In 1989, artist Shepard Fairey created what would become a cultural calling card: the now-legendary André the Giant Has a Posse sticker. Lifted from a newspaper ad featuring wrestler André the Giant and reworked as a stencil for his West Coast skate crew, the image spread hand-to-hand through skate shops and street corners, carried by skaters and graffiti artists until it appeared all across the US. What began as an in-joke between friends became a visual language – and, eventually, the foundation of OBEY. Founded in 2001, the brand grew from the same underground currents, rooted in skateboarding, art and counterculture, with graphics that felt as at home on a deck as they did on a wall.

Now, that lineage comes full circle as OBEY launches its first-ever skate team. Comprised of Andrey Tarasov, Shane Farber, Lillian Fev and Pero Šimić, the roster brings together distinct styles and backgrounds under a shared ethos. United by instinct and a belief in skateboarding as both community and craft, the team reflects the values that shaped the brand from the start. Here, we spotlight the OBEY riders – from early memories to future ambitions.

Andrey Tarasov – based in LA.

What’s your favourite memory of skating?

“My favourite recent memories of skating are our first international trip for OBEY. We went to Paris at the end of September 2025 for our first trip together as a team. It was fast-paced and it felt like we met everyone in the world. It was one of those trips where every day felt like magic – we were outside for at least twelve hours a day.”

Tell us about joining OBEY and working with the team.

“I first modelled for OBEY in 2020, right before the pandemic. The creative director and I really kicked off, and that same day, he introduced me to the team and the whole crew, and offered me the opportunity to photograph and produce a summer campaign. I took the opportunity, which led to working for OBEY full-time. Fast forward six years and I’m leading the skate side at OBEY. It’s been an absolute trip and honour to create this with a brand and people I truly believe in.”

What are you up to generally?

“Currently, we are filming our first-ever longer-form skate video for OBEY. It’s a gnarly process, and we’re planning our next travels as a team. Filming a lot, skating often, and cherishing moments with people I care about when I get downtime in LA.” 

What’s your favourite place to skate?

“My weekly routine after work or on slow days is often South Pasadena skatepark. But it always varies. I like to skate where the energy is happening – life is inspiring in those moments.”

Pero Šimić – based in New York City

What’s your earliest memory of skating?

“I remember getting my first board at a job site my dad was working. He was a roofer and we found this old 80s-shaped board in the dirt. Fixed it up and basically spent every second in our driveway after that.”

Tell us about joining OBEY and working with the team.

“It’s been an awesome experience, just travelling and getting to know Fev and Shane. OBEY really values our input and I feel lucky to be a part of something new in skating.”

What are you up to in general?

“I live in New York City now, working mainly as a model and stylist.”

What’s your place to skate?

“Any city where you get to push from spot to spot. New York has to be number one, I really enjoy Paris as well.”

Shane Farber – based in Atlanta, GA.

What’s your earliest memory of skating?

“My earliest memory of skating is my dad taking me to Progressive Skatepark when I was seven years old.”

Tell us about joining OBEY and working with the team.
“It was a super natural process. I hadn’t met Pero or Fev pre-OBEY but it’s been fun and easy to get to know both of them.”

What’s your favourite place to skate?

“I’m living in Atlanta, Georgia, now, and it’s really nice over here. My favourite place to skate was Bell South (RIP) building in Atlanta. It was the best spot of all time.”

Lillian Fev – based in Paris, France.

What’s a favourite memory of skating?

“We were supposed to shoot my first OBEY ad with Hugo Josse in Paris two months ago, which can sometimes be tricky when you’re trying to find a good-looking spot and a solid trick. The first spot we checked was a gap to a wall-mounted light, but the light fixture was broken and impossible to skate.

At the same time, some workers were removing the rooftop signage of a closed mall called BABOO. They dropped the ‘O’ right next to us. We placed the metal letter behind the gap and used it as a rainbow hubba. Then they were removing the ‘B’ in the background of the clip! What were the chances of getting a shot of me skating an ‘O’ and a ‘B’ in the background for my first OBEY ad!? Stars literally aligned.”

What was it like joining the OBEY team?

“My good friend Trevor Dare introduced me to Andrey last year in LA during my French winter escape. We clicked pretty quickly and everything happened really smoothly – same for the whole team. Andrey did an amazing job bringing together people who genuinely get along easily. I love what he’s building.”

What are you up to in life?

“I’m in Paris for skating, but I’m heading back to my hometown as soon as I can to enjoy the lake and the mountains. It’s the right balance for me.”

What’s your favourite place to skate?

“Place de la République in Paris. This plaza is right in the centre of the city, surrounded by tons of food and coffee spots. I could spend days skating the marble banks.”