From screen printing t-shirts out of his mother’s basement to opening multiple locations across the United States, Ryan O'Connor's RIPNDIP has developed into far more than a skate brand but a lifestyle brand. With aesthetically pleasing graphics and witty catch phrases, RIPNDIP has been selling out the shelves but staying true to its roots. Based in Orlando, Florida but recently moved to Los Angeles, California RIPNDIP has opened pop-up shops on Fairfax avenue in Los Angeles generating great success and allowing them to expand. On April 29th, RIPNDIP launched a pop up store and art gallery hosted by Wallplay in New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood. Since the launch, large quantities of New Yorkers of all ages flocked to 118 Orchard street to skate the RIPNDIP box, check out some of their spring/summer collection and maybe score a free tattoo. Yes, they are giving free tattoos.

This large rectangular blue building with an oversized white cat flipping the bird — grabs the attention of pedestrians walking Delancey Street right away. If this vibrant venue doesn’t capture your attention, the boisterous blasting of board on pavement collision will turn heads right away. Aside from RIPNDIP’s Los Angeles pop-up store, their New York location includes an open street with two boxes for skaters to jebb out. Inside of the store, merchandise from RIPNDIP’s latest releases are on hangers along the walls decorated with art pieces by RIPNDIP’s famous figures: Lord Nermal and Allen the Alien. On the second floor, there is a full art installation with large blow-up figures, a multi-television setup with loops of RIPNDIP’s mascots shredding and LIL MAYO himself. This unique space is operated by Wallplay.

I caught up with Laura O’Reilly the founder and CEO of Wallplay, the host of this artistic haven:

What is Wallplay and how did this collaboration come about?

‘’Wallplay specializes in connecting creative projects to corporate brands, we specialize in hosting different brand pop-ups and art installations, this location is our corporate headquarters.We also have a space on bowery and a gallery in Chelsea that we run. We host physical installations and help them exist virtually online. A mutual friend said that RIPNDIP was looking to do a pop up in New York.I was excited to work with them because he (Ryan) wanted to do something immersive and big, it was exciting to work with someone that wanted to bring his brand to life almost like a funhouse.’’

How did you get into doing this for wallplay? Good or bad experiences?

‘’My background is in gallery directing, I was an at curator and still am. I founded Wallplay to be the bridge between creatives and the corporate world. Over the years, we have hosted pop-ups with Nike, Fila, Cole Haan, RIPNDIP now, Wu-Tang Brand. The most fun is when we are a part of curing the experiences.The worst part is when it’s wack, the company doesn’t do well.’’

What’s it like working in the Lower East Side?

‘’I grew up in manhattan and I’ve seen the neighborhood change.The Lower East Side has always been this melting pot of street meets art. There are so many art galleries popping up everywhere. Wallplay is the platform for corporate brands are able to exist in gallery like structure.We also host our original programming where we work with all artists whether they are sponsored or not for their projects. This being LES and all of the skate shops around here and the culture we knew that RIPNDIP would do well here.’’

This pop-up shop will be running until June 12th lacing you with the freshest clothing and accessories you need for this sizzling summer. RIPNDIP has sold out of skateboard decks including their collaboration with Instagram’s out of this world figure LILMAYO. While trying to boardslide RIPNDIP’s skate box outside of the flagship, I was granted the very last LILMAYO board from the collection. But do not fear, more from RIPNDIP is here.