LONDON — Tobey McIntosh founded Crenshaw Skate Club when he was just 14 years old in 2017 in Los Angeles. 

Six years later, while studying computer science at Stanford University, he’s launching a 20-piece ready-to-wear collection and 4 skateboard decks from CSC with Browns. Prices range from 135 kilos to 535 kilos.

“I can’t imagine I’ve had the chance to do something like this out in London and to simply put my ideas on a canvas. The goal of the garments is to inform a message [and shed] light on inner-city skating and show them the importance of it,” said McIntosh on a Zoom call from his university dorm.

“Often once I do like a group, it’s just me by myself, but [Browns] not only let me design, they gave me their whole support, which helped me bring it to life,” he added.

The gathering shall be sold exclusively at Browns’ Brook Street store in London and online at Brownsfashion.com and Farfetch.

McIntosh has designed a black denim co-ord; a black, green and red tie-dye workwear jacket with matching straight-leg trousers; a soft beige three-piece trouser, jacket and shirt combo printed with the Crenshaw Square sign, and playful graphics featured on the skateboard and a small soft teddy wearing a gold chain with the CSC logo.

“I wanted the gathering to symbolize the expansion of CSC over time. I began the brand once I was 14, I’m 20 now and it’s matured with me,” he explained, adding that it is a testament to the brand’s growth.

He desired to create pieces that spoke to his younger self and who he’s now, similar to the logos.

“The brand could also be growing, but we’ll always remember our roots. I wanted to return and play into that,” said McIntosh.

Considered one of the varsity jackets comprises the phrase “Escape to an influence,” which holds sentimental meaning for McIntosh.

“As an inner-city skateboarder and particularly an African American skateboarder, once you skateboard, you skate to not only highlight yourself, but you furthermore mght empower others that appear like you and you’ll be able to show them that they’ll go and skate, too,” he explained.

Through the collaboration with Browns, he got here to understand how much his style and taste has modified since he was younger, when he would all the time go for the brightest and busiest graphic T-shirts, he said.

McIntosh only features members of CSC within the campaign imagery because he sees his team riders as friends that he’s matured with over time.

To kick off men’s London Fashion Week on Friday, Browns shall be hosting a skateboard activation at BaySixty6 with Farfetch Beat 009, a retail concept series that includes products with experiences, hosted by McIntosh.

“After I was talking to the Browns team about doing an event, what I actually desired to do was bring the community together in a way that’s true to CSC, so we selected a skate competition, where we’ll have food and a DJ,” he said.

The skate competition is open to the general public and the winner shall be prized with pieces from the gathering with Browns.

“From the primary moment I connected with Tobey, he impressed me along with his maturity, vision and love for his community,” said Ida Petersson, buying director of Browns and a fellow skateboard enthusiast.

For McIntosh, it was through the pandemic that his community grew with more people taking an interest in learning the way to skate.

“I remember once I desired to get skateboards made during that point, it was super delayed because lots of people were making skateboards,” he said, adding that growing up it was area of interest to see kids with skateboards.