It all started with a bit of chance and messages exchanged in the midst of a pandemic by Jeff Boardman and Fabien Allègre, brand director at Paris Saint-Germain.
“During confinement, I escaped by talking to people abroad on Instagram, explains the general manager of Clown Skateboards.
I didn't realize Fabien was from PSG.
As the conversation progresses, the two men end up learning more about their respective goals.
“We shared a state of mind: football, like skateboarding, is both mind and body, claims the Briton.
There was common ground between the way PSG and our company work.
The idea of a first collaboration then emerges.
“It's not just for profit, it's mostly a natural arrangement,” promises the skateboard enthusiast.
According to the club press release, this relationship should benefit "a maximum number of children".
Clown had already committed to promoting skateboarding among young people.
🛹 #BackOfTheNet@PSG_Inside X Clown Skateboards
💻 Online at https://t.co/2fYHHLq0nb and https://t.co/nCSsTfMD7I now
🛍 Available in store from June 21 ⤵️
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) June 15, 2022
Delighted to be associated with the image of the Ile-de-France Club Foundation, the skateboard brand was given carte blanche.
“The employees of the French club did not come to the production site.
They really trusted our vision”, explains the CEO of Clown.
For the latter, this range of 24 pieces, consisting of boards, t-shirts, sweatshirts or balls, is the most successful of the London company "in terms of manufacture and design".
"The Beginning of a Journey"
But is this mixture of Parisian logos and skater equipment compatible?
"This merger can work, provided we find a common path and not just associate the names of Clown and PSG for marketing", philosopher Boardman.
Skate Palace and Juventus were the first to link the worlds of football and ramps.
A necessarily daring bet.
“Every time you skate, you take a risk, recalls the Londoner.
You don't advance if you don't try anything risky.
»
"I'm crossing my fingers that the clientele is split 50/50 between skateboarders and PSG fans," continues Boardman.
We created decks for skaters so hopefully they'll be on board.
“While stocks are limited and each item has been made in the United Kingdom, “the pieces will be available in PSG stores in Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York and Doha as well as in English skate shops from of June 21.
»
The designs were also inspired by the culture of the French capital and the two American cities.
Next time, Clown's CEO hopes to sell the products in other French stores.
According to him, this first range is “the beginning of a journey”.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/AOBMHOXPJJDWVDCPFI74HQWVNE)