Interview

Hardies Land: A New Home Base

Tyshawn Jones suggested we shoot at the Hardies skate park he built in New Jersey. Following that message, our team drove about an hour from Soho, where we had been staying, to a quiet town where the site sits discreetly. Stepping inside a building that resembles an industrial warehouse, the asphalt floor, still unfinished, was smoother than expected, with a faint smell of white dust lingering in the air. Faint construction markings remained across scattered sections, subtle signs that the space is still in progress. What filled the room most was the sense that countless tricks would soon leave their marks here. He says he plans to call the space Hardies Land.

This is a space Jones envisions as a new base, reflecting his growing presence in both skateboarding and fashion while working out of New York.

Born and raised in the Bronx, the city means far more to him than simply a place he comes from. “It’s influenced me one hundred percent. Growing up in New York shaped the way I skate,” he says without hesitation. The city is unpredictable, constantly shifting from day to day, and that uncertainty lies at the core of his style. “New York is a place where you never know what’s going to happen. My skating is the same way. How I skate changes depending on the day and the mood I’m in.” If he had grown up in another city, would his style exist in the same way today? When asked, he pauses for a moment before answering, “I don’t know.” Then he adds, “But if I hadn’t lived in New York, I might not have started skateboarding at all.” It is clear that the city remains the starting point of everything he does.

What Matters in Skateboarding,
Style or Risk

Among Jones’s many achievements, one moment stands out in particular. In 2022, a photograph of him successfully kickflipping over train tracks from a subway platform appeared on the cover of Thrasher Magazine, an image that remains etched in many people’s minds. When choosing tricks, what matters more to him, style or risk? “Definitely risk,” he answers immediately. “I want to do the hardest things possible. Hard tricks earn more respect.” At the same time, he says that style emerges the moment that risk is overcome. “When you land it, that’s when it becomes beautiful.” When asked how he would describe his skateboarding in a single word, he pauses for a moment before answering, “Raw.” Rather than the calculated precision often seen in contest skating, his approach grows out of instinct and the street. “I come up with a lot of things while I’m skating, and I try not to overthink it technically.” That may be why his video parts carry such immediacy, as if the atmosphere of the moment itself has been captured. The warehouse he is building is meant to bring together all the elements that make up his life. “You can skate here, hold meetings, take photos, or just hang out. It’s a space that brings together the whole ecosystem of my life.” Hardies Land is envisioned as a place where friends and fellow skaters naturally gather and where memories gradually accumulate. In fact, it took more than three years to find this location. “Places like this, large commercial spaces, are hard to find. To build a skate park you need a wide open space, and the surrounding environment matters too.” For someone based in New York, the distance was manageable, and the quiet atmosphere of the town felt ideal. “Everything lined up perfectly.”

The Relationship Between
Skateboarding and Fashion

Through Hardies, Jones has become closely connected to the world of fashion. His collaborations with luxury and sportswear brands in recent years have also drawn attention. When asked about the relationship between skateboarding and fashion, he answers calmly. “They influence each other. These days, big brands are making clothes inspired by skateboarding. At the same time, when I design something, I look to fashion brands for inspiration too. The two just naturally blend together.”

You Have To Remember Where You Started

His recent collaboration with G-SHOCK, which has attracted a lot of attention, is also closely tied to a personal memory. “I always wanted one when I was a kid, but I couldn’t afford it.” He remembers looking at the G-SHOCK watches lined up in shop windows back then, a memory that made the project feel like a full-circle moment. “I did a lot of research and looked at the colors used in past collaborations. But there wasn’t one specific inspiration. I just really like brown right now.” The watch he designed sold out immediately, something he speaks about with disarming simplicity. “I’m just glad people liked it.”

His approach to working with brands is clear. “If it’s something I don’t want to do, I won’t do it. What matters is that both sides are on board.” A collaboration, he says, shouldn’t be one-sided; it has to make sense for everyone involved. “I don’t want to do a collaboration just for the sake of it. There has to be a real reason behind it.” As his success grows, there is always the risk of drifting away from the street. But he remains steady on that balance. “You have to remember where you started.” He understands that every opportunity he has today came from skateboarding. “The reason people pay attention to me is because of my skating. As long as I keep skating, new opportunities will come.”

Toward the back of the warehouse, an unfinished ramp sits quietly. The goal is to complete the space by summer. “We’re planning to build a music studio too, and add a loft upstairs where you can look down over the park.” It will become a place where people can come and go freely, where skateboarding intersects with other forms of expressions. When asked about his goals going forward, he answers simply. “First, finishing the warehouse. Then I want to work on a new video part, and just stay healthy and keep skating.” The massive space standing in this quiet town still feels full of possibilities. Much of it remains open for now, but that emptiness seems almost like an invitation, waiting for the marks he will leave behind. The kinds of stories his raw, instinctive skating will create here is yet to be seen. Hardies Land is where that story begins.

Profile.

Tyshawn Jones

A professional skateboarder from New York. Known for his raw, powerful style rooted in street skating, he has gained recognition through numerous video parts that have helped redefine the scene. In addition to leading the creative direction of Hardies, he has also worked with fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton and Adidas. With skateboarding at the center of his work, his influence extends across multiple areas of culture.

Instagram. @tyshawn