The new range from Sex Skateboards landed in-store earlier this week. The reaction has been tremendous, so to compliment this new brand arriving at Chimp we took to the unlikely location of Nidderdale to shoot an in-house editorial showcasing this latest delivery. We also decided to find out a little more about the Sex Skateboards brand and its processes. Yesterday we had a chat with Louis Slater, the founder and designer of Sex Skateboards about the brands origins, inspirations and directions. Read the full interview below. 
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got to this stage in the industry?

I live in Sheffield where I work at my distribution company/skate shop, Slugger. I guess that’s how I got to whatever stage I’m at.

Your background is skate - was it your inspiration for starting Sex Skateboards or was there an ulterior motive?

I started skating at a young age, maybe 11 or something. But my inspiration for the brand wasn’t just skateboarding, it was art. I just wanted to paint on t-shirts and skateboards. 

How many people are involved in the brand? As an artist do you retain full control in the output of designs?

There are a few people involved now. I have control yes, but I’m open to developing other ideas if I feel that they have potential. 

Talk us through the creative process with Sex. What went into your decision to start it as a brand and what continues to inspire you?

The creative process came from 15 years of painting - I didn’t sit down and say I’m going to start a brand. I think there are way too many brands out there and that was the last thing I wanted to do. It just so happened that I painted the Sex logo on a t-shirt by chance and thought it looked too good to not do anything with it.

My inspiration comes from; Skateboarding - Tom Penny, Ali Boulala; Art - Francis Bacon, Van Gogh, Piccaso, Johnathan Messe; Music - Sex Pistols. And anyone else who is doing new things in their own way and not giving a fuck about anybody's opinions or judgements.

Your graphic identity is very bold with the word ‘SEX’ proudly emblazoned on your products. How do the public react to you wearing it on the street?

Some people love it, some people can't believe that your top says 'Sex' on it. Look at Virgin Airlines/music etc., I always loved that name when it first started, now it’s just normal. So maybe Sex will be normal one day. A word is a word, it's how your mind interprets it, then that’s what it becomes in your own reality.

The Internet is pivotal to making or breaking a brand. Would you put your sudden jump into the spotlight down to the powers of the web?

Sex was born on Instagram. 

Where does Sex Skateboards fit in the current landscape of fashion?

If it fits in at all, I don’t know - I’m just making shit that I think is cool. 

What’s coming next? Anything you can give us an exclusive heads up on?

I was only supposed to do this for a year and a half, like the Sex Pistols, but the game plan has changed...