Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Watson.
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up skateboarding around my neighborhood and at local spots in Northern Virginia. As a kid, before the internet was everywhere and dial-up was just starting to become the new craze, it was the morning ritual for all the skaters at my middle school to scan through the pages of the original CCS magazine and circle what new skate decks we wanted next. I was always drawn to picking brands or artwork styles that were new on the scene or not as mainstream. Jump ahead to the year 2008, in high school I started buying blank skateboard decks in bulk and painting my own designs on the bottom before I would skate them. The boards started to gain popularity around my hometown and I was receiving requests to paint designs on boards. As I designed more boards, I wanted to create a brand name, or mark, that people would recognize. Thus the brand name SKETCH was born, inspired by the foundation of the creative process and forging your own path in life.
From 2008–2013 I spent years refining the brand, developing new artwork, going through research and development with materials, deck specs, graphic inks and print methods, working with manufacturers and all of the details that come into play to make a perfect product. From 2013–2016, I built the foundation for the SKETCH skate team and started traveling around the country with the team to promote and grow the brand. In 2016, I picked up and moved the brand from the Northern Virginia–Washington, D.C. area out to Los Angeles, where all of the operations are currently based today. The process of developing my own brand, designing new artwork and products that endless people will enjoy, and being able to support individuals and the communities within the skate, snow and fashion industries is the passion that gets me out of bed every morning, ready to create and build new visions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest obstacles that we have faced over the past year and a half has been the impact of the pandemic on the wood market. The wood suppliers have experienced massive price fluctuation, shortages and scarcity, which all have a downstream effect on the skateboarding industry. Just about every skate and snow brand is still recovering from the struggles of low stock numbers and production shortages, so we have been moving as fast as the supply chain will allow us to produce enough products to match the demand.
In terms of struggles overall though, starting any new task from scratch, especially building a brand, is going to be a rollercoaster. As long as you prep yourself with that knowledge ahead of time, then you can aim to use the struggles to your advantage. In the early days of the brand, struggles were more focused around perfecting the production process of the skateboards and pressure testing product samples. As production became dialed in, present day struggles come more from deciding how to keep the brand fresh, new and constantly moving forward.
SKETCH is currently branching out further into the streetwear and fashion market, and we just launched a brand new snowboard line for the 2022 winter season. I spent all summer working through new methods on how to have a wider range of streetwear manufactured for the brand, all while also developing specs, artwork and manufacturing techniques for our new snow line. When you can harness the upfront struggles and turn them into challenges and goals, then all of the madness begins to subside and you can aim for an achievable finish line.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sketch Skateboards?
SKETCH is a premium hard goods and streetwear brand specializing in the skateboarding and snowboarding industries. Focused around applying bold, energetic and eye-catching artwork to a quality product to help you push the limits and create new experiences. All of our skateboard products are designed and manufactured in the United States, bringing back the durability and craftsmanship that is American manufacturing to the action sports industry. Skateboarding and snowboarding alike are both centered around constantly pushing your personal progression while also creating new experiences with your friends and family. At SKETCH, we aim to supply you with a quality product that can withstand a thrashing and will be sure to make your individual creativity stand out in the streets or on the mountain with attention grabbing artwork and aesthetics.
Any big plans?
The future for SKETCH is an exciting one and I am super ready for the upcoming spring release! I am currently in the midst of working with the team on preparing designs, decks, garments and accessories for our newest collections that will be launching in February 2022 during our showcase at the Agenda Show in Las Vegas. The three collections that we are currently developing pull inspiration from ancient greek gods, our love and admiration for the city of Los Angeles, and American warbird fighter jet designs from World War II. Stay tuned!
Pricing:
- $50 – Skateboard Decks
- $115 – Skateboard Completes
- $580 – 2022 ‘Ballista’ Camber Twin Snowboard
- $20–30 – Short Sleeve Shirts
- $55 – Outerwear
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.sketchskateboards.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sketchskateboards
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sketchskateboards
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/SketchSkateboards
- Other: www.la-tay.com
Image Credits
Monica Griffin, Taylor Watson, Troy Watson and Matt Conrod.
