CHPO is the watch and sunglasses brand you'll want to meet this summer. It all started with ViktorTelégren, when he picked up his first skateboard at the age of 12. Over time he realised that he wasn't good enough to be a pro even though he loved the sport. He then decided that one day he would have a business within the skateboarding world. At the other end of Europe, Johan Graffner had moved to London in 1996 to study, already with a background in the skate business. With Viktor's idea and Johan's knowledge, the partnership between the two began in 2013 and that's when CHPO was born.
With affordable prices, CHPO is an inclusive brand, made for everyone. This is a key point in the brand's philosophy. The Swedish company has a very strong position against homophobia, racism and any kind of hate. Aware that they sell a way of life and not just a product, the founders of the brand want to influence and share their values with customers. "If you have a voice, as we do, we think it's important that you're not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. We believe in equality for all and we believe that everyone should have the same opportunities in life," ViktorTelégren said in an interview with Nordic Style Magazine in 2017.
It is because they uphold these values that CHPO partners with various non-profit organisations such as Skateistan, WhaleandDolphinConservation and MakeLifeSkate Life. In addition, the brand with roots in skateboarding, music and art also cares about the environment and animals. The plastic used in the production of the sunglasses is 100% recycled and the watch buckles are made from vegan leather.
CHPO works with ambassadors who play an important role in the design of the products. Some of the ambassadors are well-known, others not so much. One example of this is skaterMariah Duran who will be participating in the Olympic games later this month. The athlete created the Mariah watch, taking inspiration from the mountains where she grew up in Mexico.
Sometimes the most important thing is not even how famous the creator of the product is, but the organisation behind the collection. This is the case with three of the four watches we have available on our website. CHPO has committed to donate 100% of the profits from these watches to Skateistan. Skateistan is a non-profit organisation that supports children in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa who attend the organisation's skate school. The three watches were created by Alexis Sablone, Liisa Chisholm and Martin "Mander" Ander, three artists from different parts of the world.
When it comes to sunglasses, the choice is more diverse. With seven models available, each one has its own story. They may have been inspired by a famous singer, a friend of the brand's founders or even a famous hacker. In today's post, we'll highlight just the Tursiops and Beirut models.
Just like the watches for Skateistan, these sunglasses we're going to tell you about now were created in partnership with charitable organisations. Tursiops are associated with dolphin and whale conservation. By donating the profits made from the models, CHPO is defending marine biodiversity, encouraging tourism and combating the climate crisis. While whales are a kind of gardeners of the oceans, dolphins capture carbon from the atmosphere. The partner organisation is WhaleandDolphinConservation which already has over 30 years of experience in the field.
The Beirut are linked to the MakeLife Skate Life association. Aimed at boosting skateboarding communities, the non-profit organisation builds skate parks and makes skateboarding more accessible by offering lessons to people who would otherwise not have access to the sport. The name Beirut was chosen as it corresponds to the city where the association is building its latest project. Similarly, CHPO also has an initiative in Stockholm that aims to encourage skateboarding culture through a programme for refugee children called Stockholm Skate Nation.
From Sweden to the world, CHPO came with the intention of improving the planet. Follow the brand's ideology and make a difference. Enjoy and discover the brand's products on our website because you can make a difference with a lot of style.
