June 3
Sorry! Our online shop is now closed. Please come back June 3 when our new site and new collection drops.
REBEL8-BLOG
Book Signings
Big up to everyone that stopped by my book signing at Home Mercantile in San Diego. I’m kicking myself for not taking photos. So many old and new friends stopped through. I had a great time. If you’re in the SD area and you’d still like to get a signed copy of my new book, you can pick one up at Home. I think they have a few left. Don’t sleep.
My next signing is on June 29th at As Issued in Costa Mesa, California. I don’t have any signings planned after that.
And remember, the only place to pick up a signed copy of the book online is right here at REBEL8. We only have a few copies left, so again, don’t sleep! When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Thanks for your support! We sure appreciate it!
SAN DIEGO!
Come party with us at Home Mercantile this Saturday from 4-6pm for a book signing and reception. The store is at 3013 University Ave. Hope to see you there!
Book signing and lecture at FIDM LA
Joshy and I will be offering a talk at the FIDM Museum Shop here in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-5pm. Following the talk I’ll be signing copies of my new book. REBEL8 is setting up a two-day pop-up shop too! Hope you can stop by and check it out.
Giant, LA, 80% Off, New Website, iPhone App
REBEL8ers-
How are you!? Hopefully you are amazing. As for me, I never knew I could ever be busier than I typically am, but I’m always shocked with how much sh*t I can pack into 24-hours. All work, all play. Life is good.
If you peeped my Instagram (@REBEL8) last night you saw a photo of Giant and myself sitting bumper side on his U-Haul that just made the trip to LA from Frisco. I am STOKED to tell you that Giant has also made the trip to LA. For the first time in ever, he will be working in the REBEL8 offices. FYI, Mike typically would work out of his own personal studios scattered across the globe since 2003. I can’t wait to see this dude everyday!
Some of you do not understand why I decided to move REBEL8 to Los Angeles. I thought long and hard if I would explain my thought-process and ultimately my decision. But I decided to keep all that data locked in my mental. I am confident I made the right choice. And I know it is the right moves both figuratively and literally for REBEL8. It’s one thing to rep your city when you never leave. That’s kool, I did it all my life. But it’s also way too easy. It’s taking it to a whole ‘nother level when you put on for your city in someone else’s. Frisco represent until the day I die. Bay to LA, REBEL8 all damn day. California love.
Now, let me acknowledge some frustrations you have had regarding REBEL8.com that I am now going to fix. For the past couple of years you’ve tried ordering from our website during seasonal releases or special product drops and the site crashed. It bummed me out as much as it did you. And after this last Black Friday and offline Cyber Monday I got on the phone and made power moves. I am proud to announce that our new & improved website should launch June 1 with the release of our Summer 2013 collection. But feel free to cop the latest REBEL8 season on your iPhone! Because the official REBEL8 App drops June 1 as well!
So the new website has a new layout with new graphical needs specific to how we photo our products. With all these moves going forward, I do not want to take even a single step back to photo old sh*t. I rather slang it to you on the cheap. Right now at REBEL8.com, products are heavily discounted 30-80% OFF. Although we don’t need the warehouse room at all, as our new location is six-times the size, I need this inventory outta here. Damn. Up to 80% OFF!?! Don’t know if I am going to regret that decision tomorrow. F*ck it. If that is not enough of an incentive, remember, if you spend $100 you also get FREE* FedEx shipping (*USA only). I’ll also throw in a grip of FREE stickers with every order as well. BOOM!
And for nostalgia sake, this may be the last time you can crash our website.
So get to it. Spend it, spend it. Have fun!
Until next time,
Joshy
Mike Giant’s U-Haul arrival to Los Angeles, CA. Giant & Joshy outside R8DTLA. April 26, 2013.
LA
It’s official.
I live in downtown LA now. REBEL8 in effect!
Frisco Livin’
While Joshy is making big moves in LA, I’ve been holding it down in SF. My lecture at SFAI last week went really well. It felt good to lecture at such a prestigious art school considering the fact that I don’t have an art degree.
I’ve been shipping books to my friends all over the world the last week. My truck bike has really come in handy.
The sun finally came out and so did the cherry blossoms. Reminds me of Japan this time of year.
Yesterday I got to roll with some friends out to Mt. Tamalpais. Felt great to get away from the City for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed the views.
It’s a rare treat to be able to see the City from so far away. It’s usually fogged out.
Hope everyone is having a great Monday.
Safety Orange
A few weeks ago I sent out a tweet asking for help. I wanted our recently purchased used shelving repainted and brought back to new. I understood it would be no small task. And I was well aware painting them would make absolutely no difference as to whether these racks would properly hold our inventory and simply function as a steel shelves do. But to me it did matter. Everything REBEL8 matters. I don’t separate or prioritize levels of importance. If it’s REBEL8, it’s all important. It’s all a priority. And it all must meet my strict OCD-level of excellence. And yes, that same thought I apply to these very shelves, goes to the bathrooms, to the warehouse floors, our parking lot, to my office, his office, her office and maybe some day your office – and what should be the most important and technically is, our beloved products. If anything is acquainted with REBEL8, it has to be the best. Straight up!
So back to what I originally wanted to tell you about. I tweeted for help and quite a few people responded. Two of those quite a few, came to R8DTLA. They didn’t ask for money. They didn’t ask how long the job would be. They didn’t ask all the questions you would think one would ask. Surprisingly, what they said was quite simple. “What do you want me to do?” I replied with a clear and straightforward, “To make every single shelf in this entire warehouse look like new.” And with that they went to work. Day 1 turned to Day 5. Week 1 turned to Week 2 and then 3. I watched in amazement as these two guys climbed up and down rusted old shelves caked with dirt, grime, and various unknowns, transforming them into perfect, flawless beams of cleanly painted safety orange steel. Brett and Jose came into REBEL8 with no demands or list of requirements. They came with an open-mind and a healthy work-ethic with no fear of failure or rejection. And they proved themselves. I’m stoked to bring them into the REBEL8 family and hire them. These are the people I want and only want to work for me. Real hustlers. Real workers. Real working class.
I’ll be doing a lot more hiring over these next months. Stay posted on my Twitter and all that other social sh*t. You could very well be the next REBEL8 employee and I can’t wait to meet you.
Thanks for reading this.
Eternally Signed
The only place on Earth & Outer space to get a signed copy of Giant’s new book is here.
International icon of black ink, artist GIANT incorporates a broad swathe of influences and skills in the creation of a singular, unmistakable aesthetic. Mike’s central practice, drawing, is informed by his training in architectural drafting, his illustrious career as a tattooist and worldwide exploits writing on walls. Within his latest and most complete monograph, the reader will enjoy photos of perfectly executed tattoos, page after page of Mike’s inscrutable tattoo flash, hand lettering nonpareil, and of course tons of drawings, graffiti pieces and action shots. GIANT’s worldwide travels – inking people, places and finer drawing paper around the world from Amsterdam to London, Thailand, Toronto, New York and back home to San Francisco are also given due prominence. Buddhism, track bikes, designing for apparel brand Rebel8, and painting fill Lesage’s hours, but at the end of the day, it all comes full circle, back to his unwaveringly mindful solid black lines.
Eternal
Author: Roger Gastman
Hardcover: 320 pages
Dimensions: 9.60 X 11.50 inches
Loyalty
REBEL8ers are the greatest. No brand has such loyalty. I’m always impressed with the level of dedication you have for REBEL8. It never goes unnoticed. Thank you. And thank you Uncle Jake.
