Starting from his nickname and rise to fame, Keith Hufnagel founded his skateboarding business in 2002 and successfully transformed his vision into HUF worldwide. In celebration of this major milestone, we are delighted to interview the senior management from HUF (Keith Murray - Chief Operating Officer, and Hanni El Khatib - Chief Creative Officer) on their vision of building a skateboarding community across the continents. HUF has been inheriting the vision and philosophy of Hufnagel since day one. It is renowned for its minimalistic aesthetic, provocative designs, and quality craftsmanship. HUF is dedicated to promoting the skateboarding culture and refuses to conform. HUF’s creative design is inspired by different music, art, and photography from all over the world.
Background of HUF
HUF’s founder Keith Hufnagel grew up skateboarding in the gritty streets of 1980s New York City. He was part of an early street skating generation that came up amongst a melting pot of city countercultures—hip hop, punk, graffiti, streetwear, and other underground movements. Hufnagel opened the first HUF boutique in 2002 on an offbeat block in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, bringing together the most respected skate, streetwear, and sneaker brands. HUF quickly came to be recognized as the Bay Area’s institution for hard-to-come-by goods, attracting a new era of skaters, artists, and like-minded creatives. As it grew, Hufnagel launched his own collection, assimilating into one label what he felt epitomized the spirit of skateboarding and street culture.
