Our Designers: Cycle

Cycle

"Love the world as it is, dream of how it could be."

Going over a customers' specifications.

Design is transferred onto the wooden surface using a silk screen.

An old window is smashed into powder-like micro sediments-
the glass is used as a grip.

The powder is poured onto the board for 20 minutes.
Large pieces of glass are then removed and left to completely dry overnight.

Final product.

Described as "a way of life, and a way of viewing and understanding our ever complex and mysterious world", Cycle creates beautiful eco-friendly products that range from skateboards to hats to shirts. 

Started in San Francisco amongst a group of friends, shaping cruiser boards in the heart and soul of the Tenderloin district, Cycle has grown to become a global collaborative network. Cycle believes in cruising, collaborating, innovating and respecting local culture and improving our planet into a clean and beautiful place.

Read on to learn more.

Who are the brains behind Cycle?

Sheyen Ikeda: Founder (The engine)
Rei Shirako: President (The car)
Haruhiko Sato: Sales (The gasoline)

Why the name "Cycle"?

Sheyen: The word 'Cycle' is derived from several ideologies.

First, we believe in a closed loop cycle of production where no waste is created through the manufacturing of our products.

Second, we will reconstitute waste, trash and debris and convert them into products.

Lastly, we believe that every human being is connected and we are all involved in this cycle of human development.

Just as we respond to the cycle of seasons that alter our way of life, we believe we have to respond to the cycle of time.

How did you guys come up with the idea of using recycled materials to create skateboards and hats?

Sheyen: Japan produces approximately 512 million tons of consumer waste (enough to fill up 138 baseball stadiums) and 4.12 billion tons of manufacturing waste every single year. We, as citizens of this consumer driven world, are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction.

We want to set a paradigm shift in the way we produce and consume our products. No more waste, and if it is necessary to extract raw materials from our environment, we want to make sure that the material is recyclable.

So we came up with a system that allows us to use the things we had. We believe, through intuitive design, we can change the way consumers view a product. We believe that one persons trash is another persons gold, but it is through design that we can close the loop of production and consumption, and create a sustainable cycle in preserving and beautifying our planet.

Aside from skateboards, Cycle also makes shirts and hats using recycled materials. Most of the fabric used in making hats come from old pants, yukatas and dead stock. Each hat is made with love, thought and care.

First line of hats being made.

The change in season calls for a change in design. The hats above were designed and created to suit the autumn and winter season.

To pre-order Cycle's designs, visit our site once we launch! Head over to Cycle's Facebook to check out more photos or visit their website for more information about the process of creating hats.