The company founder, Shawn Stussy, was a Californian manufacturer of surfboards. The logo which has defined the brand started in the early 1980s after he began scrawling his surname on his handcrafted surfboards with a broad tipped marker. He began using the logo on T-shirts, shorts and caps that he sold out of his car around Laguna Beach, California. The signature was derived from that of his uncle, Jan Stussy. A stylized "s" called the "Cool S", resembling a Möbius strip, is often mistakenly attributed to the brand. In 1984, Stussy and his friend, Frank Sinatra Jr., partnered to sell the apparel. The company expanded to Europe by 1988 and later opened a boutique store in SoHo, New York. The brand continued to open successful locations throughout the 1990s. It was reported that revenues reached $17 million in 1991 and $20 million in 1992. By 1992, the brand was sold throughout the United States at speciality boutiques and department stores alongside other high-priced "California lifestyle" clothing. Outside of the country, the brand was found in speciality shops alongside clothing from high-end international designers. In 1996, Stussy resigned as president of the company and Sinatra bought his share of the company holdings. The Sinatra family still owns the brand. According to the company's website, the apparel is available in company branded stores and other retailers in Europe, Asia, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Style
The early success of the brand has been attributed to its popularity in the hip hop and skater/surfer scenes. The brand was also embraced by punk subculture and other street subcultures. In a 1992 interview Stussy said: "Everybody calls it surf wear, or urban streetwear, or surf street... I don't name it, and I don't name it on purpose."
Collaboration
In 2020, Matthew M Williams took to Instagram to announce a fresh Stüssy partnership. Williams grew up in California. During his decade-long career he has collaborated with top artists from the fields of film, music, photography, and design, creating a sophisticated visual environment focused on artistic repurpose, creativity, and craftsmanship. In 2011, Marvel paired up with Stüssy for an extremely extensive line which was split into two "sets." The first one was published on April 27 which featured nine T-shirt designs depicting several of Marvel's most popular superheroes combined with Stüssy's renowned graphic language.
