral feelings and memories associated with the Turtles from my childhood. Drawing on my "cannibalistic" style of imagery evolution and mutation, I wanted to represent the Turtles in a way that captured both nostalgia and modern sensibilities. I started with base images, mutating and iterating them, seeking that balance between the raw, original TMNT aesthetics and a different take than what i had seen before.

WHICH CHARACTER FROM THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IS YOUR FAVOURITE AND WHY?

Donatello was always my favourite turtle. But, beyond the Turtles, I've always been drawn to the bad guys. Scum Bug, Mutagen Man, and Baxter Stockman mostly for their incredibly detailed action figures. Their action figures, with all their minutiae, became crucial touchstones in my early explorations of detail and texture in art.

GROWING UP WITH THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CARTOONS, WHAT WERE SOME THINGS YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE CARTOON SERIES, AND WHAT YOU LOVED ABOUT IT?

The MUTAGEN! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series uses mutation as a lens to explore themes of identity, societal implications of scientific progression, and the duality of change. Characters' transformations serve as allegories for internal conflicts and the challenges of navigating a world in which they don't fully belong. In retrospect TMNT dove deep into the complexities of adaptation, evolution, and the multifaceted nature of existence.

WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR? WHAT IS AHEAD FOR B THOM STEVENSON THE REMAINDER OF 2023 AND HEADING INTO 2024?

I have a few shows coming up, NYC, LA, Greece and Tokyo…follow along at @bthomstevenson

KNOWN FOR HER HONEST AND INSIGHTFUL CREATIONS ACROSS ANY NUMBER OF MEDIUMS, WE ASKED SARA RABIN TO LEND HER UNIQUE VOICE FOR AN ALL-NEW TOE-TO-HEAD COLLECTION FROM STANCE AND SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. FROM SPIDER-INSPIRED SWEATS TO COSMIC AEROSOL PRINTS (US EXCLUSIVE), RABIN WORKED HER MAGIC ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES FOR AN ALL-OVER INCREDIBLE CURATION. WE SAT WITH SARA TO ASK HER ABOUT HER COLLECTION, HER INSPIRATION, AND WHAT'S AHEAD…ENJOY THE READ.

What point in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?

Its who I am and how I relate to the world, it always has been. I just keep following that path.

You art has elements of sparkling and shinny-ness in it, where did that come from and why do you use that aesthetic?

I'm a bit….immature…. I still like sparkles. Sparkles are here to stay. I'm very much a kid at heart. A lot of the digital work I make is to satisfy tween Sara's taste. Im creating and living within my own nostalgia and my work speaks to that. There are also a lot of very extravagant sparkles in the manga and anime I consume. I'm a fan. I've been reading manga and watching anime since I was a kid.

How did you connect with Stance?

Internet. Someone in the art department had been following my work on Instagram and suggested my name for this collaboration.

What would you tell any up and coming young artist out there who look at you as someone they would like to be?

Treat being an artist like being an athlete. Repetition, consistency, no days off. You need to keep your brain and your hands active. Don't fixate on if the work is good or bad, focus on being proactive about doing something artistic every day. Doodle in the margins if you have to. Sharing your work is important and easy because of social medial. put yourself out there. Be courageous and engage with the art community, but don't compare yourself to anyone else. It's a waste of time and just makes you feel bad. Congratulate the people who are doing 'better' than you and learn from them. 'Better' isn't real, but jealousy is. Take classes, be nice. Ask for what you want. Do not fear rejection.

Tell us about where how you came up with the designs for your Stance collection?

When I was approached for this collaboration, I wanted to do something both creepy and beautiful. Something disturbing and femme at the same time. I do a lot of photo research. I prowl the internet. I had been archiving inspiration photos of antique jewellery on an auctioneer's website and thought a diamond/bejewelled insect could work for this. This idea covered my bases.

What’s ahead for Sara Rabin?

Man, I do not know. I think I need to go to Hollywood. Or get back into painting. Painting was not lucrative for me, and I needed to eat. Now that i've had some commercial success, I can do more of what I want artistically. I like painting but find it terrifying. There is no 'clt+z' in painting. I want to paint and I want to make clothes and I want to lay in the grass and I want to draw people and I want to cook more, I want to tell a story and I want to read more of others'. I want to teach and I want to be a student. I don't whats ahead but I trust myself. I'm not worried.

Where can our audience find out more about you?

The usual suspects; Instagram, my website. I try to keep things updated but its getting exhausting. Everyone is feeling social media burnout, I think. If you see me on the street say hi.




SHOP THE COLLECTION

Stay the course...

FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW, THE NAME ROBBIE MORALES IS SYNONYMOUS WITH CORE BMX. BOTH AN ICON OF THE SPORT AND INFLUENTIAL FIGURE IN THE INDUSTRY, THIS NEW YORK NATIVE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR COMPETITION RIDING IN THE MID-80S THAT WOULD SOON LAUNCH HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE FOUNDING OF CULT, ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED BRANDS IN ALL OF BMX.

EMERGING FROM THE HOTBED LONG ISLAND SCENE OF THE EARLY '90S, ROBBIE QUICKLY MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF WITH HIS FEARLESS STYLE, INNOVATIVE TRICK SELECTION AND LARGER-THAN-AVERAGE SIZE. BY SHOWCASING HIS SKILLS IN A SERIES OF CONTEST PLACINGS, VIDEO PARTS AND MAGAZINE COVERS FOR THE LIKES OF GO AND BMX PLUS, MORALES BECAME A STAPLE IN THE BMX COMMUNITY BEFORE SWITCHING OVER TO A MORE FREESTYLE FOCUS, EARNING SPOTS ON SUCH PRESTIGIOUS TEAMS AS ZOO YORK, DC, VANS, FOX AND S&M.

AFTER MUCH SUCCESS AS A PROFESSIONAL RIDER, ROBBIE MADE THE TRANSITION FROM ATHLETE TO ENTREPRENEUR. A DECADE LATER, HE AGAIN DECIDED TO STEP OUT ON HIS OWN AND FORM CULT BMX BIKES, A BRAND DEDICATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH-QUALITY FRAMES AND COMPONENTS WITH ROBBIE'S OWN DISTINCT FLAIR. MORALES' VISION FOR CULT WAS TO CREATE AN IMPRINT THAT EMBODIED THE ESSENCE OF BMX WITH TOP-OF-THE-LINE EQUIPMENT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE SPORT'S CORE. WITH AN UNWAVERING EYE FOR DETAIL AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE CULTURE, CULT IMMEDIATELY GAINED GLOBAL RECOGNITION AND A DEVOUT FOLLOWING THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

For summer '23, we are partnering with CULT on hyper-limited 24" Stance bike which also includes a size large mix-matched cobranded crew sock. Check out our recent interview with Morales below for more details on both this collaboration and everything leading up to it.

INSTAGRAM: @CULTCREW

BMX has been apart of the majority of your life, where did your initial interest for the sport come from? BMX has been apart of the majority of your life, where did your initial interest for the sport come from?

Growing up in Long Island, New York with a group of friends that rode and raced BMX bikes, I was hooked instantly around the age of 12...

When did you know you were getting good enough to be pro and how did that feel?

It took a good 5 years for me to improve to a national level in racing...For me I never really wanted to be pro, it kind of naturally happened...

What lead you to consider starting your own bike co?

I was getting towards the end of my run and I did not want to leave BMX...I was so passionate about it I knew I could start something special with my friends...

Cult has had fast success in core BMX, what do you think contributed to that momentum?

I had a good education from starting and working on FIT Bike Co. for 10 years previous to CULT...From the team to the employees we have the right people in place who know what is good..

How did you connect with Stance and why did you choose to work with them on a partnership?

I had met Ryan Kingman and he helped Dakota Roche become a part of the Punks and Poets program...Seeing the brand grow from the first spot in San Clemente is super inspiring, and now having my friend Albie Rosario there I love the brand aesthetic, which makes it easy to work together...

Where would you like to see the Cult brand in 5-10 years?

Where would you like to see the Cult brand in 5-10 years? I definitely see the brand growing outside of BMX but still having the same core values...Time will tell...

Stance has once again teamed up with legendary artist, Mister Cartoon and iconic card staple UNO, on a limited-edition collection featuring Cartoon’s custom illustration of the UNO branding on our super soft combed cotton socks, built with our Infiknit™ construction that has a lifetime guarantee so the game never has to stop.

The collaboration also features box sets that come with Cartoon's famous tattoo flash illustrations on every card in the UNO card set. The collection also features a cotton t-shirt, and hoody highlighting the artist illustration of the games Wild card, Cartoon style (US exclusive).

In honour of our all-new Stance x UNO x Mister Cartoon collaboration, we caught up with the legendary L.A. artist for a quick chat about his linework, the art game, and what his partnership with UNO and Stance means to him. @misterctoons @uno

ONCE AGAIN, STANCE HAS UNITED WITH ACCLAIMED MIXED MEDIA DESIGNER AND ARTIST CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ ON A NEW ALL-GENDER TOE-TO-HEAD APPAREL COLLECTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, CHRISTIAN FOCUSES MUCH OF HIS CREATIVE EFFORTS TOWARD SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE COLLABORATIONS UNDER HIS BELT FOR THE LIKES OF NIKE AND CHILDISH GAMBINO.

Where can our audience find out more about you? 

 You can find me on IG @badboypapior on my site, www.badboypapi.com

SHOP STANCE X CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ

SELF-EXPRESSION AND INDIVIDUALITY LIE AT THE CORE OF STANCE'S DNA, A PHILOSOPHY UNDERSCORED BY THE IMPORTANCE OF FEELING COMFORTABLE IN ONE'S OWN SKIN AND BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF. OUR FRIENDS AT ENCIRCLE ARE ON A SIMILAR PATH AND HAVE BEEN CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN THE GREATER UTAH AREA SINCE 2017. BY PROVIDING SUCH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AS FRIENDSHIP CIRCLES, LIFE-AFFIRMING THERAPY SERVICES AND DAILY PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND THEIR FAMILIES, ENCIRCLE CONTINUES TO MAKE STRIDES TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE IS FREE TO THRIVE. STANCE IS PROUD TO BE PARTNERING WITH ENCIRCLE ON A SPECIAL SOCK COLLECTION TO HELP SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES AND BRING FURTHER AWARENESS TO ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK.

WE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH JORDAN SGRO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ENCIRCLE, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR MISSION AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THEY’VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SO FAR.

INSTAGRAM: @ENCIRCLETOGETHER

Encircle's mission is to bring the family and community together to enable LGBTQ+ youth to thrive. We envision a world where LGBTQ+ youth know they are loved, love themselves, and have hope for a bright future.

What is Encircle's Mission and can you tell us a little bit more about the programs that you currently offer?

Each Encircle home provides essential support, tools, and resources for LGBTQ+ youth. These homes look and feel like home, and provide a safe space for these youth to open up and feel comfortable being themselves.

We offer numerous programs at our Encircle homes, the most popular being our Friendship Circles - weekly age and identity-based groups where youth and young adults can tell their story and connect with peers in a safer space facilitated by our volunteers. We also offer insurance-based, subsidised, and specialised therapy - a service that every LGBTQ+ person deserves. Our youth and family programs include creativity-based offerings that foster community, connection, and improved mental health. Utilising our data-driven research, we also provide pamphlets, books, and training to empower families and communities.

What are some of your biggest initiatives?

One of our biggest objectives right now is getting our newest Encircle home in Heber City, Utah, ready. This is our fourth home, and is expected to open in June, bringing mental health services to a community who, historically, has little to no resources for LGBTQ+ youth and families.

Our highest priority is to continue to raise money to fund the life-affirming mental health services that we provide at our existing three homes, and our newest home in Heber City, opening this June.

Why is mental health so critical to this community?

We know that when individuals are emotionally healthy, and have coping skills to work through difficulties, they are able to thrive. Why wouldn't we want to provide the tools and resources to those who feel alone, isolated, and rejected? That's why we exist - to ensure good mental health of these youth and families, and to remind them that they matter and they're worth it.

Can you share the direct impact you've seen from your programs? Any great stories you can share from over the years?

Two days after our third home opened in 2020, I returned to the home to attend our youth group and art night. A mom and her son had just walked through the front doors and it was clear that she was distraught and had been crying. Her son wouldn't make eye contact with me and was very distant and disconnected. She said, "I found out today that my child has been bullied at school because he's gay, and I didn't know he was gay until today. I had no idea what to do, so I just drove about an hour to get here from Cedar City." "I heard this was new and so we headed here to see what it's all about."

I thought that this was perfect timing because a Friendship Circle was just about to start. Her son agreed to go to the Friendship Circle, and the mom was sitting on the couch and was still visibly so upset. There happened to be a volunteer in the home at the time who sat down and told her, "I want you to know that I used to live in Salt LakeCity, and I have been right where you are, experiencing the same things you're feeling right now, just at another Encircle home. My family just moved to St. George, and I just want you to know that Encircle saved my son's life. You're here, and I'm here with you.

This mom had such a powerful experience, talking with and confiding in someone who had been in her same situation.

Her son returned from participating in the Friendship Circle, his eyes looking up, his shoulders back, with a smile on his face. I will never forget when the mom said to me, "I don't remember the last time I saw my son smile. I had no idea that it has been this bad." She had tears in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy, and no longer tears of sadness.

This is just one story of hundreds that we have heard, but it is a perfect example of the holistic effect we have on families at Encircle. If you are a parent, child, brother, sister, friend, or ally - we are here for you.

Can you share more about how the partnership with Stance will support Encircles initiatives?

We are extremely grateful to Stance, whose generous support has funded 11 Encircle Therapy Assistance Grants. Each grant will provide six months of free weekly therapy sessions for an LGBTQ+ youth. For this community, this is such a big deal. There are so many young people who can't afford therapy, and are able to provide quality mental health care for free or reduced costs. This support is irreplaceable - Stance is helping to set these youth up for success. There is nothing you could do, in my opinion, that is greater than fund a therapy session for a young person who is in crisis or who needs support and guidance. This is life-saving work, and Stance is setting the footprint and tone for that with Encircle.

What are different ways that people can get involved or help support Encircle?

There are three main ways to support - time, money, and your voice.

you can give of your time, to support our youth. We have online programming, so you can even volunteer your time online. You can also volunteer in one of our homes if you live in proximity to one of our existing Encircle locations.

Donating money helps support the critical work that we do at Encircle. A lot of people think that they can't give enough to make a difference, but I can tell you that we are thoughtful with every dollar that is given, and every dollar counts. We stretch every single dollar. Whether it's $5 or $500, you can trust that we will be great stewards of your financial support.

Finally, I would say you don't just have to give your time or money to support Encircle, you can use your voice. Help spread the message that LGBTQ+ youth matter, they are worth it, they deserve happiness, and they deserve all the love in the world. We also offer online programs and support, so our reach is beyond just Utah. If you're in Utah, come to one of our homes. If you aren't near an Encircle home, participate in our online programs or utilise teletherapy. Spread our message by using your voice, your platforms, or simply sharing with your friends and family - anyone can do that and it all makes a difference.

SHOP STANCE X ENCIRCLE

On the hunt for something a little different from Stance this season? Check out our all-new wilderness-inspired collection from the experts at Realtree.

SINCE 1986, THESE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS HAVE BEEN CONCOCTING TRULY EYE-CATCHING CAMOUFLAGE CREATIONS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BLEND IN AND STAND OUT, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. FOR OUR LATEST COLLABORATION, STANCE IS SHOWCASING REALTREE'S ICONIC "EDGE" AND "XTRA" CAMO STYLES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOOKS, INCLUDING THE SHELTER ZIP-UP, OUR VERSATILE COMPLEX SHORTS, A WOMEN'S PERFORMANCE CROP TOP, HAPPENINGS BICYCLE SHORTS AND SOCKS.

WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM, STANCE AND REALTREE ARE PROUD TO BE DELIVERING THE GREAT OUTDOORS FROM TOE TO HEAD ONCE AGAIN.

Elena Fiorenza Gatti is an independent artist from Chicago, IL. She is passionate about bringing her world of words, animals, colour, and people to others. Her work surrounds deep thoughts and insights on her own, as well as others’ experiences with the world. Elena has explored her own mental health, well-being, and dreams within her art and hopes to make others feel less alone, seen, and happy through her pieces…Stance welcomes Elena’s first collection with 2 woman’s crew sublimated styles featuring an all over “Daisy Face” painting, and “panther cat” painting with the message “Don’t forget all the incredible things right in front of you”. The collection is rounded out with an all gender short sleeved tee, screened with her iconic cat illustration referencing her Italian last named Gatti (US Exclusive).

INCREDIBLE THINGS ARE EVERYWHERE… 

WE CAUGHT UP WITH ELENA IN HER NATIVE CITY OF CHICAGO TO EXPERIENCE A DAY IN THE LIFE WITH HER…

Where did your interest for art come from?

I would say my love for art started when I was so young. I really don't think one person or event sparked this interest…it was just always something I was drawn to even as a little kid. I think it is just what I was meant to do.

When did you know that art was something you wanted to do full time?

I always thought art would remain a side passion of mine. I was hesitant for it to become my 'job' because I didn't want to fall out of love with the process of creating. It took me a long time to finally realise I was ready to make art my full time career ensuring it wouldn't feel like a 'job'. I'm really happy I gave myself the time and patience to come to that conclusion.

Where do you find inspiration for your art and aligning it with your messages?

I really get inspired by music. I love to draw while listening to music and I think those feelings sparked from songs are really seen in my work. I'll put on my Spotify classical radio and just get into this incredible flow of creating that feels so peaceful and cathartic. Other times I'll put on Bon Iver, Flipturn, Fleetwood Mac or Mt.Joy and just jam out in my little studio while creating. Those are my favourite moments.

How was it connecting with Stance on a collection. What lead you to work with us?

I was so pumped when Stance reached out! I knew of Stance from other artist collabs, so I was really honoured to create this collection. I had such a good time working on this collaboration over the last year. I visited the Stance studio in CA which was so incredible and I met some awesome people and friends along the way.

I really do think just keeping my head down and working hard every single day is what lead me to work with Stance. I'm a firm believer if you put in the honest work, you will see results. You just need to be patient.

You just quit your full time job to become a full time independent artist. How was that transition experience?

Quitting my job was probably the scariest thing I've ever done. But I think I've really grown through putting myself in uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations…I'm proud of the confidence I have started to grow since making this jump. It feels really good to say I am going after my dream.

What is ahead for you in 2023?

I have a few cool things cooking which is very exciting! Two things in particular I am excited about is my art residency at the Pendry Hotel in Chicago (March 17th-19th), and the Other Art Fair in Chicago (April 27-30th). But if I'm being honest, I don't have it all figured out, and I'm learning that's just fine. I'm trying to take it one day at a time, learn as much as I can from others, and say yes to interesting opportunities.

Where can our audience learn more about you?

I post all the time on Instagram (@fiorenza_art) and TikTok (@fiorenza_art) so you can keep up with me there! I also just started a YouTube Channel and that has been really fun, you can check out my vlogs at (@fiorenzaart)

Shop the full collection here...

In celebration of Disney's 100 Years of Wonder, we tapped artist / Punk and Poet Russ Pope to work his magic on an all-new colourful collection of Mickey and Minnie Mouse-inspired designs. As part of our ongoing Untitled collector's series, Disney devotees are sure to flip over Russ's latest creations depicting not only a solo dapper Mickey but also surfing doubles with Minnie on our popular cotton crew construction. Each pair is being sold individually or in a limited-edition box (US exclusive) set alongside an exclusive Pope art print you won't find anywhere else…Stay tuned.

Self-dicipline is an act of self love…

500 HOURS. THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT JOVAN TEVIN SPENT IN THAILAND COMPLETING HIS YOGA INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, COMMITTING HIMSELF TO ONE OF THE HARDEST DISCIPLINES OF YOGA, ASHTANGA. IT'S THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF THE PRACTICE THAT CAN FORCE PEOPLE TO SPEND MONTHS TO YEARS ON JUST ONE OF THE SIX CHALLENGING SERIES, BUT JOVAN'S MANTRA IS CLEAR:

“Self-discipline is an act of self-love.”

As a teacher, Jovan is known for making up his flow on the spot, reading the energy of the room and focusing on how he wants his students to feel walking out. As a practitioner, keeping his mind, body and spirit seamlessly connected is what led him to yoga in the first place. And as a Gay Black and Hispanic man, it's Jovan's resilience that is the foundation of his strength to keep going forward.

Working with Jovan on our newest apparel collection, we squeezed in a quick Q&A about how yoga has changed his outlook on life. 


Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what drew you to yoga? 

Yeah, so I guess initially my background came from gymnastics and then competitive all-star cheerleading. The idea of perfectionism is just being drilled into you constantly. You're constantly being asked to literally be perfect and do things correctly to the point where you start to identify with this fantasy. Because perfection is something that just doesn't exist. But it really took me time to find my yoga practice and then dive into the practice of meditation to understand that perfection is now. Perfection is the moment. And to no longer try to create a scenario that you don't need to. It only leads to expectations, expectations lead to feeling overwhelmed, and then you're suddenly burned out because you are chasing this non-existent idea of perfection. It's only important to understand that perfection is now. And if we can bring ourselves into the present moment, that is what we are doing. Being our authentic self in the moment. That's perfection.


How does yoga affect your confidence?

I feel like the source of my confidence definitely comes from my practice. It allows me to really see myself in a vulnerable state. Once I understand that I'm feeling vulnerable, then I go through this process of "Oh, I'm actually capable. I actually have this potential. I understand that I have this fear, but this fear doesn't need to control me. I can combat it."

My yoga practice really supports that entirely. I'm allowed to exude confidence when I'm no longer on the mat and interacting with the world.


What is one of the core foundations of your yoga practice? 

I think going back into how my yoga practice supports who I am, in general, especially the breathing aspect of practicing yoga. That's the most natural thing you can do. When you're finally breathing and then when you go out in nature, breathing with nature, you feel this deep connectedness with the earth. That's the support system you need to do whatever you want, whether it's something you're afraid of or something you thought you'd never do. It gives you the capacity to go into that void. Into that unknown space.

What does “Stitched Different” mean to you? 

For me, "Stitched Different" just feels like we're no longer trying to be perfect. I think that a normal stitch is very linear. We have an exact image of that in our minds. Saying "Stitched Different" allows me to find the perfection within imperfection.

AFTER BUILDING A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FOUNDATION IN DANCE FOR TEN YEARS, IT DIDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE FOR JEYNA PONCE TO START HER BREAKING CAREER SO LATE... A WORLD YOU DON'T OFTEN STUMBLE INTO BY ACCIDENT. BY THIS POINT, SHE HAD GIVEN UP ON DANCING AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE TO STUDY INTERIOR DESIGN WHEN THE PANDEMIC LED HER BACK INTO THE STUDIO AND INTO A NEW DISCIPLINE. AND HER PROGRESSION WAS UNHEARD OF. A MASH-UP OF UNUSUALLY POLISHED FOOTWORK AND MUSICALITY, JEYNA'S MOVEMENT AND FLOW BRINGS A NEW ENERGY TO THE B-GIRL WORLD.


AFTER ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF OF TRAINING, SHE WON ONE OF BREAKING'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITIONS, A RED BULL BC ONE CYPHER, IN HER HOMETOWN OF LAS VEGAS. JEYNA'S WIN SERVES AS TESTAMENT TO HER DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT AND CEMENTED HER PLACE IN THE BREAKING WORLD AS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. AND SHE'S ONLY GETTING STARTED.


WE RECENTLY TEAMED UP WITH JEYNA ON OUR LATEST APPAREL COLLECTION AND HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH HER FOR A QUICK Q&A IN-BETWEEN SHOOTS.

 Tell us about yourself:

My name is Jeyna Ponce. I'm a b-girl.


You’re one of the nations’s best break dancers, tell us about art form?

Breakdancing is a form of art and it's part of the hip-hop culture, and it's a way to express yourself through movements such as power moves, breaking, top rock, footwear, and style.


How did you get into breaking?

Well, I've been dancing my entire life... I started out as a technical dancer doing ballet, contemporary jazz, lyrical hip-hop choreography, and I went to Las Vegas Academy, and that's where I got most of my foundation from. It wasn't until a year and a half ago that I started to take classes at Millennium, which I discovered Alchemy Breaking Academy. I was taking breaking classes there, and then I immediately clung onto the teachers, and I really stood out to them. It was ATN, Keyon, and Delgado from Battle Born and they asked me to start training with them at their crew practices. So I was training super hard for a year, and then a year later I got battled into the crew. So I've just been breaking every day since then.


What drew you into breaking?

It's crazy because I've been doing all these styles my entire life and then I immediately clung onto breaking. That was the only style that I really grew an attachment to. I think it's because of the culture and the form of dance in general just really stands out to me and it's super intriguing.


How does breakdancing make you feel?

I just love how it's an outlet for everything, for your emotions, and it's just a way to express yourself through movement.


Tell us about your family and their ties in the breaking community?

It's funny because my entire family is a whole entire breaking family…My uncles break, my aunts break, my cousins break…we all revolve around breaking, and we all have this attachment and connection for breaking. So we're just one big dance family. I think that just really draws us closer together.

So what are some interests outside of breaking? 

Well, I'm really into fashion and I'm also a full-time student at my university. I'm studying interior design, and outside of that, I just break, but fashion and interior design.


What do you like about Stance?

Well, since I break a lot, I think that it's super convenient how Stance has really comfortable clothing, and it just fits right in with my wardrobe. I love how durable it is, and I love the high quality of the product. I've always known about Stance, always shopping in the mall, and I've already previously purchased the clothing, so I've been wearing it even prior, for a couple years now.


So can you talk about your involvement with Red Bull BC One?

My first involvement with Red Bull BC One was the Las Vegas City Cypher, and I ended up winning the Las Vegas City Cypher. That was surreal because my first win ever as a b-girl was a Red Bull BC One win. Then after that, I think the next week I went to Red Bull San Diego, and then I made it to finals in San Diego. Then since I won the Las Vegas City Cypher, I was invited to the regionals in Austin, Texas, which was a couple weeks ago, which I made it to semi-finals in Austin. I also am involved in the Red Bull BC One Nationals coming up on September 17th in Los Angeles. I'm going to be doing an exhibition there with Ronnie from Super CR3W and Full Force. So that should be fun.


Talk about your involvement with the Olympics.

I'm competing in the qualifiers for the Olympics. It's called Breaking for Gold, and I competed in Philadelphia last week, and I ranked as one of the top eight b-girls in the nation.


What are your future goals, and aspirations?

I don't really like to set any goals because I want my path to be organic, but I would like to be a Red Bull BC One All Star soon. So I'm on the path to be a Red Bull BC One team.


Where can our community find out more about you?

 You can find me on my Instagram and my TikTok. My Instagram is going to be @ponce.jeyna. Then my TikTok is also @poncejeyna, as well.

We sat down with Todd to ask him a few questions about how he came up and whats ahead.

At what age did you find know art was something you had a passion for?

Just like everyone else out there, I spent my early childhood drawing a whole bunch. Unlike almost everyone else, I wasn't any good at anything else, so I just kept my head down and continued drawing.

Where did the inspiration for art come from at a young age?

Ooh boy, that's a long list. The Three Stooges, early punk, Mad magazine, National Geographic, Benny Hill, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Black Sabbath, political cartoonists, Mel Brooks, old Marvel comics like X-Men and Daredevil, Ridley Scott, and Godzilla.


How did you end up connecting your art to the skateboarding community?

Growing up in Venice, we all practiced drawing the Dogtown logo on our notebooks, and my neighbourhood friends and I looked at the old VCJ illustrations for Powell as being impossibly technical and amazing. It was a world we grew up admiring, but never even imagined participating in. After graduating college in Santa Barbara with an art degree, I eventually lucked into an entry level job in the Deluxe art department, and I knew it was a dream come true.


What are some of your favourite board graphics you’ve done?

That's a tough one. Off the top of my head, I'd include the Stranger K9 and the original Antihero Pigeon graphic, but also more recently the Brian Anderson Ostentation, the entire Eat Shit And Die pro set, the recent Space Junk pro set and the Plastics pro set too. I've been at this for awhile, so you're asking me to pick from a long list of candidates...


What are some of your favourite board graphics you’ve done?

That's a tough one. Off the top of my head, I'd include the Stranger K9 and the original Antihero Pigeon graphic, but also more recently the Brian Anderson Ostentation, the entire Eat Shit And Die pro set, the recent Space Junk pro set and the Plastics pro set too. I've been at this for awhile, so you're asking me to pick from a long list of candidates...




Where can the Stance community find out more about you?

A great place to start is Instagram, where they call me @toddfrancisart. I'm pretty active on there with current projects, works in progress, photos of pasta, and early morning bodysurfing clips. Or you can just call me directly with any goofy questions you might have.

AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 15 YEARS OLD, SAN CLEMENTE CA LOCAL REX HENNINGS HAS CAUGHT THE EYE OF SURFINGS ELITE BRANDS AND COMMUNITY. STANCE HAS HAD OUR EYES ON REX'S NATURAL TALENT, INCREDIBLE STYLE, AND COMPETITIVE DRIVE SINCE HE WAS A YOUNG FROM SURFING OUR SHARED HOMETOWNS LOCAL WAVES. STANCE IS PROUD TO WELCOME REX TO OUR PUNK AND POET FAMILY AND LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING HIM REPRESENT THE BRAND FOR THE FUTURE TO COME. WE RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH REX…CHECK THE INTERVIEW BELOW.

Where did your passion for surfing come from?

My passion for surfing came from watching my older brothers surf and also my dad. I love it.

What are your favourite waves you have surfed so far?

Some of my favourite waves I have surfed are T. Street, Uppers, located in my hometown of San Clemente, CA and Lakey Peak, Indonesia.

What is your current set up you are riding?

I am riding a 5''9 ...Lost Surfboards Driver 3.0 with FCS fins.

How do you feel about being part of the Stance punk and poet family?

Being part of the Stance Punk and Poet family is sick because there are so many different types of amazing talented people in the crew. So stoked to be apart of the brand and the community.


Who are some of your favourite pro surfers and why?

I Like Kolohe Andino and Griffin Colapinto because they are from my hometown of San Clemente, CA… and because they rip at surfing.


Where can more people find out about you?

You can find out about me on my Insta @rex_hennings.

WHETHER IT BE SNOWBOARDING, FILMING, OR JUST HANGING OUT WITH HIM YOU KNOW IT'LL BE A GOOD TIME. THERE'S NO LIMIT TO HIS ENERGY AND HIS IRREVERENT PERSONALITY AND OFTEN RIDICULOUS ANTICS MEAN NON-STOP LAUGHTER. RAISED IN BEND, OREGON, SPENCER STARTED FILMING AROUND THE STREETS OF BEND WHEN HE WAS 16 FOR HIS FIRST VIDEO PART IN LOCAL MOVIE. SINCE THEN, HE'S STARRED IN 11 FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS INCLUDING 2022 VIDEO OF THE YEAR GOOD SPORT. NOW BASED IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH WHICH SPENCER CONSIDERS THE HUB OF THE SNOWBOARD COMMUNITY, HE SPLITS HIS TIME RIDING BRIGHTON RESORT OR FILMING IN THE STREET. WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME SPENCER TO OUR PUNK AND POET FAMILY. WE SAT DOWN WITH SPENCER TO ASK HIM A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HE GOT STARTED…CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW BELOW.

What was your first introduction to snowboarding? When did you know the sport was for you?
My parents were ski bums living in Mammoth mountain and that's how they met. So I grew up snowboarding and being around snow my whole life. It wasn't until I was in high school I realised I wanted to pursue snowboarding as a career.

What are some of your favourite mountains you've rode? What mountains would you still like to get to and ride?

My home mountain, Mt. Bachelor, holds a special place in my heart. That resort has shaped me into the snowboarder I am today. Now I live in Salt Lake City and have absolutely fell in love with Brighton resort. I'd like to ride those places with good conditions more than anything but other than that I'd want to check out some European resorts.


Coming off of 2022 Rider of the year what’s ahead for you in 2023 and beyond?

I'd really like to do more conceptual projects. It's fun to hone in on a theme or create something outside the standard blueprint of a snowboarding film. Also anyway to get the snowboard community together is always the goal.


How'd you first learn about Stance and what did you like about the brand? How's it feel to be part of our punk and poet family?

I've been following Stance since its start and have always been a fan of what the brand does and the products, obviously. I'm honoured to be apart of the team and working with my idols Chris, Jed and Jill. I hope to get to know some of the punks and poets from the different principles as well. It's really a dream.

Where can our audience follow and learn more about you?

You can follow my career and antics on my Instagram @shoeburt. Also keep an eye out for the snowboard film Ride is releasing this fall...

Chapter 11: Day and Night

As a child, Estée Preda made a regular habit of looking out the window, silently watching as one season slowly morphed into the next. She was read Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm every night by her mother who had narrowly escaped the Iron Curtain… an often-eerie routine made all the merrier by a grandmother prone to night terrors residing just across the hall. Now it only makes sense that the worlds Estée creates should lie at the crossroads somewhere in-between those same ethereal seasons, fantastical fairy tales and pure nocturnal fright. We are proud to bring the dreamy pedigree of this emerging Montreal-based artist to Stance for an all-new collection.

"When I created these paintings for Stance, I was living in a cabin in the woods and I would spend a lot of time outside, especially after dark. One night, as I was walking through the woods, I noticed that there were hundreds of salamanders and frogs crawling all around me. I'd never seen anything like it. It was just so magical. And the next day, I painted my first design, "Night of the Salamander". That inspiration carried over to my second design, "Butterflies in the Strawberry Patch", which I see as a kind of daytime sister companion to "Salamander".

SHOP THE COLLECTION

Irie holiday vibes as conceived by legendary artist and Stance Punk & Poet Kevin Lyons, our latest collaboration with everyone's favourite creature creator showcases all-new nondenominational Ornament Bulb Monsters holding down their own little shindig in proper dancehall style. Here's a quick breakdown from the artist himself…

"I've designed bulbs with faces on them before. Bulbs make for easy faces. As for colour and patterns, I've always been fascinated by how close the Christmas palette of red, gold and green resembles that of dancehall and rocksteady. It's to the point where there are a ton of holiday records done by reggae artists, including multiple covers of traditional Christmas carols. The Star of David is also widely used throughout reggae culture, and, of course, is a strong, respectful nod to Hanukkah. These influences are meant to be fun, multi-layered and all-inclusive for all faiths and practices. Just think of them as the ultimate Red Hot Holiday Reggae Party socks!"

Just in time for whatever you feel like celebrating this time of year, Lyons’ latest is now available on Stance and to keep the island riddims pumping, Lyons has personally compiled his own holiday reggae party playlist on Spotify for all to enjoy. rewind, selecta!

Last month we teamed up with London Sneaker School, a Sneaker Customisation and Bespoke Sneaker Workshop that was the brainchild of Shoe Maker, Thomas Roe & Designer, Jase Cooper over lockdown. London Sneaker School's aim is to make the manufacture and customisation of sneakers accessible and transparent for the Sneaker Community. Sneaker's history and contribution to UK culture, and subcultures around the world, is unprecedented. Yet the knowledge, materials and construction of our shoes that we put so much into exists 1000's of miles away on the other side of the world. They believe in bringing this production closer to home and opening up new opportunities for creativity and expression by understanding our sneakers on a new level and making our own.

We hosted 12 of London's Sneaker community at London Sneaker Schools 'RE:Factor' workshop. Each Sneakerhead was given one day to bring their vision to life on the silhouette of their choice. Most opted for the ever-classic Air Force 1 as a foundation for their idea. This Workshop was run by Jase & Ish who broke down the process of conceptualising, material selection, technique and creation of each Sneakerhead's ideas.

The reigns were then passed over and each sneakerhead took things into their own hands, crafting their dream sneaker into a reality with the guidance of the London Sneaker School team.

From leather dying, eyelet placement, deconstruction, custom sprayed motifs and panels, the possibilities seemed endless. Each sneakerhead took the challenge in their stride with a carefully considered approach that kept things individualistic and perfectly complimented their own style. Each sneaker took a full day to concept and construct with some incredible outcomes and some happy sneakerheads leaving with their own custom pair.

While this was all going on we managed to catch up with Founders Thomas Roe & Jase Cooper on how it all started, and where it is that London Sneaker School aims to go in the future.

So guys, where did the concept of London Sneaker School come from?

Thomas:
"During Lockdown we had a bit of free time and we decided to team up together. I have ten plus years in bespoke shoemaking and Jase has a background in design. He's worked for a few sportswear brands before and he really wanted to do this during that time. It was a great idea just to focus energy on a new project for both of us and it kind of just started off as zero stress, let's just see how it goes sort of thing."

Are there any misconceptions that people have when approaching the production of shoemaking?

Jase:
"It's hard and it's difficult. I think a lot of people want to get into it but to stick with it you have to be passionate and you have to have a certain skill and a certain mindset to focus and have to accept that you're going to make a lot of mistakes along the way. You've just got to trust the process then you'll eventually start getting good but it's going to take time and dedication."

How did your background in traditional shoemaking lend itself to the world of sneakers?

Thomas:
"Sneakers were a world that I'd not really ever entered before I'd met Jase, I'm used to doing traditional bespoke shoemaking. I do projects for film, theatre and TV predominantly, spanning everything from Marvel to 1920's style commisions. So going from that background to the sneaker side of things was fairly easy for me as they share so many similarities when it comes down to it. It's been amazing to see the community within Sneaker Culture has grown so much that people are now looking to see the process of shoemaking as a whole and want to pursue their interest even further".

How can people get involved with London Sneaker School?

Jase:
"Get on one of our courses, we run regular shoemaking workshops over the course of 5 days in which you can craft your dream sneaker from the ground up and pick up the foundations of the craft. We're also coming out with our 1-day custom workshop called RE:Factor which will be the best way to get involved if you'd like to try out shoemaking or are unsure if it's going to be something you'd want to commit to a longer project. Alternatively, there's our online course in which you can get a feel for shoemaking without having to invest too much of your time".

Make sure to go and follow the London Sneaker School journey over on their Instagram
www.instagram.com/londonsneakerschool/ or find out more about their workshops through www.londonsneaker.school.com.

The Wave, nestled in the countryside of Bristol, is the first inland-surfing destination of its kind, where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of surfing and its many physical and mental health benefits.

But it's not just about surfing. It's about getting back to nature, improving health and well-being, connecting with other people, enjoying great food and drink, having a great day out and having a load of fun in the process!

The partnership builds on the shared appreciation of creativity, human expression, the joy of surfing and the lifestyle it brings. 

Nick Rees, Surf Commercial Manager at The Wave comments:
“We are excited to welcome Stance as a new partner at The Wave and bring this multi-level partnership to life. At a key time for The Wave and inland surfing as a whole, it is exciting to partner with an international and market-leading brand such as Stance who share in our love of surfing and the creativity. Delivering a fantastic customer experience at The Wave is at the core of our focus, and we see photography as an integral part of this. With Stance enhancing the current offering this is a great opportunity to bring photography more into the limelight.”

The collaboration will see an enhanced photography experience come to life at The Wave, with a new photography area installed with screens to view photos, as well as a dedicated editing suite for The Wave’s photography team, Image Cabin, to work from. 

 Rich Philip, Marketing Director at Stance says:
“This partnership is a great one for us as our DNA is rooted in expression and inner creativity, and so the new photography collaboration with The Wave fits this perfectly. Celebrating the individuality of surfing and the creativity of photography, whether they’re completely new to the sport or pushing themselves and looking for a shot for the portfolio.” 

We will be offering exclusive opportunities to see and surf The Wave over the coming months. Sign up to our email in footer of this page to be the first to get these.