GO SKATE DAY x MONISH KHARA

To celebrate Go Skateboarding Day, we spent the day cruising the city with our friend, Australian native, and NYC designer, Monish Khara for a collaboration with Urban Outfitters.

Hey Monish, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm 23. I'm a graphic designer from Melbourne, Australia, but I live here in the States now just been cruising, traveling and working the last couple of years.

How long have you been skating?

Ummmmm probs since I was 16 I think.

What brought you to New York City?

Well, my sister lives here, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to come over here and try living in the Big Apple!

How is the skate scene in NYC compared to Australia?

Everything is just BIGGER. So many more talented skaters, a much bigger skate community, and you can just bump into pros at the park here. Parks are always super crowded though, and thats a downer.

Where are some of your favorite places to skate?

Probably still parks back home, growing up, skating them, you just get to know every nook and cranny and the crew down there. In NY though I'm close to LES skatepark and Astoria is rad too, but a bit of a trek. I don't really skate many street spots.

Working on any cool new projects you want to shoutout?

Yeah, I just finished a zine recently about the 90's skate culture and skate icons like the VX1000, famous spots etc. called 'Degenerate' and the plug for that is on my Instagram (@moonshine.____).

*You can find more work from Monish on his design Instagram account and blog: @monish.khara + https://www.monishkhara.com/blog

How would you describe your style?

Umm, I wear a lot of black and love vintage stuff and sometimes I make my own clothes, so maybe like a combo of a hipster and a goth haha.

Any great Instagram accounts we should be following?

Skating ones??

Oh maaaaan there's so many people shredding on Instagram.

@yungspliff - Dude is a wizard on the board. Gets real creative.

jamie_foy - rail chomper

@frankyvillani - another wizard

@ragingpervert - huge pop

@willy.lara - This dude mainly skates tranny but he's smoooooth as butter.

Man, there's so many more, but I'll leave it there.

Any skaters we should be watching?

Jackson Pilz, Aussie guy out of Queensland. He recently went pro for Enjoi. Some might recognize him from getting MVP on King of the Road last year. Dude rips.

What are your top 3 songs to listen to while skating?

Ummm I listen to house music, which is very different to what I find a lot of skaters listen to, so might be a bit irrelevant. I feel like here, it's always trap or rap music.

Quick Favorites

Favorite Book: The Tao of Wu is dope or maybe a real cliche one, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho that one's super enlightening.

Favorite Skate Video: Hmm tough. Since I'm in New York maybe I'll say "Cherry".

Favorite 90's movie: The Matrix is pretty wild.

Favorite 00's skate shoe: The Kalis 1 for sure. I think DC is doing a reissue early next year so keep ya eyes peeled.

Favorite board you bought for the graphic: The FA graphics with the child photos on them, very cliche, but so original and dope.

To celebrate Go Skateboarding Day, we spent the day cruising the city with our friend, Australian native, and NYC designer, Monish Khara for a collaboration with Urban Outfitters.

DIY FUJIFILM INSTAX MURAL

ISSA MOOD (BOARD)