Most skaters know magic hour as the perfect time to shoot clips and get some tricks down before nightfall. “You’re getting off work, the sun is setting, and you’ve got a little bit of time to do things, especially if you’re a skater. So you want to get that last bit of sunlight,” explains Brian Aguilar, owner of Crushed Skate Shop and designer of Nike’s newest SB Dunk. The orange/greyish pattern on the swoosh is a direct reference to the way the ledges at Freedom Plaza reflect the sun during that golden hour. Freedom Plaza, also known as Pulaski, is the home to DC’s skate scene, which is often overlooked. “People don’t know what to expect other than monuments until they get to the plaza. It is one of the last public plazas that are skateable in the country and probably the most unique thing about DC,” says Brian.
An avid skater himself, Brian knew before he opened the shop that he needed to have a Nike SB account. Growing up, he always loved SBs, especially the “Mids,” which had a strap he would leave unfastened to look more relaxed. This collaboration came out of nowhere, though. Shortly after opening in January 2020, Brian was forced to adjust to the Covid-19 Pandemic. That, coupled with being in the nation’s capital during one of the most significant civil rights movements in recent times, led to a whirlwind few months for the new store owner. Then, somewhere amid all that, Nike reached out and offered Crushed a collaboration.
The summer of 2020, starting with the murder of George Floyd, was a crucial time for Brian. He knew he had an opportunity to support and educate the community, and he did just that. Crushed organized various events during this time centered around skating, such as the “Push For Freedom,” which is now an annual event, as well as helping local civil rights organizations and supporting mutual aid efforts. “That’s everything to me. Ultimately I just want to create a better atmosphere and environment for us. It ties into everything, giving back to the community and providing equal opportunities for everybody. It’s a message that needs to be put out, and we need to keep pushing on things like that, holding people accountable.”
As the only skate shop in DC, Brian knows the role that Crushed is expected to play. He’s always looked at it as a way to serve the community. “A skate shop serves the community, creates opportunities for skateboarding, and brings skating to people who never have heard, seen, or tried it.”
Although Crushed releases the latest Nike SBs on nearly a weekly basis, this experience was different. “It was great getting folks from the local community involved,” says Brian. The most exciting part about it for him, though, is being able to see people wear the shoes and skate in them. It is surreal to see your designs worn by skaters worldwide.“I’ve always wanted to do more apparel and original designs,” he explains, “I did this out of passion, and I put everything into it.”
It’s hard to say what the future holds, but for now, Brian is just living in the moment and taking it one step at a time. His philosophy is simple, “I just do as much as I can as I go.”
