Zoo York

New York City skateboard brand started by Rodney Smith, Eli Gesner and Adam Schatz, known for mixing graffiti and hip-hop culture into East Coast skateboarding. It was later sold to Marc Ecko and is now owned by Iconix Brand Group.

History

Zoo York was started by Rodney Smith, Eli Gesner and Adam Schatz after Smith's earlier company, SHUT, was forced to close following a costly trademark dispute. [2][1]
The brand took its name from Soul Artists of Zoo York, one of New York City's oldest skate crews. [1]
Zoo York became the leading East Coast skateboard company by bringing graffiti and hip-hop culture into its designs. [1]
The Zoo York Mixtape was filmed by NYU film student R.B. Umali and combined skating from riders such as Harold Hunter with freestyle hip-hop footage from the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show. [2]
According to Red Bull Music Academy, the Mixtape put the brand on the map, and for the following decade Zoo York was among the best-selling skateboard companies in the world alongside Element. [2]
Marc Ecko bought Zoo York in 2001, and the brand spread into department stores; the original owners lost creative control in 2005 when Iconix bought the Ecko business. [2][1]
In 2019 the original founders returned as creative directors to reconnect the brand with its New York street-culture roots. [1]

Sources disagree

Founding year: Red Bull Music Academy gives 1993; the Wikipedia article gives 1998.
Mixtape release year: Red Bull Music Academy gives 1997; Wikipedia gives 1998.