DIY Skateboarding, Art & Street Culture
In a world dominated by the infinite scroll of Instagram clips, the humble skate zine is experiencing a massive resurgence. There is a tangible permanence to a photocopied booklet that a digital feed simply cannot replicate. It’s physical, it’s flawed, and it’s finite.
Cut, Paste, Destroy The aesthetic of the modern skate zine hasn’t changed much since the 80s, and that’s the point. The “cut and paste” layout style—literal scissors and glue—forces a deliberate composition that Photoshop often sanitizes. When you see the jagged edges of a halftone photo next to a hand-scrawled interview, you are seeing the direct hand of the creator. It is raw data, unfiltered by an algorithm.
Distribution as Connection The most important part of zine culture isn’t the printing; it’s the trading. You can’t download a zine. You have to find it at a local shop, trade for it at a spot, or get it mailed to you by a friend of a friend. This physical exchange builds a network of trust that the internet has largely eroded. It turns “content consumption” back into a community event.
Support Your Local Printer If you are thinking of starting one, keep it simple. Steal time on the office copier. Staple it yourself. Leave a stack at the park. The goal isn’t to get famous; the goal is to document your scene before the city buffs the spot or the landlord kicks you out.
