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

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]

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. 1 2 "Culture Kings Origins: From the Ashes, an Empire". Shopify Plus. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "Painting in Hosier Lane is not legal". CBD News. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  15. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "'Iron Mike': Tyson suing Australian streetwear retailer". Fox Sports. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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