Globe International Ltd. is an Australian footwear, clothing, and skateboard hardware company. It was founded in 1985 by three Australian brothers. Globe International's core business is divided between proprietary brands, licensed brands, and distributed brands. The company's international offices are located in Melbourne, Los Angeles, Newport Beach and San Diego, U.S.; Hossegor, France; and Shenzhen, China.[1][2] It is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Globe International
IndustrySkateboard, Surf, Snow, Workwear
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985)
Headquarters
Melbourne, Australia
ProductsShoes, apparel, skateboards, accessories
Websiteglobecorporate.com

History

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The foundation of Globe International was established in the 1980s, with the founding of Hardcore Enterprises, an Australian-based company specialising in products that appealed to the skateboard and street fashion markets. In 1985, former Australian skateboarding champions Peter and Stephen Hill, along with brother and current Globe International CEO Matt Hill, began Hardcore which would later develop into one of the world's largest skateboard distribution companies.[3] The Hills cited that they were unsatisfied with the lack of quality skate products they required, and thus they went into business to import US skate products to Australia.[4]

The Hills continued to promote skateboarding, writing two books on the subject[5][6] and producing skate videos. Through constant promotions, tours, contests, video and magazine advertising, Hardcore became a driving force behind the skateboarding explosion during the mid-1980s in Australia and New Zealand. The first diversification company "Die Hard Pty Ltd" was founded in 1987 as a clothing and accessories division of the business. Die Hard's first licensed label was Vision Streetwear.

Die Hard went on to produce premier labels under license for the Australian and New Zealand markets such as Stüssy, Mossimo, Freshjive, Paul Frank, Eckō Unltd., Counter Culture, Split, Girl Star, Undergirl and World Industries. The Hills also co-founded the streetwear brand Mooks which also operated under the Die Hard umbrella. Die Hard became known as Globe International's Streetwear Division and was one of the largest suppliers of branded youth clothing in Australia and New Zealand when it was sold to Pacific Brands in 2006.

In 1995, Globe International established its US operation in Los Angeles, where the Globe brand is now a part of the American boardsports sub-culture and a key supplier to major retailers of boardsports apparel, footwear and skateboard hardgoods.

In 2001, Globe International listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and achieved the Initial Public Offer goals.[7][8] In 2002, Globe International acquired Kubic Marketing, a holding company that owned World Industries and Dwindle Distribution, which at the time, was the parent company for skateboard brands such as Enjoi, Blind, Darkstar and Tensor.[9] Acquiring Dwindle, a company founded by professional skateboarders Rodney Mullen and Steve Rocco, made Globe International one of the world's biggest skateboard companies. In 2003, Globe International established its European headquarters, located along the south-west surf coast of France in Hossegor. As of 2017, the European office sells directly in the major boardsports markets of the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, and Austria, among others. All other significant markets in Europe are serviced by third-party distributors.[10]

Having established a stable of proprietary brands and an international distribution network in 2006, Globe International made a strategic decision to divest itself of its licensed Australian Streetwear Division to Pacific Brands and focus on further international expansion of the company's proprietary brands.[11] In 2009, Globe International added to its brand portfolio by acquiring Europe's number one skateboard brand Cliché and expanding it through international markets.[12] In 2010, Globe International re-entered the Australian streetwear market and established a new division entitled "4Front Distribution", a company that is currently responsible for the Australian distribution of brands such as Stüssy, Obey and Misfit. Globe also moved its Melbourne headquarters to the inner-city suburb of Port Melbourne during the same year, occupying a building that was formerly owned by chocolate company Cadbury's.[13]

Globe operates its own factory to manufacture the skateboards and trucks. The DSM (Douglas Street Manufacturing) Premium Woodshop is located in Shenzhen, China, with skateboard icon Rodney Mullen closely involved in its production practices from its inception.[14] DSM imports maple logs from Canada's Great Lakes region for the production of its decks. A 2013 TransWorld SKATEboarding article likened DSM's approach to the sourcing and treatment of wood; "as the sandwich shop that prepares all of their meat from the whole animal versus others who order their cuts from a wholesaler. DSM has the in-house butcher."[15] DSM was first publicly announced in 2003 and caused a widespread surprised reaction in the skateboard industry, as production had previously been solely based in North America and concern was raised about job losses. Globe CEO Matt Hill, stated at the time: "When you get down to the labor issues, if we sell a lot more boards, then we’ll create jobs here (in the U.S.A.), it’ll open a lot more doors.”[16]

In 2015, the company launched a book 'Unemployable: 30 Years of Hardcore, Skate and Street'[17] to celebrate its 30th anniversary,[18][19][20] and held launches in Melbourne[21] and Los Angeles.[22][23] In 2017, the company acquired the American brand, Salty Crew[24] and in 2019, sold the Dwindle part of the business.[25] Towards the end of 2019, the company launched an electric skateboard product, the dot board.[26] In 2022, Globe acquired the swimwear brand It's Now Cool [27] and launched MilkBar bikes.[28] As of 2023, the company operates a small number of branded "Globe" retail stores in several locations: St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria; Hossegor, France, and Hong Kong.[29][30]

Proprietary brands

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  • Globe
  • FXD Workwear
  • Salty Crew
  • Impala Skate
  • dot electric skateboards
  • Milkbar Bikes
  • It's Now Cool [31]

Third party brands

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Team

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Skateboarding

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Source:[33]

Surfing

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Snowboarding

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Filmography

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The company has produced numerous films and short films, incorporating both skateboarding and surfing subcultures. Between 2007 and 2010, the brand released a series of six short films entitled United By Fate, directed by Joe "Joe G" Guglielmino,[36] and featuring all of the skate team members during that period. The inaugural episode of United By Fate featured Canadian skateboarder Paul Machnau, while the final instalment was a compilation of footage from different team members, such as Jake Duncombe, Louis Lopez and Chris Haslam.[37]

Joe G and Globe began filming their latest surf film Strange Rumblings in Shangri La at the commencement of 2013, and were awarded the 2014 Surfer Poll Movie of the Year in December 2014.[38] The film featured Globe team members Dion Agius, Nate Tyler, Creed McTaggart, Taj Burrow, CJ and Damien Hobgood, Yadin Nicol, Brendon Gibbons and Noa Deane in locations such as Iceland, Brazil, France, Mozambique and Indonesia.[39]

Skateboarding videography

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Surfing videography

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  • Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere[48]
  • The Secret Machine[49]
  • New Emissions of Light and Sound[50]
  • Ungu[51]
  • Year Zero[52]
  • Electric Blue Heaven[53]
  • Icecream[54]
  • Strange Rumblings in Shangri La[55][56]
  • Cult of Freedom web series[57] [58]

Major events

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Skateboarding

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  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2002[60] [61]
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2003[62]
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2004[63]
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2005[64]
  • The Global Assault!!! – Melbourne, Australia 2006[65]
  • Double Stack Cash Attack – Gold Coast, Australia 2007[66]
  • Slaughter at the Opera – Sydney, Australia 2008[67]

Surfing

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  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2005[68]
  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2006[69]
  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2008[70]

Special projects

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Led by its Special Project Division, Globe has worked with other well-known brands and artists, including:

  • The Clash[71]
  • Jason Ellis[72]
  • Devo[73]
  • Christies of London
  • G-Shock[74]
  • Gears of War
  • Splatterhouse[75]
  • Gojira
  • Sekure D
  • Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholemew
  • Martin Potter
  • Pete Townend[76]
  • Halo X
  • Neff[77]
  • Beavis and Butt-Head
  • Desillusion Magazine[78]
  • Monster Children [79]
  • Sesame Street[80]
  • Yes. Snowboards[81]

References

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  1. ^ Globe International Annual Report 2017 (PDF). Melbourne: Globe International Ltd. 22 September 2017. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  2. ^ "ABOUT". Globe International. Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Globe Shoes". Skateboarding.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Aussie Rules Skateboarding". Transworld Skateboarding. 14 May 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  5. ^ National Library of Australia (2012). The skateboard book : blast! / [Peter Hill, Stephen Hill]. National Library of Australia. ISBN 9780867881240. Retrieved 14 August 2012. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ National Library of Australia (2012). Skate hard / [Peter Hill and Stephen Hill]. National Library of Australia. ISBN 9780867881806. Retrieved 14 August 2012. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Globe Shoes Goes Public in Australia" 25-May-2001, Transworld Business, retrieved 2-Nov-2011
  8. ^ Mark Todd (25 May 2001). "Globe hits the boards with a cool 52% jump". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. p. 23.
  9. ^ ""Globe Buys Kubic" 5-Jul-2002,Transworld Business, retrieved 2-Nov-2011". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  10. ^ Globe International (2015). "Investor presentation" (PDF). ASX. Australian Securities Exchange.
  11. ^ Blair Speedy (2 November 2010). "Balanced approach pays off for Globe International". The Australian. Australia. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  12. ^ Transworld (28 July 2009). "DWINDLE DISTRIBUTION ACQUIRES CLICHÉ SKATEBOARDS". Transworld Business. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  13. ^ Domingo Antonio Robledo; Stu Morley (8 June 2011). "Globe International Headquarters". Australian Design Review. Niche Media. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  14. ^ 30shot (September 2012). "DSM Video" (Video upload). 30shot on Vimeo. Vimeo LLC. Retrieved 19 September 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Luke Callahan (November 2013). "Tested Development". TransWorld SKATEboarding. 31 (11). Grind Media, LLC: 84–97. ISSN 0748-7401.
  16. ^ "Dwindle Makes Moves". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia. 27 January 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  17. ^ Jason Boulter (December 2015). Unemployable: 30 Years of Hardcore, Skate and Street. Port Melbourne: Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd. p. 708. ISBN 9780500500637. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  18. ^ Blanche Clark (27 November 2015). "Globe International: Melbourne's Hill brothers turn love of skateboarding into $150m empire". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Meet The Brothers Behind Globe, Australia's Most Iconic Skate/Surf Brand". Oyster Magazine. Inception Digital Pty Ltd. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  20. ^ Eloise Mahoney (4 December 2015). "Unemployable: the story of skating success". Desktop Magazine. Niche Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  21. ^ Robert Brown (November 2015). "Interview: Rodney Mullen on being unemployable". ACCLAIM. ACCLAIM Magazine Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  22. ^ Joe Hammeke (30 October 2015). ""Unemployable" Book Release Party Photos". Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  23. ^ Jan Kliewer (12 November 2015). "Chris Haslam on the Launch of Globe's UnEmployable Book". Kingpin Skateboarding. Factory Media. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  24. ^ Simon Evans (1 March 2017). "Solomon Lew along for ride as Globe buys 50 per cent of Salty Crew". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  25. ^ Tiffany Montgomery (23 August 2019). "Globe International Sells Dwindle Skate Brands". Shop Eat Surf. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  26. ^ Andrew J. Hawkins (11 December 2019). "How three Australian brothers plan to kick-flip over Boosted with a new lineup of electric skateboards". The Verge. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  27. ^ Tiffany Montgomery (3 October 2022). "Globe International Acquires 50 Percent of Fashion Swim Brand". Shop Eat Surf. Emerald X, LLC. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  28. ^ Phil Latz (15 September 2022). "Mixed Response to New Melbourne Bike Show". The Latz Report. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Globe International Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Globe International. 26 September 2022. p. 41. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  30. ^ Drew Pulig (10 August 2017). "Skate Legend Rodney Mullen Helps Launch Globe's Hong Kong Flagship Store. The Australian skate label expands to Hong Kong". Hypebeast. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  31. ^ "PROPRIETARY BRANDS". Globe International. Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Third Party Brands – Globe International Limited".
  33. ^ "Globe International Annual Report" (PDF). Melbourne: Globe International. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  34. ^ "Globe Welcomes Shaun Manners to the Family". Monster Children. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  35. ^ "SNOW TEAM". Globe. Globe International. 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  36. ^ "Globe – United By Fate". Skatevideosite.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  37. ^ "Globe – United By Fate". Skatevideosite.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  38. ^ "The Surfer Poll Results". Surfer. The Enthusiast Network. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  39. ^ Tom Higson (15 February 2013). "GLOBE'S NEW MOVIE 'STRANGE RUMBLINGS' VISITS ICELAND". Surf Europe. MPORA Pure Action Sports Network. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  40. ^ "Canvas: The Skateboarding Documentary (Short 1998) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  41. ^ "Opinion: To Each His Own (Video 2001) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  42. ^ "United by Fate 1 (TV Short 2007) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  43. ^ "United by Fate 2 (TV Short 2007) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  44. ^ "United by Fate 3 (TV Short 2008) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  45. ^ "United by Fate 4 (TV Short 2008) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  46. ^ "United by Fate 5 (TV Short 2009) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  47. ^ "United by Fate 6 (TV Short 2010) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  48. ^ "Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere (Video 2004) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  49. ^ "Secret Machine (Video 2006) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  50. ^ "New Emissions of Light and Sound (Video 2008) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  51. ^ "Ungu (Short 2010) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  52. ^ "Year Zero (Video 2011) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  53. ^ Shoes, Globe (26 June 2022). "Electric Blue Heaven By Globe Shoes | Skate Sonr". skatesonr.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  54. ^ Shoes, Globe (26 June 2022). "ICE CREAM By Globe Shoes | Skate Sonr". skatesonr.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  55. ^ Jen Yamato (2014). "Surf Docu 'Strange Rumblings in Shangri-La' Steps into Premiere, Global Release". Deadline Hollywood. PMC. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  56. ^ Shoes, Globe (28 June 2022). "Strange Rumblings in Shangri-LA By Globe Shoes | Skate Sonr". skatesonr.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  57. ^ Lincoln Jubb (8 October 2018). "The Virtues of Joining the 'Cult of Freedom'". Monster Children. MC Creative. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  58. ^ Matthew B. Shaw (13 November 2017). "Joe G. and Crew are Free to Roam". SURFER. New York, NY: The Arena Group. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  59. ^ "The New Dion Agius Film 'Dark Hollow' Is a Surf Movie Masterpiece". The Inertia. Playa del Rey, CA. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  60. ^ "Globe World Cup Skateboarding (TV Special 2002) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  61. ^ Shoes, Globe (20 June 2022). "The Globe World Cup Skateboarding 2002 By Globe Shoes | Skate Sonr". skatesonr.com. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  62. ^ "The Globe World Cup Skateboarding (TV Special 2003) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  63. ^ "The Globe World Cup Skateboarding (TV Special 2004) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  64. ^ "The Globe World Cup Skateboarding (TV Special 2005) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  65. ^ "The Global Assault!!! (TV Special 2006) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  66. ^ "Money for Blood (TV Movie 2007) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  67. ^ "Slaughter at the Opera (TV Movie 2008) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  68. ^ "Globe WCT Fiji (TV Special 2005) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  69. ^ "2006 Globe WCT FIJI (Video 2006) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  70. ^ "2008 Globe Pro Fiji (TV Special 2009) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  71. ^ "Globe – Clash Shoe". Crossfire. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  72. ^ "Features Ellis". Archived from the original on 5 June 2013.
  73. ^ "Globe Devo-tion". Crossfire. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  74. ^ "Globe Destroyer x G-Shock". Sneaker Freaker Magazine. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  75. ^ Fahey, Mike (24 November 2009). "Splatterhouse Gets Appropriately Splattered Shoes". Kotaku. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  76. ^ "Sultans of Surf". Globe. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  77. ^ Tactics Boardshop (14 January 2013). "Globe Neff Sea Pals 30 Inch Cruiser Skateboard Complete Review - Tactics.com" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  78. ^ Andrew Asch (10 April 2015). "Globe Int'l's Violence Ordinaire…At American Rag". California Apparel News. TLM Publishing Corp. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  79. ^ Alistair Klinkenberg (10 August 2016). "Come with us to Van Dieman's Land". Monster Children. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  80. ^ "Globe Rolls With Sesame Street". ASB Magazine. Australian Surf Business. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  81. ^ "Yes. Snowboards Globe NSB (Not So Basic)". Yes. Snowboards. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
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