It has been talked about for some time now but Australian denim label Ksubi (formally known as Tsubi) have officially filed for voluntary administration. If some are a bit unfamiliar with this term, it is a ‘nicer’ word for bankruptcy. It has been quite a trip for co-founders Dan Single and George Gorrow, where it started from a fairytale beginning into becoming, well.. an ending. The surfing duo started their label in 2000 where, to their luck, their custom made jeans became ‘the jeans’ to have and own! But the talented  duo haven’t had the smooth pathway designers wish for. After having always having been critised for their extravagant, over the top, controversial fashion shows (rats running on stage and boat fashion shows), 2006 didn’t become any easier. The duo faced a court battle with US shoe company Tsubo in which they claimed Tsubi having used the first four letters of the name was a breach in their trademark which has been registered 2 years before the establishment of Tsubi. Although the name Tsubi didn’t change in Australia, there was a lot of media talk concerning Tsubi having to change to Ksubi for the rest of the world, in which this would entail a complete re-branding to the label.

It hasn’t come easy for the pair, where 2009 was a big turning point to denim house Ksubi. After not succeeding in sales and outsourcing manufacturing and distribution overseas, *cough China* Ksubi took the plunge and re-branded from exclusivity to mainstream, which calls out ‘desperate times go for desperate measures.’ They were now stocking in Australian department store David Jones and Top Shop at Oxford Circus at a lower price at ‘more affordable’ prices.  As from 11th of Jan 2010 they filed for voluntary administration and claimed that ”ksubi is grateful for the loyalty shown by its suppliers through this difficult period.”It is quite a dramatic story according to the design world, although they have received a bantering from the public, but I must say, I am still a proud owner of a pair of Tsubi‘s made in Australia and when they want to do it, they did it well!

Moral of the story is: Greed, Globalization and ignorance… it’s not a good mix.