(Image: Albie Clark)
A global footwear and clothing brand has teamed up with Scotland's longest-running independent skate shop to celebrate the store’s 25th anniversary.
Founded in April 2001, Focus Skateboard Shop has spent a quarter of a century operating as a cornerstone of the Scottish skateboarding community, supplying hardware, footwear and clothing from its store on Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile.
As part of its milestone celebration, Focus has collaborated with New Balance Numeric, the dedicated skateboarding footwear and apparel division of New Balance, to launch a limited-edition skate shoe.
The New Balance Numeric 480 Focus Scotland shoe features a blue suede and white leather upper decorated with custom unicorn graphics in homage to Scotland's national animal.
The premium collaborative sneaker comes in custom bespoke packaging within a handmade tote bag crafted by historic local tailors Stewart Christie & Co, and accompanied by a limited 24-page commemorative zine illustrated by renowned skate artist Jon Horner.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated release on Saturday, October 17, a teaser promotional video, filmed in the Scottish Highlands, has appeared on social media.
To celebrate the anniversary and the release, Focus is hosting a special party at The Pitt Market along the Granton waterfront in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 17, featuring a 16-foot-wide, 5-foot-high mini ramp built by Odyssey Skateparks, a brand-new video premiere and exclusive product launches.
In 2015, Focus collaborated with Scottish post-rockers Mogwai on a limited-edition line of skateboard decks and t-shirts to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary. The skateboards featured artwork incorporating the band's iconic album covers.
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The collaboration was initiated by Focus founder Sibs Roberts, who combined his love for the band with Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite’s well-known passion for skateboarding.
Five years later, Focus also released a Dee Dee-inspired Yoker skateboard in an unofficial homage to Scottish comic Limmy and his cult-favourite character, with 100% of the profits from the sales of the boards going to Glasgow North West Foodbank, which covers the Yoker area.
The New Balance Numeric 480 Focus Scotland shoe will be available to purchase at Focus Skateboard Shop and online from 10am on Saturday, October 17.