Collaborations and Special Editions
A follow-up to the first part of our History of Oakley Frogskins series, this time the focus is on how these iconic sunglasses came back into fashion and the special collaborations that have been created along the way.



The best way to describe the current state of our culture is one that is made up of the best elements from our past put into a new perspective to fit into our future.

With that said, it’s no surprise that the Oakley Frogskins have returned for a new generation to embrace. Joining the likes of the Nike Dunk, the snapback hat, and a handful of other iconic fashion pieces from the 80’s and early 90’s, it’s no wonder that these sunglasses have re-emerged into the current state of fashion.

The Oakley Frogskins possess a timeless quality to them. Clean lines and a clean silhouette allow them to be used as a perfect platform for the expression of creativity and design.

Frogskins could easily be seen as one of the most sought out products to collaborate on this year. From athletes to boutiques to brands, 2009 had all kinds of influential people put their unique spin on the classic sunglass design, with many more to come in the future.

How did all these collaborations come to be? and who was responsible for bringing the Oakley Frogskins back into the limelight?

Resurgence is Supreme
Over the course of their product run, the Oakley Frogskins were made available in over 50 different color-way and lens combinations, while finally being discontinued in the mid 90’s.



SoHo New York, known to be at the forefront of street fashion and culture, is also the home of Supreme NYC, skateboard boutique and key influencer in the streetwear scene. A core skateshop in nature, but better known for their collaborations on limited edition products with a multitude of companies, Supreme calls the shots as far as tastemaking is concerned and has the line-up of people waiting outside their doors to prove it.

In early 2007 Supreme took the initiative and released four models of Oakley Frogskins that were based on an updated version of the original Frogskins mold from the 80’s. The sunglasses came with a custom branded microbag and “croakies” style strap to complete the package.





Trevor Andrew
Trevor Andrew, best known for being a professional snowboarder and musician with a style all his own, could very well be the unofficial leader for the initiative to bring back the Oakley Frogskins into today’s current street culture.

Being a sponsored Oakley rider for a number of years, and more recently, having transitioned into an equally impressive musician has given him the opportunity to bring back this eyewear style and have it projected to the masses. He was awarded a signature “glow in the dark” model to coincide with his first album, Trouble Andrew. With his album cover art and general persona never without a pair of Frogskins, it’s no wonder people were starting to take notice.





Other Collaborations
With the nostalgia bug hitting hard and the potential that these sunglasses gave for creative color and design combinations, it was no surprise that everyone from shops to brands to athletes were interested in working on their own version of this true classic. Given the fact that the regular Frogskins were released in limited number, a whole other level of desire was created with these special editions. Here are some other notable collaborations on Oakley Frogskins:

Boutiques
Other than Supreme, a handful of other well known boutiques in the streetwear & skate industry have been fortunate enough to collaborate with Oakley on special edition Frogskins. FICE, Collette, Commonwealth, Shop Gentei, Primitive and DQM are among the few that have really pushed the design and creativity for signature models, with different frame and lens combinations that have never been seen before. These were generally offered in very limited quantities and available as an exclusive product for each respective boutique.













Brands
Ranging from the core snowboard brands to fashion labels, some of the more renowned (and rarest) models were released as private labels through company collaborations . Paul Smith from England released four models in pastel colorways, along with a creative camouflage version in the same hues.



Snowboarder Danny Kass and the Dingo, both obsessed and never seen without Frogskins, had the opportunity to release a pair for their company, Grenade Gloves, which had the Grenade company logo etched into the lens.



Athletes
Other than Trevor Andrews, several Oakley sponsored athletes have received their own signature model Frogskins. Snowboarder Shaun White, skateboarders Greg Lutzka and more recently Eric Koston with a unique woodgrain themed model. The athlete series Frogskins are usually part of a bigger package and are branded according to each riders specifications.







Andrew Petterson Artist Series
Artist Andrew Petterson collaborated with Oakley to create a limited run of hand painted Frogskins. Fifty models were produced, each being a one-of-a-kind design, and sealed in undisclosed bags to make it a truly random experience.





The Future
Given the current state of the Oakley Frogskins, and the desire to keep this model at the forefront of street fashion, there appears to be no end in sight for creative releases in the coming future. 2009 alone had some of the more expressive and exceptional models released, let’s see what 2010 brings ….

Image sources: All Frogskins imagery courtesy of their respectful owners / Oakley / Hypebeast / Highsnobiety / Supreme NYC / Trouble Andrew / Trevor Andrew artwork by Mel Marcelo and Paul Schulte of Oakley.