For over a decade, Gravis has represented a collaboration of ideas within a creative community of riders, skaters, surfers, designers, artists and musicians. Through these associations, there has always been a link to the skateboarding community, which led to Gravis' formal commitment to support a skate team that could develop their own products to their specifications. The entire IVSK8 division has been built from the ground up with a new staff and product development team dedicated solely to skateboarding. Arto's shoe is first in a line of products designed for skateboarders by the IVSK8 team.
"Everything is very unique about IVSK8: the riders, the product, the visuals, the vibe...I always say that you should listen to your heart and that's what I did" says Arto. "I'd like to see Gravis push skateboarding to another level with both skating and development of skate shoes. We're going to build an amazing team."
Arto's commitment to his first signature shoe for IVSK8, the Viking Hi LX LTD, is evidenced by the 26 rounds of design that went into the final product to ensure that it was right. The key design features include: premium leather upper materials, breathable mesh lining, premium pigskin top cuff lining, perforated quarter for ventilation, PU cushioning footbed, poron shock absorption in cupsole, high traction rubber skate cupsole and Talyn S with recycled material.
"Our shoes have a fashion influence that will set the Gravis IVSK8 line apart" says Mark Oblow, Creative Director for Skateboarding. Another thing that sets Gravis apart is that a percentage of Gravis IVSK8 sales are dedicated to a variety of cause-related skateboarding organizations through The IVSK8 Foundation. Gravis is about supporting the skateboarding community.
Check out the new Gravis IVSK8 website and new video footage of Arto at www.IVSK8.com