Tobi Stanley Interview

 Tobi Stanley is a pure skateboarder, with passion for everything from making clothes, printing products for brands, producing her own brand Pearls and getting out in the streets having fun with her friends as much as possible. You would struggle to go out skating in Melbourne without at some stage running into Tobi and her crew, always being productive and always having fun. We caught up with Tobi to chat about what she gets up to on the day to day and what she’s been working on lately. 

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Vital stats

Sponsors: DC Shoes

How long have you been skating for: 7 years

From: Bunbury, WA

Now: Melbourne, VIC

 

Who are your favourite skaters and why?

 Elissa Steamer is the GOAT, best style of skating, I could watch her Toy Machine 'Welcome to Hell' part a million times over. She's the reason I learnt switch flips recently, she's the reason why I keep skating, she is the best, could go on forever about her. Anthony Pappalardo as well, love his style and trick choice, love his whole career and I admire that he's an independent thinker. Also love Marissa Dal Santo, Kevin Bilyeu and Una Farrar.

 

Name your ideal skate trip location and crew? 

 I love going to the East Coast of America, especially Philly and New York. Philly because of the crew there like Angie and AJ and hanging around muni. New York because it’s so easy to get from spot to spot and there’s so much happening there, you never know what’s going to be around the corner, literally. In terms of crew, of course everyone is the ideal aha, all my friends on the other side of the world at the same time, that's the dream.

 

What does the daily routine look like for you?

Monday to Friday, get up at 8am, have a coffee and skate to work, work, skate home, then go skate a spot not too far from home like Plaza, Argyle, IMAX etc when I have the energy, every other afternoon try work on Pearls. 

On weekends I try getting up by 9 and out skating by 11am. Meet up with the crew/ warm up at a chill spot like Edi curbs for a bit then go on a mission, we try to stay out in the city or burbs till dark.

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Out in the Melbourne streets with Adelaide Norris getting the angles.

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What is Pearls and can you give us some background on it? Where would you like to take the brand?

 I have loved making clothes since I was really young, at 14 I joined the Bunbury Janome Sewing Club, it was me and like ten 70 year olds, which was pretty fun. I'd be making paint spattered jumpsuits while the rest were making nightgowns or pillow cases. After finishing school and a fashion degree and I knew I didn’t want to be part of the fashion industry, it wasn't for me. Once starting skateboarding I knew I could continue making clothes without having to be in the typical industry. I'd actually briefly started a brand in Perth with a friend but it kind of just fell away after I went travelling the US for 6 months and then moved to Melbourne. 

 

Once arriving here, I knew if I wanted to do a skateboarding brand I would have to be competent at graphic design, so I studied it for a year, and it took me about another year after to come up with the name (cos that's the hardest part!). I finally settled on Pearls because I have been wearing them around my neck for about 8 years already, though if I hadn't gotten sick of the item, the name would probably be ok long term. The brand is for everyone really but I am trying to focus on non-males too. In terms of the future, I don't really know, I'll keep making stuff if people keep wanting it, it's definitely a big part of my life so I want to take it as far as it'll let me.

 

You tackle a lot of roles in your full time career at a screen printing company. Can you give us some background or insight here? How does it impact /affect your skating?

 

My job is the general/production manager at While You Sleep Screen Printing which is kind of full on. I have to run all emails/website quoting, finalising, creating mockups and book-in jobs, while simultaneously working on already booked-in jobs by ordering stock, creating/amending artwork, separating colours for screen exposure, picking inks, organising shipping etc. All while keeping an eye on the workshop for quality control and even helping print on busy days, but I really enjoy making garments for brands I like, it makes it worth it. 

 

Love printing for you guys, Fast Times has such a big array of artwork styles and you guys use some lesser known printing methods like discharge (bleaching fabric) and technical halftones like the "Fire Relief" tee from earlier in the year. Also love working with Hoddle they have such a great aesthetic, doing event tees like the Vans Go Skate Day tee and it was also awesome to make all the DC Shoes tour garments last year including the custom polo's for the pro team. 

 

At work, I am the first person in and last out so it can cut into my skating time but the owner, Dion, is super understanding. If I ever want to leave because there's an event or there's a video cut off date or a filming mission he'll let me out. It's a lot of work but I make it work.

 

Who is one to watch out for in Australian skateboarding?

 There's lots of girls on the come up, Little Estelle (Commando Girl on insta) has been killing it, she's progressing so fast recently, she got a real drive too. Can't wait to watch her skate in a couple years she'll be insane!

 

Did you have any big plans pre Coronavirus pandemic that are now on the back burner as a result?

 For me it’s only been the cancellation of going to the US and Europe to skate this year but I'm just seeing it as a good time to work on building Pearls instead.

 

I see that you are out filming a lot on the regular and have been involved with some epic productions such as the DNL video and Appointment. Are you working on any special projects we should keep an eye out for?

 

Adelaide was going to be making another video like ABD or Appointment this year that I was going to be part of but we already were late off the mark to start filming because Adelaide was waiting to get a new HD camera and now Coronavirus has halted the video again. I doubt it will be happening this year but if the state borders open up we are hoping to do a crew trip to Sydney late in the year and just film a little video while we are there. Plus next year Adelaide and I are hoping to go over to the States/Canada and film with the crew already over there.

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Do you have any advice for young female skaters just getting into skating or wanting to take their skating to the next level?

 My advice for any newby would be to spend as much time on your board as you can, if you can skate as transport everywhere too it'll help you feel comfortable sooner. As a girl if you're at a skatepark, try not to worry no one is really watching you and even if they do look at you for a minute they won't remember your skating tomorrow aha so don't feel embarrassed, don't get too caught up on that otherwise you'll find it really hard to progress. Also, always try to find a crew at your level, it really does help when you push each other.

 

If you want to take your skating to another level go skate street spots, it's a lot harder but so much more rewarding plus skating will never be boring and repetitive. Street spots don’t have to be a 13 stair handrail, there’s spots of all sizes and abilities, just keep your eyes open!

 

Peep Tobi’s brand Pearls at pearlsclothing.com.au or on instagram @pearls.clothing_