Skateboarders Want More Skate Shops in Coventry | Suite101.com

Matt Hill, 22, started skating as a teenager - Photo taken by Tara Behan

Skaters appeal for more skate brand shops in the West Midlands.

Although the medieval feel of Spon Street in Coventry has impressed high fashion, lifestyle and popular culture experts, as the street is up for being crowned as being "Britain?s Hippest Street", Coventry is still living in the Dark Ages when it comes to skateboarding.

Walk through Coventry on any day of the week, and you will no doubt come across a bunch of long-haired skateboarders in baggy jeans (okay, that?s a bit stereotypical, but predominantly true) skating down The Precinct, or in University Square, wearing their Element T-Shirts, Vans hoodies and Osiris shoes. ?Fair enough,? some people may say, ?a talented group of young people, embracing their chosen sub-culture.? But does anyone ever ask the question, ?Where do they get their clothes, shoes and skateboards from?? And especially where do they get them from in Coventry?

Coventry only has three main skate brand shops

Like many cities and towns across the West Midlands, Coventry seems to be lacking in the major consumerism of skateboard fashion. Yes, skateboard clothing is a fashion (in some people?s opinions, the best and only fashions a man should ever wear!), and skateboarding is a big business across the West Midlands, especially for teenagers, whose parents are pressured into giving their kids the money to buy the latest skate brand tees, as well as the newest decks and DC?s. With the legendary vintage skate shop, Kong, now only selling classic Adidas, Levi, and Nike merchandise, it means that the city now only has three major skate brand retailers; the new Vans shop (which is situated right next to Kong in The Burges), Two Seasons, and Blue Banana.

Two Seasons, in the lower precinct, is every boarder?s staple high street store, selling everything skateboard-, surfboard- and snowboard-related, from the boards themselves, to t-shirts, jeans, hoodies, coats, ski-wear, shoes and accessories, boasting brands such as Animal, Billabong, Element, Etnies, Fox and Volcom, and is the main shop in the city that skaters buy their clothes from. Vans sells their own authentic trademarked goods, from tees, hoodies, shoes, belts and other accessories, whereas Blue Banana, which is primarily known for its increasingly popular metal edge and its alternative style, plays host to a variety of skate and emo brands such as the infamous Converse All Stars, Dr Martens, Fenchurch, Osiris and Skull Candy, and has a diverse collection of uniquely-inspired shoes. Blue Banana also sells the must-have for any skateboarder; Band T-shirts! And it is also the home of a new type of fashion subculture called Steampunk, which combines traditional Victorian Gothic style with science fiction influences, so it basically looks like someone dressed in last century?s clothes and wearing a pair of flying goggles. Rather scary stuff, really! Skud Clothing in the City Arcade shopping centre sells a collection of the popular skate hats, and American Ecko Jeans, but mainly has a more emo-style feel to it than a skater boy one.

Many customers are resulting to buying their clothes online

And there you have the only shops in Coventry which sell skate clothes. It is no wonder that locals have started ordering their brands online, from websites such as Route One and Street Fusion, or travelling further afield to places like Birmingham, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Royal Leamington Spa, which have more independent retailers and shops like Legends, Fat Face and Extreme Pie.

It isn?t any better for the shops that just sell the skateboards, either. The two main skateboard shops (other than Two Seasons), Ride and Hawk, can be found in Holbrooks and along The Foleshill Road, going into Coventry.

"These types of clothes are in high demand"

Matt, 22, who wears skate brands, says, ?It?s a shame that there aren?t many skate shops around here, because these types of clothes are in high demand, and it means that people have to travel further away to bigger cities such as Birmingham, to find independent skate stores like Ideal at the Custard Factory. I usually buy my skate clothes from Two Seasons, which is the most popular high street skate store. I used to buy my clothes from Free Spirit as well, but all of those shops have closed down now. I also use the websites Route One and eBay to find my favourite brands.?

It?s a shame really, because skateboarding has been popular for years in Britain now, and yet some parts of the country are still totally oblivious to why they need skate shops in their towns. Not only would it boost economy and visitors from different parts of the country, but skateboarding is also a fun and healthy activity for youngsters to participate in. Being a skateboarder is more than just knowing how to skate. It is a talent, a style, a way of life.

The city of Coventry needs to embrace that skateboarding is a part of its culture, and that having more skate shops in the centre will boost trade and economy for the city. As society changes, the city of Coventry needs to as well. Hopefully, this will be the start of more skate shops appearing around Coventry and the West Midlands.

It?s time to get out of the Dark Ages and get your skates on Coventry, the skateboarding revolution has begun!

Copyright Tara Behan. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Source: http://www.suite101.com/content/skateboarders-want-more-skate-shops-in-coventry-a376349

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