VISTA -- A line of clothing named after Tony Hawk, the legendary skateboarding champ and North County native, has ollied into Kohl's Department Stores.
Hawk Clothing is now exclusively available at Kohl's, said Pat Hawk, his sister and chief operating officer of Tony Hawk Inc. The Hawk line is prominently displayed, she said, ensuring that the clothes stand out.
"We love Kohl's!" were the first words out of Pat Hawk's mouth when interviewed Thursday afternoon. "In that level of retail, they're the best," she said, placing Kohl's in the same category as J.C. Penney, Sears and Mervyn's.
Kohl's made the contact, she said, a part of its strategy of bringing in exclusive brands with high name recognition.
Kohl's has three stores in North County: in Poway, San Marcos and Oceanside. In Southwest Riverside County, Kohl's has stores in Temecula and Murrieta. The line was licensed to Kohl's by Quiksilver. Tony Hawk Inc. is located in Vista; Tony Hawk himself was born in Carlsbad.
The Kohl's Web site (http://www.kohls.com) features Hawk apparel for young men such as board shorts for $25, and a logo T-shirt for boys for $11.20.
Being showcased in Kohl's makes the Tony Hawk line more accessible across the country, Pat Hawk said. Action sports brands are often sold in small specialty stores, which often aren't available in small towns. The deal also is a recognition that skateboarding is a mass sport.
"When Tony performs in Iowa and 15,000 people show up, we know he has a very broad appeal," Pat Hawk said.
Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at (760) 739-6641 or bfikes@nctimes.com.
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