686

686 is a great core snowboard brand that always stayed strong and true to its roots earning itself many a band of loyal followers over the years.  686 was founded upon an idea: to make things better, do things differently, support snowboarding, and naturally have fun.  Being independently rider-owned and run has meant it has always been able to do things its own way, originating from its contrasting skate and mountain history, every collection of 686’s technical apparel over the past 17 yrs, has stayed rooted in and inspired by their progressive street, fashion and mountain lifestyles.

Since Michael Akira West first stepped on a skateboard in the early eighties, he always had ideas.  Mike was engulfed in the progressive street skateboarding scene in Hermosa and Venice Beach, until 1985, when a friend introduced him to snowboarding.  The concept of actually skating on snow was something entirely new.  Throughout the following years, Mike worked and rode at the local mountain in Big Bear, using punk, rap and jazz music as well as his collection of sneakers and vintage clothing as forms of inspiration.  In addition to finishing business school at University of South Carolina, Mike realized that if he was going to do something on his own, it should start when he had nothing to lose.  And that’s exactly how things got started.

On Nov 13, 1992, the 686 clothing company was formed.  The 686 name comes from a crucial date in the life of Mike’s grandmother(June 16th, 1986) and adds up to his age when he started the company.  Since the beginning, 686 has been all about providing the riding community innovative and fashionable outerwear and technical snowboard clothing inspired directly from the same Los Angeles urban and artistic principles it was founded upon.  The company’s ‘more than you expected’ philosophy of providing progressive and fashion forward designs is well known.