Fallen Footwear

Fallen Footwear is an American skateboarding footwear and apparel brand established in 2003 by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas after his departure from Circa. The brand was created around a skateboarding-first philosophy, combining technical skate shoes with apparel and media intended to support professional riders, independent skate shops, and the wider skateboarding community. At launch, Fallen products were manufactured and distributed under licence by DC Shoes. That arrangement ended in 2005 after Quiksilver acquired DC Shoes. The separation was described as amicable, and Fallen subsequently used Thomas's Black Box Distribution for sales and distribution. This period helped establish Fallen as a recognizable specialist footwear label within the skateboarding market. The brand was associated with a prominent professional team and with footwear designs such as The Clipper, The Patriot, The Rival, Trooper, and Forte. Fallen's offer extended beyond shoes. Its product range included flannel shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, snapbacks, backpacks, jeans, shorts, skateboarding videos, and other lifestyle-oriented goods. At its peak, the brand reportedly offered 17 footwear models in more than 50 colorways. Its identity was closely linked to professional skateboarding and to video-driven product storytelling, including the 2008 skate film Ride the Sky and the documentary project Roads Less Traveled. On April 11, 2016, Jamie Thomas announced that Fallen was ending operations. The brand's own explanation emphasized the increasing difficulty of operating a skate-shoe business while remaining committed to working with skate shops and supporting skateboarding. Fallen was consequently out of the market for roughly two years, with no new products created from Spring 2016 during the shutdown period. Town Connection, an investment group headquartered in Buenos Aires, acquired the worldwide Fallen trademark on January 1, 2018, according to the brand's published history. The new owner planned a worldwide relaunch that would combine established Fallen designs with new models and selected apparel. A relaunch followed in February 2019 with several original or returning riders, including Chris Cole, Tommy Sandoval, and Billy Marks. Chris Cole had previously left Fallen for DC Shoes in 2011 and returned to the relaunched team in 2019. Fallen's historical significance rests primarily on its connection to the professional skateboarding culture of the 2000s and early 2010s. Rather than positioning itself as a general athletic-footwear company, it built its identity around skate performance, rider credibility, independent retail, and visual media. Its post-2018 ownership and relaunch preserved that heritage while attempting to reintroduce the brand to a global market.

Fallen Footwear was founded in 2003 by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas after he left Circa. From the beginning, the company was designed as a specialist skateboarding brand rather than a broad athletic-footwear business. Its identity centered on skate performance, professional riders, independent skate shops, and the culture surrounding skateboarding. The brand initially entered the market through a manufacturing and distribution agreement with DC Shoes. DC produced and distributed Fallen under licence from Thomas. In 2005, the arrangement ended after Quiksilver acquired DC Shoes. The split was characterized as amicable; DC president Ken Block described Fallen as a leading emerging footwear brand in skateboarding. After the agreement ended, Fallen products were sold and distributed through Black Box Distribution, associated with Thomas. During its principal operating period, Fallen developed a broad range of skate shoes and apparel. Its best-known footwear models included The Clipper, The Patriot, The Rival, Trooper, and Forte. The wider collection included flannels, hoodies, T-shirts, snapback caps, backpacks, jeans, and shorts. The company also used skateboarding films and videos as important vehicles for presenting its riders and brand identity. In 2008 it released Ride the Sky, featuring riders including Billy Marks, Brian Hansen, Chris Cole, Gilbert Crockett, James Hardy, Jamie Thomas, Josh Harmony, Matt Bennett, Tommy Sandoval, and Tony Cervantes. Fallen also began work on a documentary project titled Roads Less Traveled. The brand's professional team was central to its market position. Riders listed in January 2015 included Jamie Thomas, Tommy Sandoval, Brian Hansen, Dane Burman, Jon Dickson, and Tony Cervantes. Chris Cole, a prominent long-time Fallen rider, moved to DC Shoes in 2011. The movement of high-profile riders reflected the competitive and fluid nature of the skateboarding footwear business. On April 11, 2016, Thomas publicly announced that Fallen was disbanding operations. Fallen subsequently stopped creating products from Spring 2016 and remained outside the market for approximately two years. The explanation associated with the closure stressed the challenge of sustaining a skate-shoe company while preserving the brand's mission of supporting skate shops and skateboarding. Rather than compromise that mission, the company chose to withdraw. The brand entered a new phase when Town Connection acquired the worldwide Fallen trademark on January 1, 2018. Town Connection is described as an investment group headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The new ownership planned a global relaunch featuring well-known classic models alongside new styles, with apparel offered in selected territories. The relaunch took place in February 2019. Fallen returned with several original or associated skaters, including Chris Cole, Tommy Sandoval, and Billy Marks, and introduced both revived models and new footwear. Cole returned to the Fallen team in May 2019 after his earlier move to DC Shoes. Zach Doelling was also associated with the relaunched team. Fallen's history therefore consists of three broad phases: its creation and development under Thomas; its withdrawal from the market in 2016; and its trademark-led revival under Town Connection from 2018 onward. Across these phases, the brand retained a distinctive skateboarding orientation and continued to use rider teams, footwear classics, apparel, and skate media to communicate its identity.

• 2019

  Brand relaunch

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Fallen returns with classic and new models and a group of returning or original professional skaters.

• 2018

  Worldwide trademark changes ownership

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Town Connection acquires Fallen's worldwide trademark and announces plans for a global relaunch.

• 2016

  Operations are disbanded

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Jamie Thomas announces the end of Fallen's operations on April 11, 2016.

• 2008

  Ride the Sky is released

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Fallen releases the skateboarding video Ride the Sky, featuring members and associates of its professional team.

• 2005

  DC Shoes agreement ends

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  The licensed arrangement with DC ends after Quiksilver's acquisition of DC Shoes, and Fallen moves to distribution through Black Box Distribution.

• 2003

  Fallen Footwear is founded

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Jamie Thomas establishes Fallen Footwear after leaving Circa.

• 2003

  DC Shoes begins licensed manufacturing and distribution

  [1]Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org

  Fallen enters the market through a manufacturing and distribution arrangement with DC Shoes.

A skateboarding-focused footwear and apparel brand built around professional rider credibility, skate performance, independent skate-shop distribution, and support for skateboarding culture.

• Skateboarding footwear

  The Clipper

  The Clipper is one of Fallen's recognized skate-shoe models and formed part of the brand's core footwear catalog during its principal operating period. It was later identified as one of the classic models associated with the post-2018 relaunch.

• Skateboarding footwear

  The Patriot

  The Patriot was a prominent Fallen skate-shoe model. It belonged to the brand's performance-oriented footwear range and was among the designs associated with Fallen's historical product identity.

• Skateboarding footwear

  The Rival

  The Rival was one of Fallen's principal skateboarding shoe models. It is part of the group of footwear designs for which the brand was known before its 2016 shutdown.

• Skateboarding footwear

  Trooper

  Trooper was a Fallen skateboarding shoe model included among the brand's best-known footwear offerings. It represents Fallen's focus on purpose-built skate shoes and professional-skateboarding distribution.

• Skateboarding footwear

  Forte

  Forte was one of Fallen's notable footwear models. Alongside The Clipper, The Patriot, The Rival, and Trooper, it helped define the brand's historical skate-shoe assortment.

• Skateboarding and lifestyle apparel

  Fallen apparel

  Fallen's apparel range included flannel shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, snapbacks, backpacks, jeans, and shorts. Following the trademark acquisition, apparel was planned for availability in selected territories as part of the brand's relaunch.

• Skateboarding video · 2008

  Ride the Sky

  Ride the Sky is a skateboarding video released by Fallen in 2008. It presented a roster of Fallen riders and associates and served as a piece of brand media as well as a record of professional skateboarding.

• 2019

  Relaunch with classic and new footwearProduct launch

  Background

  Town Connection sought to restore Fallen's presence after the brand's period outside the market.

  Action taken

  Fallen introduced new models alongside established classics and reassembled a team that included Chris Cole, Tommy Sandoval, and Billy Marks.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch re-established Fallen as a skateboarding footwear and apparel brand, although detailed subsequent operating information is not provided in the reference material.

  Source

• 2018

  Town Connection acquires the worldwide trademarkM&A

  Background

  After Fallen's operational shutdown, the brand's worldwide trademark became the basis for a proposed international revival.

  Action taken

  Town Connection acquired the worldwide Fallen trademark on January 1, 2018 and planned a global relaunch using classic and new products.

  Aftermath

  The brand returned to the market in February 2019 with a renewed product line and a team that included several original or returning skaters.

  Source

• 2016

  Withdraw from the market rather than dilute the brand missionStrategy

  Background

  Fallen stated that operating conditions for skate-shoe brands had become increasingly difficult, particularly while maintaining its commitment to skate shops and support for skateboarding.

  Action taken

  Jamie Thomas announced the shutdown of Fallen operations, and the brand stopped creating products from Spring 2016.

  Aftermath

  Fallen remained out of the market for roughly two years before its trademark was acquired and a relaunch was planned.

  Source

1. 1Fallen Footwearen.wikipedia.org