From their website's "About" section: FTC humbly began in 1986 as a small collection of skate gear buried in the back of a ski and tennis shop. Over the past three decades, we've earned the reputation as one of the true epicenters of real skate culture. In 1994, we opened the doors of our first shop in San Francisco’s historic Haight Ashbury district, just as skateboarding was evolving beyond its surf-inspired roots and exploding into a new style of city street skating. We were there for the whole ride, attracting and nurturing the talented outsiders, misfits, and artists that put legendary spots like the Embarcadero (aka EMB), Hubba Hideout, Pier 7 and many more on the map. Over the years, we've grown beyond the confines of our original shop and evolved into a brand known for authentic, grassroots innovation in apparel, design, video, art, and music. Our family grows larger, but the original vision remains: premium quality clothing and authentic products born from the heart and soul of the streets.