REBEL 8 IS BACK IN THE BURGH!

IT'S SUMMER IN THE BURGH- THAT IS QUITE APPARENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!! MIKE GIANT AND JOSHY D ARE THE GENIUS'S BEHIND REBEL 8. HERE'S SOME INFORMATION STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE...

Founded in 2003, REBEL8 is a San Francisco streetwear company with deep roots in skateboard, graffiti, and tattoo cultures.

Joshy D. and Mike Giant met in the late 1990’s in San Francisco’s then bustling graffiti scene. Josh ran the popular graffiti website, HiFiArt, and Mike was one of the city’s most notorious writers. Years later, and having had some experience with a previous clothing venture, Josh approached Mike about creating a handful of t-shirt graphics. Mike agreed, and a small batch of shirts was made. Josh sold those shirts out of a messenger bag around the city, and REBEL8 was born.

Today, Joshy D. runs the business and Mike Giant sees to the art as REBEL8 finds itself growing in many creative directions at once. Now an internationally recognizable brand, REBEL8 is still committed to the communities from which it comes, and strives to reinforce its unique lifestyle with every product.

Every REBEL8 graphic by Mike Giant is hand-illustrated. Unlike most clothing graphics, which are created by digitizing the original artwork into vector format, Mike’s graphics are exact reproductions of his original art. No part of the original inked line is compromised in this process, lending an edge of authenticity seldom seen in today’s mass-produced market.

Joshy D. Bio

Born San Francisco, CA. Reared San Francisco, CA.

In 1998 Joshy D. launched HiFiArt: a cornerstone of the San Francisco graffiti and art community, HiFi was the first and only online gallery site devoted entirely to San Francisco graffiti.

In 2003, Joshy D. channeled the energy and momentum of HiFiArt into REBEL8, along with new creative partner Mike Giant. REBEL8 also benefited from Joshy’s prior experience at the helm of his clothing company, Teamwolf, which he ran independently from 2000 – 2002.

These days find Joshy running the REBEL8 show, driving creative and business decisions alike, all the while maintaining his dedication to the city and scenes from which he hails.

Mike Giant Bio

Born Hamlin, NY. Reared in the flatlands of New Mexico. Healthy appreciation for heavy metal, hip-hop, skateboarding, and BMX bikes. Stellar academic performance leads to a full-ride for college.

University of New Mexico for 3.5 years, where he majors in architecture and cultivates the precise line work that will become his signature. Nights are spent at the college radio station, immersed in hip-hop. Mentoring with Doc and Agree (ATK): shedding Mike and becoming Giant. Leaves one semester ahead of a degree to take a job creating graphics full-time for Think Skateboards in San Francisco.

Ten years in San Francisco. Bombs his way to the top of the graffiti pile, repping for BA crew. Launches a little tagger ‘zine, Huffer, that later becomes his first business, The Skullz Press. Learns to tattoo. Healthy appreciation for track bikes, marijuana, mindfulness, and not having a desk job. First solo show at The Link Gallery in San Jose, CA. First monograph, Manifestations, published by Gingko Press.

Post San Francisco: Returns to New Mexico. Launches REBEL8 with friend, Joshy D. Internationally notorious for surgeon-steady drawings of cute tattooed girls, skulls, and Victorian lace – sometimes all at once. Work is exhibited throughout the world with shows in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Barcelona, London, and Melbourne. Retires from tattooing, focusing full-time on fine art, travel, and REBEL8. Second monograph, Muerte, is published by Drago Press on occasion of his exhibition, Black Ink, at the Galerie Magda Danysz in Paris. 08: relocates to a houseboat in Amsterdam. 09: back in Frisco.

Most days: rides his bicycle, makes art, listens to the trees, and keeps on.

AS YOU CAN SEE THESE GUYS MEAN BUSINESS! STOP THRU AND CHECK OUT THE SELECTION.