Description
Shawn Stussy is an American fashion designer and founder of his eponymous brand, Stüssy.
Stussy grew up in California and began making surfboards at the age of 13. Prior to a fashion career, he designed album covers for various bands during the late 1980s and 1990s, designing the artwork for Big Audio Dynamite’s 1991 album, The Globe.
He founded Stüssy in the early 1980’s after he and his assistant began scrawling their surnames on handcrafted surfboards. Stussy then began printing his name on T-shirts and other apparel, which he then sold out of his car around Laguna Beach, California, and soon partnered up with his friend, Frank Sinatra Jr. (no relation to the singer) to sell the apparel. Stüssy expanded into the European market soon after, with boutiques opening nationwide.
It was reported that revenues reached $17 million USD in 1991 and $20 million USD in 1992. At that time, the brand was sold throughout the US in specialty surf and skate boutiques.
In 1996, Stussy resigned as the president of the company and Sinatra bought his share of the company’s holdings. Now, Stussy owns his own label, S/Double Studio.
