Founder
The Skater Fashion Prodigy – Blondey McCoy
Jemima Hunter
July 19, 2022
Skater, fashion entrepreneur and model, twenty four year old, Blondey McCoy has been representing the fashion and sporting world as the founder of Thames MMXX, a streetwear, uniform inspired brand.
As a young teen, McCoy took a trip to Neal’s Yard to visit Slam City Skates, a skateboard shop for the very first time, which immediately sparked his creativity and passion for the subject. ‘The board wall served as my introduction to art, the type that seemed to seek no approval and need no validation – an attitude more compatible with the school of skateboarding than with actual school.’
Whilst completing his GCSE’s, McCoy made a logo out of newspaper clippings, to create a consistent theme for his art book, which happened to be unconsciously the start of his brand.
At fourteen, McCoy began creating branded Thames artwork, so that the name gave the pieces a characterized style. The concept behind the name was his love for skating on Southbank with the river that branches to his school on the other side.
‘I was so obsessed with the skateboarding world I started making works which essentially looked better on t-shirts and stickers than on a wall. I was gradually and unknowingly building a brand.’
The entrepreneur then partnered with his board sponsor, Palace Skateboards in 2015 to try and grow the Thames brand. ‘It had left the comfort of my bedroom and entered the world of ‘product pushing’. That’s not to say I particularly minded that.’
Four years on and McCoy officially partnered with the brand and started to sell art merchandise under the name ‘Blondey.’ Whilst exhibiting his art, McCoy put his all into creating the unique streetwear brand Thames MMXX to showcase his art alongside his skateboarding passion.
With the first clothing line related to his past life commitments of school and skating, McCoy put a twist on the topic of conforming in education. ‘I should have been at school, but I wasn’t – I was skateboarding every day and as a result, I was asked to leave.’
Now as the creative director and founder of Thames, McCoy continues to collaborate with some iconic design brands including Fred Perry, Damien Hurst and Stephen Webster whilst staying ahead of trends and having fun with new creations.
‘Skateboarding is one massive game of trial and error and even if you’re naturally gifted you will fail 99% of the time and break bones. But that’s what makes the 1% of attempts you roll away from rewarding enough to keep at it and bring that trick up to scratch. There is a real work ethic attached.’
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