Supreme’s ascent from neighborhood cult favorite to auction star is a master class in brand marketing, based on creating hard-to-build desire. Launched in New York City in 1994, the iconic streetwear brand with a subversive attitude has attracted a following that ranges from downtown skaters to fashion's elite.
After a short-lived stint as a salesman for downtown Manhattan store Parachute and running a Stüssy branch as well as his own retail outlet, Union, British ex-pat James Jebbia opened Supreme, “the cool, cool shop … no big brands or anything.” The founder and director sold skateboards and sneakers, beanies, tees and hoodies while movies like Mean Streets and loud hip-hop played in the background, attracting a young downtown crowd of skateboarders, artists and entrepreneurs who found the store’s counterculture ethos appealing.
With success came brand collaborations big and small — all tightly controlled by Jebbia, who is renowned for unfailing business instincts — ensuring waiting lists and lines at new product launches. A 2012 partnership with Comme des Garçons brought Supreme avant-garde fashion followers with deeper pockets.
“I don’t think enough people take risks, and when you do, people respond — in music, in art, in fashion,” Jebbia told Vogue. He seemed to be taking a risk working with big brands. But although some fans accused him of selling out with Supreme’s Fall/Winter 2017 collaboration with Louis Vuitton, most did not, including the winning bidder for the Malle trunk at Christie’s.
A curated “Artist Series” of Supreme skate decks was inaugurated in 2001 when the then-not-so-famous street artist KAWS, aka Brian Donnelly, designed his Chum boards, a pair of which, signed, went for $32,000, four times their estimate, at the “Handbags X Hype” sale. The series now includes creations by Cindy Sherman, Nan Goldin, Damien Hirst, the Chapman Brothers and George Condo.
Find Supreme shirts, hoodies, jackets and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
Martin Wong Supreme skateboard deck (Martin Wong Supreme)
By Supreme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Martin Wong Supreme Skateboard Deck, 2019: – featuring - Martin Wong 'Iglesia Pentecostal', (1986). Limited edition Martin Wong skateboard published by Supreme New York in 2019 inco...
Wood
Early 20th Century Toy Noah's Ark, German
Located in Incline Village, NV
Toy Noah’s Arks for children to play with were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, and Germany was very prolific in their production. This particular ark is all ori...
Wood
Vintage Model Wood House
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Vintage model wood house featuring front portico and door with many windows and four dormers. House has interior bulb that functions to light interior a...
Wood
$975
H 5.75 in W 9.5 in D 3 in
Cast Iron Toy Fire Pumper Truck by Hubley, ca. 1920's All Original Paint
By Hubley Manufacturing Company 2
Located in Petaluma, CA
This rather large fire truck was done at the height of the production of cast iron toys, 1920's. Having iron wheels as opposed to rubber, which does often melt, and rich original br...
Iron
Antique Wooden Articulated Doll/Artist’s Mannequin/Milliner's Model
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a doll with 19th-century styling, including a center-parted hairstyle and a hand-painted face. Like a typically smaller “penny wooden” doll, which sold for a penny, and h...
Metal
Large Vintage Handmade Wooden Airplane Model Biplane, 1930s
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
This large decorative airplane is a handmade folk art biplane model from Western Europe, dating to the 1930s. It is made of painted carved wood, with metal struts, a metal propeller,...
Metal
Mid 19th Century Antique Wooden Rocking Horse on Stand
Located in Stamford, CT
A wonderful mid 19th Century folk working wooden rocking horse painted in early white paint, with glass eyes {one missing} real mane and tail hair, leather saddle on a wooden frame. ...
Wood
Antique Set or Game of "25 Infantry Soldiers on Parade"
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Transporting set of 25 Infantry Soldiers on Parade presented in the original cardboard box with a colorful printed image, holding 25 cardboard soldiers with printed paper images and ...
Corrugated Cardboard
19th Century American Folk Art Rocking Horse
Located in Lancaster, PA
A charming and expressive 19th-century carved wooden rocking horse, retaining an appealing early painted surface with beautifully worn patina. The elongated, stylized form is hand-carved with exaggerated features—arched neck, sculpted ears, and a deeply carved mane—giving the piece a wonderfully naïve and folky presence. Original paint remains visible throughout in muted tones of black, green, red, and cream, softened by generations of use and natural age. The horse sits on its original bentwood rockers, joined by hand-forged nails and wooden pegs, with traces of old surface wear that speak to its long life and authenticity. The saddle form and tail are carved integral to the body, and the expressive head retains its original painted bridle details and wide-eyed character. This is a particularly evocative example of early children’s folk art...
Wood
$6,800
H 28 in W 29 in D 23.5 in
Hanging Nursery Mobile in Solid Sapele, Marc Leblanc, Leblanc Studios, USA, 2020
Located in Deland, FL
Introduce your home to a touch of organic elegance with this one-of-a-kind hanging nursery mobile designed and carved by Mark LeBlanc. Masterfully crafted from rare and intentionall...
Copper
$1,936Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.97 in W 9.06 in D 14.18 in
Vintage Richters German Anchor Blocks Building Toy
Located in Barcelona, ES
Discover a piece of history with this vintage Richters German anchor blocks building toy, also known as Der Geschickte Baumeister. Made in Rudolstadt, Germany, circa 1900, this set c...
Quartz
American Tin Toy Trolley, circa 1880
By George W. Brown & Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
Horse drawn trolleys or "horse buses" were the main source of "mass transit", along with trains in the late 1800s in America. Thus they were ubiquitous subject matter for toy makers to exploit as toys for young children. While many tin toy...
Tin
$1,224
H 40.56 in W 28.75 in D 18.51 in
Very rare plastic stand of the M&M's candy company mascot, 1990s
Located in Praha, CZ
Plastic stand in the shape of the M&M's mascot from the 1990s, 103cm high. The production of the candy began in 1941, when Forrest Mars saw soldiers eating chocolate candies dip...
Plastic