Essentials: Mike West of Westlife Distribution Inc.
Ever since he first set foot on a skateboard growing up in the early ’80s, Michael Akira West has
Ever since he first set foot on a skateboard growing up in the early ’80s, Michael Akira West has always had a head full of ideas that only grew. The cultures surrounding first skateboarding then snowboarding as well as his heavy diet of punk, rap and jazz would go on to influence his work which culminated in the forming of 686 in 1992. Having grown leaps and bounds since, 686 now shares a new home in San Diego with recently acquired Matix® and brand partners New Balance Numeric and Dickies under the Westlife Distribution Inc. entity.
Having envisioned 686 as a fashionable brand that specialized in technical apparel, West’s Essentials likewise demonstrate his appreciation for skate- and snowboarding-inspired performance with a GLCR 3L Jacket from 686, a Vestal Guide Watch with altimeter, barometer and compass, and a pair of Bright Highs from New Balance Numeric.
On the personal end, West is always accompanied by his American and Japanese passports for travel along with his choice literature and a portable solar panel to keep his devices powered in the field, and for someone who loves snow as much as he does, it seems fitting that he always keeps some Rocky Road handy. The serene backdrop was provided courtesy of California’s Big Bear.
