Aside from Kendall Jenner’s Instagram feed and the modelling career of one Chantel Jeffries, I know nothing about fashion. I don’t know how it’s conceived, how it goes into production, or how it gets the renown necessary to be paraded on a runway at a fashion show. What I do know, or at least like to think I know, is a good clothing brand when I see one, and that’s why I want to tell you about RIPNDIP.
If you know a skater, or someone who frequents local skate shops, you’ve probably seen RIPNDIP clothing. Immediately recognizable are the patterns of alien heads among the star, emblazoned with the text, “WE OUT HERE,” and white cats flicking off the world. The feline, known as Lord Nermal, and alien duo are the heralds of a new age of streetwear, founded by alternative genius, Ryan O’Connor. O’Connor founded the line back in 2009 in Orlando, FL, when he would write RIPNDIP on his skateboard at a skate camp. Eventually he started making shirts, distributing them to his fellow skaters at camp much to the chagrin of the camp counsellors and staff. Apparently, those shirts became even more popular than the camp’s shirts and instigated a bit of discontent with the staff. The next thing O’Connor did was purchase his own screen printer, setting it up in his mom’s garage and making as many shirts as he could to distribute at local skate parks. To quote the man himself, it was, “…just the boys, in a van, nothing to lose, nothing to gain, just a bunch of shirts to give out.” O’Connor and his friends would continue to swarm parks with their products, riding with his friends as their own skate team. No pros, just O’Connor and his friends.
Following their success, O’Connor and the crew moved to LA to start an official store in the southern California area, with one of his goals being to keep things relatively small. Ryan still wanted to do most of the fabric pick-up work on his own, breathing life into new fabrics he’d find skating around the city. With the small staff, he picked up artist Jayme Lemperle to do most of the designs you can see on the clothes today, from the flamingos and aliens to the cats and naked ladies. From there, history is still being written. Most recently, O’Connor has opened a pop up shop in Fairfax, CA on the same block as a Diamond Supply Co. and directly next to a Supreme clothing store, and it was one banger of an opening. The shop is filled with inspired art featuring a wall of tvs featuring the sacred details of an alien Kamasutra, and the virgin Mary holding our one true savior, Lord Nermal. As of this writing, the RIPNDIP snapchat has only shown a constantly full store of skaters and urbanites of all ages. It’s not surprising to go to the store and see little kids taking pictures with Lil Mayo, another popular clothing mascot for the brand of the alien’s name, while also seeing the freshest 90 year-old with a RIPNDIP pom beanie decked out in collectible pins straight cruisin’ on his mobility scooter.
Most recently, the shop has been offering free tattoos featuring various designs of alien heads, flying saucers, and cats showing off their behinds. The amount of people lining up outside and the quality of the tattoos can only be described as majestic. There is so much more love out there for felines and extra-terrestrials than I ever thought, and it fills me with hype.
My personal experience with RIPNDIP products is full of promotion and deep appreciation. I love the few clothes of theirs that I have, and I only plan on giving them more of my hard to find, college kid money. The shirts are super comfortable, have a nice slim fit, and most of them feature frockets (front pockets) emblazoned with different designs. The socks are comfy, with enough cushion to block most skateboard hits to the shins. My personal top three of what I have yet to own would be the “go away” doormat/rug, then the Lord Nermal pocket T, with the “We Out Here” camp hat at the tip top. Check out all of their products right here, they just launched their spring 2016 line alongside some dope pins to make all of your lapels even fancier than they are. Just remember to keep your cats close, and your UFOs even closer.
Follow Ryan O’Connor and his boys on twitter and Instagram @RIPNDIP and on snapchat @webad
