Culture Kings

Culture Kings is a streetwear clothing and accessories retailer established in 2008.[1] Founded in Gold Coast, Australia by Simon and Tah-nee Beard, Culture Kings has 8 storefronts open in Australia, as well as one storefront in Auckland, New Zealand.[2]

Culture Kings
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded2008
Founders
  • Simon Beard
  • Tah-nee Beard
Areas served
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United States
ProductsClothing and accessories
Ownera.k.a Brands
Websiteculturekings.com

History

Prior to Culture Kings' founding, co-founder Simon Beard re-sold shoes and hats on eBay under the name 'Culture Kings'. Beard, with wife Tah-nee, founded Culture Kings in 2008 and opened the first Culture Kings store in Southport, a suburb of Gold Coast.

On 8 January 2017, Culture Kings' Acacia Ridge warehouse was destroyed in a fire, resulting in the loss of $500,000 worth of products.[1][3]

As of 2021, Culture Kings has 8 stores open in Australia and New Zealand, with 2 stores in Melbourne, and Sydney, and one store each in Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, and Auckland.[2] Culture Kings original Southport store was closed in 2018.

In March 2021, the founders of Culture Kings sold the company to Boston-based Summit Partners' a.k.a Brands for $307.4 million in cash and 23.3 million shares in a.k.a Brands. Simon Beard remained CEO of Culture Kings while Tah-nee Beard was its COO.[4]

On 24 July 2021, Culture Kings opened its first storefront outside of Australia in Auckland, New Zealand.[5] In November 2022, Culture Kings opened their first U.S. store in Las Vegas.[6] In January 2023, Simon and Tah-nee Beard left their executive roles at Culture Kings. Simon remained on a.k.a's board, and both stayed on as advisers to Culture Kings.[4]

In 2022, Culture Kings received a Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Award.[7]

In October 2023, CreditRiskMonitor reported that Culture Kings' parent A.K.A. Brands was nearing a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.[8]

Collaborations

As of 2021, Culture Kings has collaborated with Champion,[9] Timberland,[10] Odd Future,[11] Kappa,[12] and G-Shock.[13]

Controversies

Hosier Lane

In 2018, Culture Kings opened its Melbourne storefront in Hosier Lane; an important site in Melbourne street art due to its history and perceived 'free-for-all' status.[14] After its opening, Culture Kings created various murals and began enforcing street art usage within the lane, which went against the lanes previous 'free-for-all' status.[14] This culminated in the destruction of artwork in the lane by masked men, whom sprayed the lane with fire extinguishers.[15][16] In an interview with The Age, one of the perpetrators stated this was done to protest the commercialisation of the lane by Culture Kings, as well as by the Melbourne City Council.[17][15]

Mike Tyson lawsuit

In 2021, boxer Mike Tyson lodged a civil case against Culture Kings for allegedly using his image and name in products without permission.[18][19] The products in question feature Tyson's image with text including "Mike Tyson", which has been trademarked by Tyson since 2010.[19]

References
  1. "Culture Kings Origins: From the Ashes, an Empire". Shopify Plus. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  2. "CULTURE KINGS STORES". Culture Kings. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  3. "Culture Kings suspends online sales". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  4. Bailey, Michael (20 March 2023). "Why Rich Lister Simon Beard left Culture Kings". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  5. International, Retail & Leisure (14 May 2021). "Culture King Makes New Zealand Debut". Retail & Leisure International. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. Bailey, Michael (20 March 2023). "Why Rich Lister Simon Beard left Culture Kings". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. "Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame: Culture Kings". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame | State Library Of Queensland. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  8. "11 retailers at risk of bankruptcy in 2023". Retail Dive. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  9. "Culture Kings x Champion Collaboration Capsule". Culture Kings. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. "Timberland x Culture Kings". Culture Kings. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. "Odd Future x Culture Kings Collab Is Fire 🔥". Culture Kings. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  12. Kappa X Culture Kings World Exclusive, retrieved 24 July 2021
  13. "Culture Kings X G-Shock Collaboration". Culture Kings. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  14. "Painting in Hosier Lane is not legal". CBD News. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  15. "One Of The Hosier Lane". Pedestrian TV. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  16. "Melbourne's Hosier Lane Has Been Paint-Bombed by a Group of Masked Artists". Concrete Playground. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  17. Miller, Nick (12 February 2020). "'Art is supposed to provoke emotion': Hosier Lane paint-bomber speaks out". The Age. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  18. Powell, Dominic (8 June 2021). "Mike Tyson sues Australian streetwear retailer Culture Kings for 'deceptive' T-shirts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  19. "'Iron Mike': Tyson suing Australian streetwear retailer". Fox Sports. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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