Calis Finest Clothing

CF x KATCHAFIRE

On April 11, 2012 The Cali's Finest team headed to the House of Blues in Downtown San Diego for a night of great music and backstage memories with New Zealand legends, Katchafire.

Katchafire was formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band, and later began writing and performing their own songs. Their first of four albums(Revival)was released in 2003 which featured the highest-selling New Zealand single of 2003, "Giddy Up". The band has toured Australia, the UK, Europe, USA,New Caledonia, and has played countless festivals with international reggae acts such as Horace Andy, Gentleman, Moonraisers, Mr Gang, and was the only Pacific act to tour with artists Arrested Development, The Wailers, Maxi Priest and UB40 as part of the 2008 Raggamuffin Festival.

CF x SASHAMON

At an intimate venue (The Griffin) in Downtown San Diego, Cali's Finest one of the event sponsors was able to present Sashamon and The Necta Band for their first ever performance in California. The Cali's Finest team was then invited to Newport Beach for a private show at Woodys Warf the following week where we got to enjoy some beers and talk story with Sasha and Unkle Isaac.

Sasha Makia Spiller-Reiff aka Sashamon received his musical inspiration at a young age singing alongside the strumming ukuleles of respected elders in his hometown of Moloka'i when he was just in elementary school. As Sasha's passion for music grew there was a demand and buzz for him to share it with friends and family, releasing a few songs produced at home on his computer this demo made it to the local radio station in Hilo on the Island of Hawaii. Sashamons first single "Japanese Squeeze" quickly became the stations most requested song which was then followed by "Necta". With the amazing response on his demo Sashamon was encouraged to release his album "One Day Maybe" which gained major notoriety when Pipeline Master Jamie O'brien used numerous tracks from his debut album in his movies "Freak Show" and "Freak Side". Sashamon has most recently been touring with the "Necta Band" featuring Isaac Kamaile jr on lead guitar, kawika Scotland holding together the rhythm section and Scotty "one drop" on Drums.

CF x SNOOP DOGG

Cali's Finest is proud to announce it will soon be collaborating with legendary west coast hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg.Since the early 1990's, Snoop has been a huge part of California culture and has become an internationally renowned musical icon.Snoop's music reflects the lifestyle of California, and he has always stayed true to his roots over the years. Creating some timeless classics along the way, he continues to occupy the throne as the world’s most famous rapper.

During one of the recent trips to Las Vegas we met with Snoop's management while he was vacationing in Jamaica and filming a documentary. When he got back from jamrock he was introduced, and gave his management the thumbs up to go ahead with the collaboration. Check out some of our photos and follow us on instagram at : @Calisfinest @ali_fornia

SXSW added conferences and festivals for the film industry (SXSW Film) as well as for the blossoming interactive media (SXSW Interactive Festival). Now three industry events converge in Austin during a Texas-sized week, mirroring the ever increasing convergence of entertainment/media outlets.

When these pictures were sent from Snoop's I-phone it was confirmation that he was interested in the project, and he even gave us a quick sneak peak in the video below: DEACON OF THE CHURCH feat. SOOPAFLY

CF @ MAKE IT COUNT

Cali's Finest headed out to the Make It Count contest series to register Cameron in Los Angeles at the Berrics Westchester Plaza. Mark Appleyard, Chad Tim Tim, Boo Johnson and Trent McClung were there hanging out and skating. Cameron is known for going far in the high ollie and long ollie events, but didn't take this one.

The entry fee for this and all Make It Count contests is just one canned food item. The overall contest winner receives an all expenses paid trip to join other Make It Count winners from around the world at Element YMCA camp for the chance to compete for Element sponsorship, followed by a day at the Berrics with the Element team in August of this year.

CF TEAM RIDER VIDEO

Cali's Finest Team Rider Cameron Padilla featured in Venture Trucks new video for Karls Kauses. Karl’s Kauses Inc. is a comprehensive, non profit supplemental education and youth development organization that target youths in surrounding communities developing their intellectual curiosity, academic ability, social values and personal empowerment through skateboarding. Karl’s Kauses Inc. identifies youths from all ages and supports them until graduation with programming centered around skateboarding. Founded and incorporated in 2011 by Karl Watson and Robert Ferguson, Karl’s Kauses Inc. is based in San Francisco and implements programming through San Francisco’s Park and Recreational Department.

Venture Trucks Presents Karl Watson for Karls Kauses from dlxsf on Vimeo.

CF S.L.A.T.E RE-CAP

S.L.A.T.E 2012 VIDEO RE-CAP

We have made it into the S.L.A.T.E recap video two years in a row, and couldn't be happier. With hundreds of brands to choose from to showcase in the videos we always feel honored to get a spot. Look closely and pay attention to details.

S.L.A.T.E 2011 VIDEO RE-CAP

CF @ S.L.A.T.E. 2012

S.L.A.T.E. is a curated gathering of the most progressive streetwear labels representing the underground surf, skate, art and music communities—from indie to established. Defined by an authentic vibe and unapologetically fresh perspective, that spotlights the fashion and lifestyles of those inspiring the trends of tomorrow.

Now housed at the state-of-the-art Mandalay Bay Convention Center S.L.A.T.E. offers the best of both worlds — the autonomy of a separate show with it’s own look and feel plus the adjacency to The Project Global Tradeshow and the benefit of being a part of the largest fashion trade event in the world.

Legendary west coast rapper Coolio stopped by the Cali's Finest booth this past week at the Mandalay Bay for the Magic Trade Show in Las Vegas and showed us a lot of support. He hung out for a while tried on some gear, grabbed some of his favorites, took some pictures with the crew and even gave us a little video shout out.

Coolio has been putting down the hits since 1994 when he signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, It Takes a Thief. The album contained the single "Fantastic Voyage" a California Classic. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the biggest rap singles of the year. Overall the album was very successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200 and being certified Platinum.

In 1995 he made a song for the movie Dangerous Minds -- "Gangsta's Paradise" which would become one of the most successful rap songs of all time, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. It was the #1 single of 1995 for all genres, and was a truly global hit, as it reached #1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and with the mega-hit was certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA. At the 1996 Grammy Awards the song won Coolio a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.

NFL Pro Bowl Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson stopped by our booth again this year at Magic and got some new gear. He was loving The Republic Tee, a CAL Berkeley inspired t-shirt and DeSean's college. He is definitely one of the best and actually just became the first player in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at two different positions at once, when he was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a wide receiver and return specialist. The guy is really cool and humble every time. He came by and hung out with Coolio for a couple minutes and let us get this awesome pic of him holding up his new shirt.

Rize was Formed in 1997, debuting in 2000. Current members are: Jesse/V&G, Kenken/V&B,& N.K/Dr. Rize music style is a mix of alternative rock, hard rock, punk rock and even some reggae flavor, cultivated & created via their real international music DNA. Their natural, overwhelming enthusiasm to music has been inspiring to many.

In 2010, Jesse paved the road for Rize to release their 7th album Experience. A majority of the tracks from this album were masterminded and produced by Jesse, enabling him to get huge attentions as not only an artist and musician, as a music producer. "Zero," the iconic song of this album, was picked up by Coca-Cola and lead to the collaboration commercial with Hide Nakata / former famous soccer player and Coca-Cola Zero, which is still being aired across a large part of Asia.

In July 2011, Rize released the live DVD titled PIECE. Their "natural vibe" for world music stage has been expanding along their musical career and they are highly motivated in becoming an "Interactive Hub" between east and west through "the power of music" to activate & encourage Japanese people & the world when faced with Tohoku disaster, navigating Jesse to this decision naturally with his double blood & culture."

With the launch of RIDE Unltd., MAGIC’s new home of all things action sports, S.L.A.T.E. amps up the energy with a broad selection of boardsports brands and adrenaline-fueled onsite events—such as last February’s record-setting Maloof High Ollie Challenge. This February it was the Long Ollie Challenge in which our Team Rider Cameron Padilla almost won it all and got to the final four. Now an integrated hub for action sports and subculture-driven streetwear, S.L.A.T.E. is uninhibited attitude meets intense action.

Maloof Money Cup, the world’s greatest skateboarding event, is a premier showcase for amateur and professional skateboarding founded by Joe and Gavin Maloof, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Maloof Skateboarding aims to raise the visibility of skateboarding across the U.S. and globally through professional and amateur contests and partnerships, to support local skate shops and to give back to the communities it touches.

CF @ SURF EXPO 2012

Surf Expo is the largest surf, skate, and beach lifestyle trade show in the world.Since 1976 manufacturers and retailers in the surf, skate, water sports, swim and resort industries have come together in a business-first buying and selling environment at Surf Expo. Surf Expo is produced in January and September in Orlando, Florida and draws buyers from specialty stores across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world. Surf Expo features approximately 2,000 booths of apparel and hardgoods and a full line-up of special events, including fashion shows, annual awards ceremonies, and demos. Average buyer and exhibitor turnout exceeds 12,000 attendees including retailers, exhibitors and media per show.

Sunny Garcia from Wai'anae, HI and debuted on the 1986 Gotcha Pro at Sandy Beach, Oahu, beating the 1984 champ Tom Carroll. In 2000 he won the ASP WCT World Champion and also holds the record for most WQS event wins, 22, and holds six Triple Crown of Surfing titles, Basically the guy is a LEGEND in the surfing game !!

Sunny Garcia also is one of the Team Riders at Fin-S-Fin System. We met the crew from Fin-S in Orlando, and they were super chill peoples. Like most surfers and shapers, they recognized the pitfalls of traditional fin systems, like stripped fin keys and screws, lost fins as a result of improper fastening, and the inconvenience and wasted time associated with those systems that require the use of tools and screws. The guys at Fin-S eliminated those issues with a keyless spring-loaded system that allows you to change your fins in seconds. We were pretty impressed ! If you like to surf check them out !!

The staff at GoPro are always really cool and this year at the Surf Expo we were neighbored up right next to them. They were loving the Cali's Finest told us to dress up the mannequin, even hooked up some lunch. We definitely had to stoke them out with some gear. GoPro is definitely going places and they continue to get bigger and bigger every time we see those guys. Cali's Finest GoPro video coming soon stay tuned....

CF & P-ROD @ AGENDA

Paul Rodriguez is known in the world of skateboarding as one of the worlds elite. We have always been big fans of P-Rod. He came by and checked out our booth at The Agenda in Long Beach, and got a pic with some of the crew.

CF @ AGENDA 2012

The Agenda Trade Show is a forum for the most inspired in the streetwear and action sports industries to unite. Lines speak for themselves and buyers are not intimidated by the usual overwhelming tradeshow experience. From the garage-run lines on the verge of explosion, to the well-established elite, Agenda caters to the needs of buyers and brands that exist on a higher level of design and aesthetic. With a strong emphasis in style, art, music and culture, the Agenda experience is as much a lesson as it is a tool.

Emcee, Bboy, DJ, and Graffiti Arts. These are the four elements that compose Hip Hop culture. Many would argue that fashion is not a significant element of Hip Hop, but when placed in comparison with any other culture, you will see the appearance of its people is what distinguishes them. Fashion IS the 5th Element.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the upcoming Fall/ Winter Line in the works