Violet and Ron Allen’s Life Skateboards Collab Is Oozing With ’90s Nostalgia

Originally posted on TransWorld SKATEboarding
By Brian Blakely | Last updated Aug 15, 2025 3:55 PM ET

Violet recently teamed up with one of skateboarding's most OG of OGs, Ron Allen, for a limited-edition release that brings his old brand Life Skateboards back into the spotlight.

The drop includes shirts and decks built on the original Life shape, each featuring the hand-drawn logo Ron created when he started the brand in the early ’90s. The collab blends Violet's modern style with the raw, independent spirit of one of skateboarding’s most admired underground brands. Didn't see this one coming! But we're here for it. Take a look:

Violet—led by William Strobeck—and Ron Allen aren’t just reviving a logo here, either. You could argue they’re honoring a straight-up legacy, and with limited quantities available, this gear won’t stick around for long.

"Life Skateboards was started in the early ’90s by pro skater Ron Allen after leaving H-Street. The name of the company came from De La Soul’s track 'This Is a Recording 4 Living In a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E).'" Strobeck mentioned on YouTube. "The team included Sean Sheffey, John Reeves, John Deago, Kien “Donger” Lieu, and Ron Allen himself—just to name a few. Life dropped their defining video, A Soldier’s Story, in 1991. The video was gritty and unfiltered, introducing Sean Sheffey in his breakthrough part that closed the video and helped cement Life as a company. Life Skateboards was active roughly from 1990 until about 1993."

I will say this—seeing Ron out in the streets stacking clips was a real treat. The dude is looking as dope as ever! And the boards looks sick. Hit the Violet site to cop yours.

This article first appeared on TransWorld Skateboarding and was syndicated with permission.

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