Sessions (clothing company)
Sessions is an apparel company recognized worldwide that designs, develops, produces and markets action sports based products primarily in the snowsports industry in addition to young men's and young women's clothing and related products under the "Sessions" brand. Sessions is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, United States. Sessions is known for its trademarked star logo.
History
Origins
In 1983, Sessions was founded in Sunnyvale, California by Joel Gomez, a skateboarder from Santa Cruz, California, as a retail store and clothing line that bridged skateboarding, snowboarding, and music.
In 1985, Sessions started an alternative rock music mail order business. The Sessions music mail-order catalog was often included as a circular with Alternative Press, SPIN, and other American music magazines, coinciding with the rise and acceptance of underground college and alternative rock by mainstream media. Sessions was also the first action sports company to create a record label, Sessions Records. Sessions Records featured collectable 7" vinyl records. Some of Sessions Records best known artists include Fu Manchu, Gwar, AFI, Swinging Utters, Audioslave, No Use For A Name, Supersuckers and Foo Fighters. Sessions Records also released Snoisses Vol. 1, Snoisses Vol. 2, Steve Caballero Bandology Vol. 1 and more. Sessions Records was active between 1995 and 2005.
In 1990 Sessions athlete, snowboarder Terry Kidwell was featured on the cover of ISM Magazine with a jacket that had a Sessions patch on it. Several calls were placed asking where to purchase the jacket and with that the clothing division of the company was born.
Shortly after, Daniel Claus, an artist connected with a Sessions store in Chicago, put together a movie and small magazine/catalog called “Eight Ball” for Sessions. Pro skater/artist John Grigley who was riding for Vision at the time drew designs for T-shirts as did Van Franco.
Today, Sessions is dedicated to snowsports apparel that includes snowboard jackets, snowboard pants, layering, gloves, hats, shirts and related products. Sessions sells its clothing through retailers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Sessions has won many innovation awards and has released many industry firsts. Keeping true to its music roots, Sessions was the first action sports company to co-op jackets with some of the most influential bands of all time such as a jacket with heavy metal band Metallica and a jacket with alternative hard rock band Pearl Jam. Both Jackets featured Skull Candy amplifier and speakers built right into the jacket. Sessions was also the first US snowboard company to be licensed by Gore-Tex, first to implement RECCO avalanche systems in their outerwear and first to implement d3O impact protection in their layering program.
In 2012, Silicon Valley San Jose Business Journal recognized Sessions President Cindi Ferreira Busenhart as a Women of Influence honoree.
Last year the Sessions brand was purchased by Leonian Singapore Pte. Ltd., a Sports and Lifestyle Company that boasts a portfolio of retail chains, sporting goods, apparel and golf driving ranges
Community
Sessions President Cindi Ferreira Busenhart founded and Chairs the Tim Brauch Memorial Fund Nonprofit. Tim Brauch, a professional skateboarder who is also featured in the Smithsonian Exhibit Sports:Breaking Records worked for Sessions when his life was cut short by sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 25. Sessions is proud to be the backbone of the Tim Brauch Memorial Fund's fundraising efforts by hosting the annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contests. Sessions also held community based fundraisers to benefit the Scotts Valley, California Skateboard Park which was dedicated to Tim Brauch. Sessions President Cindi Ferreira Busenhart encourages company principles to improve the community in which they live and work. Sessions has supported Boarding for Breast Cancer, Snowsports Outreach Society, Santa Cruz County Foster Children Holiday Program, local schools and many other community efforts. In 2012/13 San Jose Silicon Valley Business Journal honored Sessions with a Philanthropic Impact Award and featured Sessions President and Tim Brauch Memorial Fund Founder and Chair Cindi Ferreira Busenhart and her son Tim Brauch Memorial Fund Junior Board Member Brigg Ferreira Busenhart on the cover of the magazine.