The skateboarding world has seen a surge of new board companies recently, making it hard to keep track of them all. While many fade away quickly, a few manage to stand out, usually because they serve their community, have unique designs, or are led by someone compelling. Pearls Skateboards, founded by the multifaceted designer Tobi Stanley, seems to check all these boxes. Our Aussie correspondent, Josh Sabini, sat down with Tobi to explore the story behind the brand.
Tobi Stanley, founder of Pearls Skateboards, posing with a skateboard.
So, with all the current production issues, why launch yet another board company?
Tobi laughs, admitting, “It probably doesn’t.” Her journey started with a lifelong passion for sewing and eight years of screen printing experience, combined with a love for skateboarding. Combining all these interests felt like the next natural step. After studying graphic design, the idea for Pearls Skateboards finally came to fruition.
Pearls’ Instagram username was initially @pearls_hardware, were you inspired by Bronze’s approach?
Tobi admits, “Yeah, pretty much.” She was drawn to Bronze’s strategy and initially aimed to keep the brand’s focus within skateboarding. While she quickly changed the Instagram name, the email contact with “hardware” remained, an unintentional and permanent reminder of its initial concept.
What’s the story behind the name “Pearls”?
Tobi explained that she was always wearing pearls at the time, and liked the feminine touch it added. Naming her brand took some time, but “Pearls” stuck. She also found the letters visually appealing to work with. Ironically, since the day she named it Pearls, she hasn’t worn a pearl necklace.
Why is it important to have a local brand within a community?
Tobi believes that smaller brands, driven by passion rather than profit, have more freedom in their designs. This freedom allows them to reflect the community’s ideas and serve as a platform for local scenes. There’s also a strong local shop support for local brands, which is a great boost. Having a close community gives Tobi a lot of confidence. If she’s unsure about a design, she gets feedback from her friends. This support means everything to her.
Pearls T-shirts have been spotted worldwide, from Japan to Canada. How did you gain international recognition?
Tobi explains that meeting international crews visiting Melbourne was key. Friendships were forged while skating, and collaborations naturally followed. Shari White’s visit to film Portal to Melbourne led to more connections, with those individuals supporting Pearls by buying the first 30 shirts she ever printed. Tobi appreciates Shari’s guidance and the support that made her feel less like an outsider in the industry.
Tobi Stanley standing with Adelaide Norris, both wearing Pearls Skateboards shirts.
Is there any real money to be made running a board company?
Tobi says that small board companies are driven by passion, not profit. She hasn’t touched a cent of Pearls’ profits, reinvesting it back into the business for things like cut and sew projects, team trips, and paying photographers and filmers. While there’s no monetary gain, the amazing experiences and trips make it worth it.
What do you do for a living, outside of Pearls?
Tobi works full-time as a manager for a screen-printing company. She manages client relations, handles bookings, invoices, scheduling, artwork, color separations, press checks, and shipping. Her boss is very supportive, allowing her to work on Pearls during work hours, which is very helpful for balancing both ventures.
Do they allow you to print Pearls clothing and boards at your workplace?
Tobi prints all of Pearls clothing at the company, which is incredibly convenient and allows her to utilize unique printing techniques and specialty inks. When it comes to the boards, Tobi relies on the expertise of the DSM woodshop, ensuring high-quality products. She meticulously selects Pantone colors for her designs, obsessing over making them perfect.
A person performs a slappy trick on a skateboard.
Your crew organized a surprise party when the boards arrived, were you aware of it?
Tobi was completely surprised. She noticed some suspicious group chat activity, feeling left out, and then it all came together. The surprise party, though last-minute, was a blast. It was a memorable moment, demonstrating the strong friendships within the Pearls community.
Before starting Pearls, you studied fashion design and graphic design, right?
Tobi holds a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and a diploma in graphic design. She specifically pursued graphic design to create graphics for her t-shirts. She believes the graphic design skills are essential for running a skate brand, making it incredibly hard without that knowledge.
Tobi Stanley with various colorful skateboards.
Do you feel that studying graphic design helped you with your designs?
Tobi considers graphic design the most crucial element of starting a skate company. Unlike fashion brands, skate brands heavily rely on graphics. Without formal graphic design knowledge or expertise in the programs, it would be very hard to run a successful skate brand.
Where did the inspiration for the Pearls logo come from?
The original logo was a simple ’90s-style design. The new logo, featured on the boards, originated from a graphic design university project focusing on Aldo Novarese, the creator of the Euro-style font. Tobi experimented with the font, widening it and adding a 15% shear to create her own version, breaking some traditional graphic design rules in the process.
What would your dream collaboration be, in and out of skating?
Within skateboarding, Tobi dreams of collaborating with Pass~Port, aiming for an Australian collaboration. Outside of skating, she admires Miu Miu, Prada’s youthful counterpart, consistently being impressed by their collections.
Tobi Stanley looking fashionable, holding a skateboard.
How does your appreciation for high-end fashion influence your design process?
Tobi draws inspiration from Vogue’s runway collections, studying spring/summer and autumn/winter collections each season. She sees this as her way to engage with top designers and their latest work.
Where else do you find inspiration?
Tobi also explores thrift store books, visits libraries for art books, and dives into her collection of around 500 old magazines like The Face, Dazed and Confused, and i-D. Big Brother magazines also spark her creativity. This exploration process helps generate around 70-80 designs, which she then narrows down to 4-5 final pieces.
Tobi Stanley screen printing a design.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Tobi is currently captivated by remote-control vehicles, experimenting with cars, planes, and boats. She also enjoys fishing and recently started surfing, trying to regain her childhood skills. She is learning to film as well and also has a harp that she’s recently started playing again. She finds it relaxing and can play any song, even Lil Peep’s “Star Shopping”, making it sound beautiful.
When did you learn to play the harp?
Tobi started playing the harp at 21 or 22 for two and a half years, but had to stop when she broke her hand. With a recent gift of a hired harp, she is getting back into it.
The Pearls Skateboards crew posing together.
Who is currently on the Pearls team?
The Pearls team consists of Jenna Cutting, Vanessa Miles, Ziggy Williams, and Hollie Houlihan-Mckie.
Does it bother you to be labeled a “diverse” board company rather than simply a board company?
Tobi acknowledges that she looks forward to a future where Pearls is simply recognized as a skateboard company, moving beyond labels.
Pearls Skateboards is more than just a brand; it’s a testament to passion, community, and unique design. Tobi Stanley’s commitment to her craft and her community positions Pearls for a bright future in the skateboarding world.
