Iconic Santa Cruz art lifted for high fashion?

Surf Culture

Santa Cruz brand's artwork very similar to Jeremy Scott's Fall 2013 line

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 February, 2013 : - - If some in Santa Cruz have their way, the Screaming Hand will soon haunt the dreams of Jeremy Scott. Scott is a famous fashion designer -- 'Fashion's Last Rebel,' as the New York Times called him -- who is the object of a growing flame war on the Internet. He is being accused by legions of Santa Cruzans of stealing the designs of iconic Santa Cruz graphic artists Jim and Jimbo Phillips.

Scott's Feb. 13 fashion show in New York, debuting his fall 2013 line, likely would have escaped the notice of most Santa Cruzans if not for several outfits that bore a strong resemblance to the work of the father and son duo who, between them, are responsible for many of the most famous looks in skateboard design, including the famous "red dot" logo for Santa Cruz Skateboards and the blue "Screaming Hand" logo.

"We want to expose this guy," said Dustin Graham, a Santa Cruz artist who helped launch the flame war by putting together a photographic side-by-side comparison between the work of Jimbo Phillips and the designs Scott brought down his runway in New York. "The skate community has really gotten behind this. I mean, this guy is Mr. Hollywood who thinks he can get away with this. I'm an artist myself so this means a lot."

Jimbo Phillips was reluctant to comment on the controversy. NHS Inc., the Santa Cruz-based skateboard manufacturer that owns the copyright to many of the Phillips designs, has not announced plans for legal action against Scott, who has not publicly commented on the controversy.

"The response has been overwhelming," Phillips said. "Skaters have been very passionate about it."

Read the full article at Santa Cruz Sentinel

An open letter from Robert A. Denike, CEO and President, NHS, Inc. / Santa Cruz Skateboards

Hello, We are having a problem with this person ripping off Phillips and Santa Cruz artwork. Please help us spread the word. You can use the information below. This is the image that kicked it all off, we did not produce this link or the attached image of it, we are not sure who did produce it:
 
We had never heard of Jeremy Scott until it was brought to our attention. This is not a collaboration or under license, nor did we or the Phillips family approve the use of this artwork on his apparel designs in any way. It's obvious to us, the Phillips family, the fans of Jim Phillips Sr. and Jimbo Phillips, and fans of the brand Santa Cruz Skateboards, as well as many in the global skateboard and skate art community that there is clear and obvious infringement by Mr. Scott. We are discussing this with our legal team to determine our next steps.

These two artists and this brand are iconic. Any true fan of skateboarding will tell you how the Phillips artwork style, this brand and the activity of skateboarding has positively influenced their lives. It may just be artwork to Mr. Scott, to be used and thrown away by next season, but these artists and brand mean a lot to many people around the world. And by the looks of the outcry on social media, skateboarders and non-skater's alike are angry to have two of their most favored artists and one of the original true skateboard brands violated in such a way.

I hope that Mr. Scott sees that his actions have hurt and affected many people, including the Phillips family, and that he has also severely damaged his own reputation. It is not too late for him to do the right thing, as an artist and creative person, and fix his error in judgement. Many people have concluded that Jeremy Scott must have obtained a copy of Jim Phillips Sr. book "The Skateboard Art of Jim Phillips" published in 2007. 
 
There is some obscure art in the book that Jeremy Scott lifted and it could only have come from that book.

Thanks for helping expose this.

Robert A. Denike
CEO & President
NHS, Inc.

www.nhs-inc.com

Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel/NHS

Author: The Editors

Tags: Santa Cruz Skateboards, Jim Phillips, Culture

Culture: Surfersvillage