Non Biker Gear. Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Evel Knievel. Who’s Next?

edhardyteeshirtChristian Audigier, the designer behind the Von Dutch and Ed Hardy clothing lines is preparing the launch the Evel Knievel gear.  The secret of such successful businesses? Use the names of famous people of our motorcycle industry, always retired (Ed Hardy) or preferably dead, give them or their heirs the smallest possible royalty or a one-time fee, manufacture in China, pay some show biz people to wear the tees and the caps, organize lavish Hollywood parties with a display of wild motorcycles, take pictures of these celebrities wearing your fashion, and flash the photos (most must be with you in it because it’s time to launch your fashion line under your own name) in all people magazines around the world. Result, everybody wearing your “motorcycle gear” is feeling like a bad ass biker or a wild chick. Relatively cheap deal since owning and riding a motorcycle is not required. Even non advised. Too dangerous. So, who’s next?

24 Responses to “Non Biker Gear. Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Evel Knievel. Who’s Next?”


  1. 1 Brenda Fox Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    Oh crap – Now we’ll see super loser – Jon Gosselin on the cover of every gossip rag sporting it. – Yuck!
    Roll in your grave Evil…

  2. 2 36 Special @ Open Road Biker Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    “give them or their heirs the smallest possible royalty or a one-time fee”
    I guess the amount no matter how paltry is just fine for those selling themselves or whoring out the name of their dead relative. As far as those wearing the shirts, well we all know they are not what they pretend to be.

  3. 3 Dave Blevins Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    Yep, pretty cheesy stuff, but Hollywood has always been cheesy… and most people in the general public are just as silly to wear the stuff too.
    I’ve seen small children in Hollister shirts, and Ed Hardy tees are the new temporary tattoo for suburban goofs that have no idea who or what those names represent, my favorite a few years ago was seeing Dennis Rodman in Von Dutch hats and tees, obviously Rodman knew nothing about Mr. Howard’s political or racial views.
    All this is harmless enough I guess, but it does prove people will wear what they are told is cool whether they know the history behind it or not… I wonder when swastikas will be the hip new tee tshirt logo?

  4. 4 David Nov 4th, 2009 at 12:54 am

    Yeah thats what I need a $75. tee- shirt!!!

  5. 5 A$$HOLE Nov 4th, 2009 at 1:28 am

    I see the next big project for Paul Turtle Sr. He can sell CDs with someone else’s music, and wear sparkly douche bag shirts. I can see the tour coming to a town near you. Paul Sr, and the OCC cover band, with special guests Jon Gosselin and Dennis Rodman. Fuckin GAG!

  6. 6 Original Nov 4th, 2009 at 1:33 am

    Yeah, the next in line will be that old man, uh, uh is the name Paulie Sr.?

  7. 7 WT Nov 4th, 2009 at 9:19 am

    They have already disgraced Von Dutch, no Evel?? What a douche bag.

    Come up with something original.

  8. 8 FHP Scott Nov 4th, 2009 at 9:34 am

    never could rationalize paying $75-$100 for a T-shirt no matter who’s name was on it.

    I see someone with one of these shirts….wow….you paid more for that shirt than a fine dress shirt???? is that being cool???? please adivse…maybe I’m on the wrong track????

  9. 9 Convenient... Nov 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am

    What a great idea…you can ask Alex Mardikian from Von Douche Kustoms, who, last I heard was working for Audiger after Johnny Law came and took the keys to his shop. That guy was the king of exploiting other’s talents right down to brining in guys right off the biker buildoff shows since he coudn’t do a thing without somebody else’s talent. That douchebag paid a 10% royalty on everything he sold, just to be able to point at the flying eyeball and say “that’s me bro…that’s me out there”…ass hat.
    Here’s one where I think A$$hole is right…they could make a Teutelneck sweater and jump right into the winter fashion. You may be onto something there.

  10. 10 1550tc Nov 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    never could rationalize paying $75-$100

    what did PT barnum say ?????? “There’s a sucker born every minute and Without promotion something terrible happens… Nothing!”

    yeah you have to love marketing and HYPE, probably the same guys in china that makes the 3 for $10 T’s that you buy at wally world……….ok so they use a lil better cotton to justify the price lol

    yeah the whole von dutch deal was just a disgrace……… at least the ed hardy deal hasn’t gotten over to custom built bikes,

    the crazy t shirts are here to stay for a while I think, 2-3 and even 500$ t shirts will be here one day………

  11. 11 uncle Nov 4th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    very douchetastic! Maybe a Robbie Kneivel line just to totally kick down the Douchebag boundary

  12. 12 Scott Parker Nov 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    I thought this line was going to be launched a year and a half ago?

  13. 13 Asa Nov 4th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    Jon Gosselin ? Why does Jon have to be all that just because he was married to a woman that treated him like warmed over shiy on TV . Hell he took it for a while for his kids sake and enough is enough everybody has a breaking point . I am not a fan of show but saw some clips on Larry King where she treated him like a step child ???? I dont know about some folks you gotta wonder . Ab

  14. 14 fuji Nov 4th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    Scott Parker
    Are you the Scott of the Michigan Mafia

  15. 15 jatinder pal Nov 5th, 2009 at 1:20 am

    Same old thing.

  16. 16 A$$HOLE Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:33 am

    One good thing about these tacky shirts…you can tell the douche bags from a mile away with out even having to talk to them at all. If it twinkles, it is a fag!

  17. 17 david uhl Nov 5th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    Designing shirts for over 16 years for HD I have seen much, the first time I saw Adigier’s stuff, I thought it was as if Liberace helped design the collection. This latest work is quite lame and will go no where.

    Ed Hardy is a very good artist, I can see why he is suing the bejesus out of Adigier. Lessons in character evaluation.

    Also, l I am pretty amazed at the rampant use of clip art in this industry. Over the many years I have found that it is VERY difficult to find anyone who can even draw anymore. download-photoshop-print…………….

  18. 18 Lorenzo Cycles Nov 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    While your setup wasn’t intentional, Cyril, I’ll take the lob with some GOOD NEWS. When LORENZO CYCLES launch our apparel this November, you’ll be pleased to know that all our shirts will be MADE IN THE USA. That’s how we roll. You’ll also feel less like a Christmas tree and more like a rider.

  19. 19 1550tc Nov 6th, 2009 at 10:30 am

    david uhl

    the rampant use of clip art in this industry. Over the many years I have found that it is VERY difficult to find anyone who can even draw anymore. download-photoshop-print…………….

    David that way they have time to be on these blogs LOL its all part of the, I can it for free on the net generation! Or cut copy paste, control XCV on any key board, like how many ways can you draw death skull?? Even HD for the dealer logo T’s is crossing over to these death skulls. The MMA dudes like Affliction are all over these death skulls.

    To me its almost comical with these pecker smooching designers, its like they sit back and say, lets see how much money we can get people to pay for 2 items (a T shirt and jeans) that both cost 15 bucks at sams club…….. and they all come out of the same factory in china or Mexico for $3-7 if that? Most of these pecker smooching designers just make laugh, with designs………David I hear yah and love the Liberace, reference, didn’t you know he works at Küryakyn???

    IMO some of these baggers look like Liberace is riding them now with Anna Nicole on the back , so why not have the clothing to go with them??

  20. 20 Geno Nov 9th, 2009 at 10:57 am

    and people wonder why HD’s mystique faded away

  21. 21 Jim Gianatsis Nov 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Who’s next?
    Jesse James, Orange County Choppers are already there, and many other top name builders would if they could….

    Simply, its all about making an income with whatever you can devise and market.

    You can do it with a name and image you created – Body Glove, Big Dog, Guess, BeBe, Victoria’s Secret, Exile Cycles, Fox Racing, Rockstar.
    Or with a name you buy or license from the original creator: Von Dutch, Indian, Harley Davidson, Playboy

    However, the long the long term success of the brand name product line is always dependent on how good a product line it is, how quickly it is redesigned to remain in style, and how well it is promoted by the owner, with ties back to the industry in which it was originally created to keep their original client base.

    I thought Von Dutch was a cool licensing concept created by Tony Sorensen, a real motorcycle guy.
    Unfortunately there was not much of a product line beyond the ongoing pink celebrity baseball caps for girls, and silly rat custom bikes that no guys wanted to buy. And opening corporate Von Dutch stores across the US was a big cash drain that helped bring on their demise. RIP

    For me personally, unless I’m sponsored by a company or they are my hero, I don’t pay to buy a shirt to advertise someone else’s product name, Check out this cool YouTube Video/Song “This Party Took a Turn for the Douche” from the comedy team of Garfunkle & Oats about people who wear licensed apparel like Ed Hardy, West Coast and OC Choppers…….

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDCPK4MiolQ

  22. 22 Iron Player Dec 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    I actually find myself hateing this man. I dont know who his heros are but I sure would dig it if he would leave mine alone.

  23. 23 You hate yourself Apr 1st, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    Congratulations to all of the Hypocrites on here defending the author with their projected viewpoints. Go self-loathe elsewhere, like maybe a quiet basement with a bottle of Jack, a razor blade and a rope long enough & strong enough to dangle your worthless existence from. It really sucks that the Internet gives people like you a forumn where you can collaborate and use your powerful vocabulary to discuss subject matter that irritates you because you are not creative enough or smart enough to grasp anything relative to business and economics. Why don’t one of you “douche’s” or “a$$holes” create something the public will find interesting enough to spend their money on? Internet warriors unite!! Long live the power of stupid people collaborating forever….

  24. 24 John Sweeney Nov 4th, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Hey Alex, this is John. You know, the second guy who married your mom…the guy who raised your sorry ass around legacy Harley scooters and real people with talent, class, and honor. We lived the good life. Built most everything from scratch and created solid riding machines. Scooters that looked sweet, ran strong, were easy to fix, and were a pleasure to ride…ride every day…to anyplace. And best of all anyone with mechanical skills could afford to build their own dream bike from scratch!!…just like you watched me do. So Now My Question Too You IS…WHERE THE *UCK IS MY BIKE. The Knuckle I built in 1974. Last known to be safely stored in your counter culture Von Dutch Factory in Cucamonga. I stopped by your shop last year and everything was gone. If “Johnny Law” shut you down you had to know it was coming. AND why couldn’t you squeeze two minutes out of your bull$hit egocentric life to call me and give me a heads-up. I know you owed me at least that!! Ever wounder how a “Master Builder” gets kick started? Think back. . .and do the right thing. Be a person who can honestly tell the world who they are…what they stand for!…and not hide in front of a lost group of wannabe posers. You really have more talent than that. Any a$$hole can rally stupid people to follow them with obfuscated slogans and empty promises as long as they don’t have to suffer the painful effort of thinking for themselves. Call Me at 818 554-7999. Or have your mom do it.

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Cyril Huze