Brand that started on the no one of a recession ends on the no one of a recession. Idk if this is the death note for the skate industry. This is just nature correcting itself. Ace should have died in 2008 when the economy crumbled.
For sure the current climate makes for some interesting questions production wise globally. But it's weird watching people act like this is it. Every decade there's some new economical/societal challenge that's gonna mean death for skateboarding and it never happens. Skateboarding is too big to fail at this point. For sure we might lose some niche brands and smaller passion projects. You may have to accept lesser quality or questionable manufacturing moves from your favorite brand and I'm not saying that's good. But it's not the end. Skateboarding been here plenty of time. It may not be a good time but it isnt end of times. People were saying the bubble was gonna burst long before we were even in the Olympics but realistically skateboarding isn't going anywhere.
Trump and co suck they are making a havoc of the markets for sure. But it would not hurt for manufacturing to return to the states. Especially if both China and US are play the tariff game. And if US get its way and charges astronomical container rates. Between that and them trying to get away from foreign lumber usage. On paper it could work out a positive for brand her based in America who want to manufacture in amarica and employ American workers. Thats a pipe dream I know. And thats not gonna happen. But it is a byproduct of everything going on people don't realize. So many industries that could be jump started by these stupid economic fighting actual benefit skateboarding. Rubber/plastics, maple, steel/aluminum, with everything going on skateboarding companies in America aren't in all that bad of a spot if they can weather the storm that is.
It's bad. But it isnt awful.