When I turned 50 last month (yes—5-0 and still rolling hard!), something beautiful became undeniable: the roller skating scene isn’t just a Gen Z game [though their numbers are multiplying with a force every year]. More and more women from my generation—Gen X—are coming through our doors for roller skating lessons — then continuing their skating journeys with a relentless level of tenacity, confidence and style [and their numbers are growing too]. It’s something that I really relish seeing.
This realisation sparked something inside me. I realised that we, the Gen X skaters, are occupying a significant space within the roller community—not quietly, but with a powerful undeniable presence. And so, I decided: it was time for a design that spoke directly to, and reflected us. Que the Gen X Skater design.
The Meaning Behind the Design
This design is more than just another graphic to me—it’s a piece that pays homage to a generation that remembers the original roller skating wave [when it first impacted the UK]. We are the generation [along side the tenacious Boomers who have chosen to keep it rolling.
“Gen X Skater” boldly claims something that we’ve always had a deep love for. We’re now stoking the embers to reclaim our connection with the freedom and creativity that skating brings.
🔥A splash of pink nods to the feminine force that’s brought so many women into skating later in life, showing that feminity, boldness and beauty isn’t only reserved for the young.
🔥Earthy brown tones ground the design in maturity, experience, and African influence—a quiet strength that honorste origins of the urban skate scene.
🔥And then there’s the shimmer and sparkle—because why not? We’re radiant, vibrant, and ready to actualise our potential. We’re ready to bring that vibrancy and generosity of spirit to every rink, street skate, and party we grace with our presence.
➡️ Take a look at the Gen X Skater range
One Draft And Done: A Talented Artist
To bring this vision to life, I teamed up with a female artist whose intuitive grasp of meaning and movement has consistently impressed upon me. After just one conversation, she returned with a design that captured everything I had asked for—our energy, elegance, style and edge. It only took one draft. That’s howI it she was.
Her work doesn't just illustrate; it celebrates. From the fluid lines to the colour balance, it speaks directly to our collective experience as women who’ve grown up around that urban rhythm skating flare—and she brought the bling for a great finish.
Why Gen X Matters in Skating
Let’s get real—Gen Xers are a force in the global roller skating scene. We were skating before it was trending on TikTok. We caught the first wave—rode it, felt the buzz, grazed our limbs, got back up, went on to raise kids, built careers …and now, now were back with a vengeance. We’re ready to reclaim our freedom, and some of that good good feeling! As a new generation joins the skate wave, we’re choosing to not fade into the background—we’re inspiring, and sometimes schooling our younger skaters with knowledge of skills or skate etiquette [facts].
We bring not just a fresh style [musically and beyond], but substance and depth of character, wisdom and connectivity. And while we may not always spotlighted, you’ll find us right there—participating fully and enjoying what the skate scene has to offer. We’re contributing to the game quietly but powerfully.
Final Thoughts: We See You
This design is for every Gen X skater who’s ever been underestimated or overlooked, those who feel like their on the sidelines, and those who are out their killing it! We’re not done—we’re just getting warmed up! We’re ready to express exactly what we’re made of!
