Skateboard industry pioneer, Rodney Smith, has come full circle. From starting Shut Skates in 1986, to spearheading Zoo York in 1993 (and subsequently selling it to Marc Ecko Enterprises), he’s now back where he started, breathing new life into Shut Skates, which he co-owns with Eli Morgan Gessner, Adam Schatz and Greg Chappman. With only five employees working out of the basement of their soon-to-be opened retail store on Orchard Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Shut Skates’ team is the epitome of grass roots. No fancy offices for these folks -- try three rooms, a space heater and dreams of becoming the next big thing to hit East Coast skateboarding.

Considering Smith’s ever-present need to stay organized throughout twenty-years of sweat and labor for skateboarding’s sake, it’s little surprise that he credits his Billykirk leather pack with keeping him in check. Billykirk is the brainchild of two LA-based (by way of Minnesota) leather artisans who built their company, and its covet-worthy accessories, from the ground up. Over a few shots of tequila (an aid in staying warm within his cold office), Smith took the time to tell psychoPEDIA about Shut’s new plans and divulge details on why his trusty leather pack works so well. In his own words:

When did it all begin?
The Shut evolution actually started in 1986, but my ex-partner, Bruno Musso and I, didn’t start taking what we were doing seriously until there was a demand for what we were making. That was inwards around 1988 to 1989. Prior to that we were a traveling skate team, fresh out of school, having fun….

Even though you were young and having fun, you’ve maintained a strong business ethic; starting with Shut, then Zoo York and now with Shut Skates again….
Yeah, I was always the den mother for the kids. Our persona gave off the feeling that we were a little tougher and rougher. We set out to be this group of individuals that was basically a support group, who didn’t have such stable homes and to help them. Many of the soon to be pro-skaters for Shut and Zoo York didn’t have a lot of direction with skateboarding and we helped them.

When you sold Zoo York you made a killing from Marc Ecko and could’ve said, “I’m done.” Why didn’t you?
I wasn’t finished yet. Nothing can turn my mind off of skateboarding. I immediately knew I needed to keep the momentum going when I first ended Shut to then start Zoo York, because if I didn’t, someone was going to eat my lunch. Skateboarding was just wide open and someone would’ve just taken it. And then with Zoo York, with the selling of that brand, the end came for all of us at the point when we started having talks and conversations with the Ecko family. Zoo York took on a new face at that point. We knew we’d entertain that idea of selling the company if we had gotten it to a certain level. [But] personally, my big drive is to help out anyone that has anything to do with it on the East Coast. There are too many lost souls and lost skaters that don’t have a lot of direction, and that’s what drove me to stick with it.

So, throughout the years, what’s an item that’s been tried and true to help you stay organized?
Well, the more recent item I’ve purchased is this Billykirk pack. I’m sort of a pack rat myself and I’m not very good at keeping receipts, so this pack helps me out a lot.

What do you like about it?
It’s a very simple design made out of leather. You can perfectly fit a blackberry phone inside, with room for business cards and other things. It’s attached to my belt, because it has a loop where you can run your belt through the loop. Super simple. Back in the day, during the 80’s, Bruno Musso was Mr. Fanny Pack guy. He’d always have his fanny pack and stuff shit inside. People are making fun of me now too and saying, ‘what the hell is that thing?’

Where did you find it?
I didn’t buy it from an official Billykirk dealer; I actually bought it off this guy on the street in Williamsburg! Some dude on the street selling random stuff!

No way!
Yup, I saw it and said, ‘I’ll take it!’ Sold it to me for $10 bucks!

After all you’ve been through, you really are going back to basics and back to your original punk rock and grass roots mantra!
You know, I feel really good about it too and just the thought of going back to where I belong is very exciting to me…

~Jessica McMenamin

Get Yours:
Billykirk is sold in both the US and Japan at stores like Takashimaya, Ron Herman, Aloha Rag, and Barneys.

First photo by Alan Ying
Third photo by Stoked Mentoring via Flickr
Last photo by Gregg Chapman