Melbourne-based label Pearls is ushering in a new era of female-focused skateboarding
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHERIDAN LEE FOR PEARLS
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“A skate brand works differently from a fashion label – your team’s skateboarding is equally as important as your designs.”
Growing up female, you’re discouraged from certain activities. Riding motorbikes, playing rough sports, lifting heavy items – anything that risks weeping or a broken bone, really. And thankfully, in the last decade, women and non-binary people have been actively working against ‘delicate’ stereotypes.
Tobi Stanley is one of those people. The founder of Melbourne-based skateboarding label Pearls, Tobi learnt to sew from those who know best – the elderly. After refining her designing and production skills, Tobi decided to combine her great loves: sewing, skateboarding and screen printing.
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After being picked up by Vans’ North America female skate team, Pearls exploded in the local skate community. Tobi shares her experience founding one of Melbourne’s best-known female skate crews.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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I started sewing around year eight. I joined the Janome sewing club in Bunbury, the country WA town I’m from. It was me and a group of 70-year-olds – I loved it. I remember making a jumpsuit with neon paint flicked all over it. I think some of the ladies were pretty scared of my clothing [laughs].
After school, I studied a Bachelor of Fashion majoring in Fashion and Textiles at Curtin University in Perth, then later studied a Diploma of Graphic Design at RMIT here in Melbourne. I’ve also been working in the screen printing industry for around 10 years now.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the processes and the challenges.
I’ve been skateboarding for around 10 years. At some point, it seemed right to combine my passions: skateboarding, screen printing and making clothing. Initially, I thought I had to be completely prepared before I started, with a full brand identity and all the right skills. But as the months went by, it seemed impossible to feel confident.
In early 2020, the North American Vans female skateboard team came to visit Melbourne and film a video. I thought, ‘it’s now or never’. So I picked the name Pearls and finalised the initial graphics for my first tee.
Some of the Vans team bought the tees; I was overwhelmed with the support they’d shown for a small unknown brand. Then, Fast Times and Hemley Skateboarding picked up the brand shortly after. Looking back, I don’t think I was ever going to feel ready – you have to throw yourself in and learn as you go.
What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
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I feel like the brand has always had the same direction – I wanted it to highlight the crew I skated with; the really talented people I felt deserved attention. And I felt being a female – and the team being entirely female or non-binary – I could hopefully look after them well.
I also wanted to create designs that weren’t entirely focused on the male perspective; although skateboarding clothing is usually pretty unisex. I definitely think of what my friends would wear when I’m designing, and I generally show them the draft range to get feedback on the aesthetic and their preferred fits.
How would you describe Pearls to someone who’s never seen it before?
I’d just say it’s a homie Melbourne skateboarding brand. In terms of design, Pearls is vibrant colours, basic shapes and oversized fits – sometimes an element of humour in the designs.
Where did the name come from?
Years back, I used to wear a lot of pearls. I liked that the pearl necklace is so timeless. The name was on a long list of potential names, and I really looked at the word. I liked the way all the letters fit, the one down letter (p) and one up letter (l). It’s fun for creating graphics. It also had the right amount of femininity to suit the brand and the team. I actually haven’t worn a pearl necklace since I picked the name [laughs].
What are you most proud of in your work on your label?
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I’m most proud of the team. I think everyone in the crew is an amazing skater; they’re really pushing the new era of skateboarding. A skate brand works differently from a fashion label – your team’s skateboarding is equally important as your designs.
I feel so blessed that such great skateboarders and friends want to work with me on this. I can’t wait to get the Pearls skate video out, I think it’ll really showcase the team, skating and brand aesthetic. I think that’ll be the proudest moment for all of us involved.
Who do you think is most exciting in Australian fashion right now?
I think Hoddle Skateboards has by far the most exciting designs coming out of skateboarding in Australia. They’re really innovative and they have an amazing team. I also really like what Luka Rey is doing with her swimwear brand in Western Australia. She does very individual cuts, all made to fit, which is so necessary for swimwear. Some of her fabrics are also made in collaboration with local artists, they’re stunning. I can’t wait to watch this brand grow.
Dream Australian collaborators?
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I’d love to collaborate with Passport Skateboards and Hoddle Skateboards. But if I could work with a high-end brand, I’d love to collaborate with Miu Miu – dreams.
How can we buy one of your pieces?
The Pearls website and at Fast Times, Beyond Skate, Hemley Skateboarding, UPS Skate Shop, Passport Store and Gallery, 335 Skate Supply, Lowdown Store and Laate Store.
Start browsing the Pearls collection here.
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