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Well I didn't know they'd gone bust.
A brand always associated with the 90s bike scene.
I lived in my animal Tshirt or Rox shirts and always wanted an animal watch but at 14 I spent all my cash on anodized shit.
Loved the animal stall at fort bill as well.
Sad news
Shame, definitely gone a bit Fat Face/Old Guys Rule in recent years though, v cool in the 90s/early 2000s of course!
Given they started out in the 80s making watch straps from velcro, they've probably had a good run.
The brand has been bought by Mountain Warehouse so fingers crossed it gets resurrected something like the old days.
I used to love the eBay shop, some right bargains on there abs good quality too, I’m currently wearing a hoodie that I’ve worn to death for the last 7 or 8 years, it’s tatty as hell but I love it.
For what it’s worth, the two guys who established Animal and designed the watches are now the guys behind Elliot Brown watches.
I had a few of those smelly Velcro watch straps - happy memories!
Had many a t-shirt, watch straps and still got some Animal jeans.
I was sooo chuffed with my bright yellow Animal bag I had for school. It's now the bag I take to the climbing wall. Good memories, but very much this:
definitely gone a bit Fat Face/Old Guys Rule in recent years
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djflexure
Free MemberI had a few of those smelly Velcro watch straps – happy memories!
Mine always smelt like salt and vinegar crisps
I always got sent samples of the watch straps and then when the clothes came out I was sent a bag of T-Shirts, I still have some of the first run and they are holding their shape and the colours are not too faded, well at least they're doing better than me anyway.
I got given the odd watch too.
For some reason I never managed to wangle a free pickup truck though...
A quick check and I have just come in from a ride wearing an Animal tee and a beanie both bought in Weymouth a year ago in the sales.
Glad the brand is still going.
I've still got a watch strap. Not got a watch on it, but I've still got it.
Clothes had been shit for years though. They did make some great bags, maybe should have stuck to that.
Got a couple of their holdalls in the loft, they've lasted a good 25 years, proper bits of kit.
Loved buying their clothes as a kid and finding the odd quotes on the tags, 'Warmer than a layer of lard' in a fleece and 'not to be used as a bullet proof vest' in a t-shirt.
Glad they've got the brand going again - not that I'd wear it these days. Fat Willy's surf shack ftw!
I've still got the watch but not the original watch strap....I still use it as my riding watch.
Still got the Surfers Against Sewage watch they did back in the day
"Animal Surfers Against Sewage watch | #541933523" https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/animal-surfers-against-sewage-watch-541933523
I had a couple of their watch straps, but my favourite items are two fleeces I’ve had for donks, a red one and a black one, mid weight, very simple pullover with a short zip in the neck, and no elastic around the cuffs, and they get worn constantly, I love them to bits.
I’ve also got two belts made by Animal, they’re styled after aircraft seatbelts, the webbing has the animal logotype woven into it, and the alloy buckle has the logo embossed into it. One’s dark green, the other black, the webbing is about 2” across, unfortunately the tab that pushes into the buckle has snapped on one of them, but if I can get hold of some decent alloy, about 3mm thick I can probably cut and file new ones.
I've got one of those belts. Bought it on a windsurfing stag weekend in Poole sometime in 2001. Still works holding up me troosers
I remember the glory days of animal, Timo and his stupid Porsche and the Kimmerage crew
Happy days....its all foiling and kites now..
Some of my wildest trips I ever did were with Timo but for the real craziness Finn was the man.
So much trouble in the Canaries, the Sinai and N Africa,
I was never quite sure what they actually sold, apart from some sport sunglasses I picked up cheap from t k maxx and still use now and then for really sunny rides.
Still have a watch but doesn't work anymore, a new strap felt like a new watch!
I still have a couple I use for going down battery packs for night rides
I also bought a commuting backpack of theirs last year & it's a very good bit of kit
I'm still running an Animal wallet. It's well made, leather and fits everything perfectly so I'm sticking with it. I think it's probably at least 10 years old and could do the same again.
I wonder if my titanium Animal watch has appreciated yet? 🙂
I wonder if my titanium Animal watch has appreciated yet? 🙂
Post it in one of the watch threads and ask the experts.
😀
Went right off Animal years ago when they started letting Nissan etc slap their logo over the back of crap pick-up trucks driven by imbeciles.
Sad times! I remember waiting all year for an Animal W01 watch for Christmas. Used it for years with my MBUK velcro watch strap.
Good...
I never liked Animal the UK brand, I was too BMX then and didn't care for brands that supported other sports or were mainstream. Double downed on this when something happened between Animal Bikes and Animal UK on naming convention, think Animal Bikes had to rebrand to A-Bike Co for a period, even though Animal UK didnt actually sponsor any BMX riders.
I find the pick ups with the logo splattered on it awful too.
I wonder if my titanium Animal watch has appreciated yet? 🙂
Picked one of those up years ago, my favourite watch, and I think the only watch I ever lost. 🙁 Loved Animal stuff.
Like many, had a loads of their t-shirts through the years as well as still having my original W001 watch. Good to see they're going to keep going albeit in a genericey Mountain Warehouse way.
I used to lust after their watches when the adverts were just a bunch of watch faces on black in MBUK. Had a couple over the years but no idea where they are now. Had some tshirts as well, still have one as my painting tshirt.
Loved buying their clothes as a kid and finding the odd quotes on the tags, ‘Warmer than a layer of lard’ in a fleece and ‘not to be used as a bullet proof vest’ in a t-shirt.
The aforementioned painting tshirt has www.getoutmore.co.ok as the Animal website.
Where do you go to get the battery changed in the Animal watches now. I used to send my Surfers Against Sewage watch direct to Animal as that's all that the local watch shop did with a £30 admin fee.
Plus it often came back with a free keyring as a bonus.
The brand has been bought by Mountain Warehouse so fingers crossed it gets resurrected something like the old days.
It won't. It'll be cheap shite same as everything else they sell.
Went right off Animal years ago when they started letting Nissan etc slap their logo over the back of crap pick-up trucks driven by imbeciles.
It was Misubishi, yesterday's Van ****ers.
I too liked reading the washing labels in their T-shirt’s ‘Bake at Gas Mark 5’ and ‘Manufactured by Space Monkeys’ being my favourites. Managed to kill a couple of watches so ended up with a good old G-shock instead.
are you? Because wearing a MW Animal t-shirt would be deeply tragic, like buying Airwalk shoes 😀Glad the brand is still going.p
Where do you go to get the battery changed in the Animal watches now
I just go to local Timpsons.
Because wearing a MW Animal t-shirt would be deeply tragic, like buying Airwalk shoes
I was about to question this and realised I'm wearing Airwalk shoes. I didn't buy them for the image they project (or don't, it seems - I wasn't aware they were tragic), just to cover my feet when I'm walking along pavements.
I'm not sure it's advisable for middle aged men to buy clothes, especially sports lifestyle clothes, in an effort to project a look, a style. We just look like somebody's weird, try-hard uncle, trying to keep up with the kids. Or, in an alternative setting, that bloke wearing Ferrari branded gear driving a Nissan Juke. 😀
Animal tops and Hot Tuna Shorts #letsgo90s 
🙂 🙂
Hot Tuna
Oh hell yes.
I have a lovely picture of me in my Hot Tuna T-shirt and mrs_oab in her Kangaroo Poo hoody on the beach...
Animal lost it’s way a long time ago, they had some issues with agent contracts back in the 90’s that affected the business, eventually becoming part of H Young (Madison).
I’ve yet to return to Mountain Warehouse since they opened near me & I realised their business model, I’ll stick to more sustainable, environmentally friendly apparel.
true, especially if it's from a high-street or industrial park based retailer that piles 'em high & sells 'em cheap 😀I’m not sure it’s advisable for middle aged men to buy clothes, especially sports lifestyle clothes, in an effort to project a look, a style.
Both Animal and Airwalk were started by enthusiasts, selling a product that filled a niche, both a part of and contributing to the heart of their respective scenes by sponsoring athletes, comps etc. It's not a particularly hard river to navigate though... when the original ethos is long gone and the company sold off for the name and run by bean-counters who sell the product in discount stores, it's time to get out 🤣 Muddy Fox might be a more relatable example!
If you're (still) part of the scene it makes it a lot easier as you'd know what is actually cool. I generally just wear plain t-shirts these days 🤣
I always gravitated to their stuff as they were actively supporting MTBing the Atherton to name three, products were good quality and not horrendously expensive. I've still got a " Warmer than a layer of lard" sweatshirt, bought in Looe I agonised over paying £35 for it and it's reversible FFS! Nice blue fleece one side denim look the other.
As for looking " tragic" or " trying too hard" I'm 65 still wearing hoodies, denim jeans ( without elasticated waist!) skate shoes or DMs I think I've past through that " what will other people think of me" phase although I don't think I ever let it bother me 😬
I always remember the ads in the back of the Windsurfing magazines for the Animal watchstraps. Mid 80s I guess. Cartoon of a skinny guy arm wrestling a Gorilla. 'He may break your wrist but not your watchstrap'.
I had a couple of Animal watchstraps.
As for looking ” tragic” or ” trying too hard” I’m 65 still wearing hoodies, denim jeans ( without elasticated waist!) skate shoes or DMs I think I’ve past through that ” what will other people think of me” phase although I don’t think I ever let it bother me 😬
So am I, at this moment! (Although I'm a bit younger at 52.) My comments were based on the brand snobbery, rather than the actual clothing. I was amused at my footwear being tragic.
all you need now is for bula to come back and etto and you will all be set 👍😁
(i was too poor to have any bula stuff or an etto helmet).
i did have an animal fabric wallet though but it died unfortunately.
I had a few hoodies and t shirts from Animal. No watches / straps though. I've still got a sweater and a t-shirt now. The t-shirt has gone a funny shape, so I only keep it for nostalgia.
and etto and you will all be set
I used to have an Etto toxic waste helmet. I imagine that got thrown away a long time ago! Had a weird fit.
They were owned by Madison (well, the people that own Madison - H Young) - if you want some present day Animal gear a lot of it was just the same as Madison's stuff rebranded.
my comments about "tragic" fashion were entirely aimed at once-great brands now sold off & run by bean-counters rather than enthusiasts! You can be tragic whatever your age, that has nothing to do with it 😉As for looking ” tragic” or ” trying too hard” I’m 65 still wearing hoodies, denim jeans ( without elasticated waist!) skate shoes or DMs
Thanks zilog with you re bean counters , they sound the death knell wherever they go 🙁 should wear a cloak and carry a scythe ☠️
Maybe I'm not old enough but I'm not sure they were ever cool were they?
Maybe I’m not old enough but I’m not sure they were ever cool were they?
Come on then, list us a few cool brands then.
I always had doubts about brands you could buy without having to travel to a different continent.
Maybe Aussies and Hawaiians felt the same about Fat Willy's and Animal as we did about Billabong and Hot Tuna before they had European distribution.
I still like Animal though, nice people in the Weymouth store but not been in it for a year...
My Animal wetsuits are great and I wished I'd bought a couple of spares while I had the opportunity. Hopefully all the staff there have found alternative employment.
They were my T-shirt maker of choice through sixth form and uni in the late 90s, and I had several watch straps, wallets and the 001 watch.
Their T-shirts got gradually thinner over that time, and the watch ate a battery a year.
‘Cool’ is an illusion, and for a fat 46 year old - a fantasy.
I’m wearing my black Animal fleece now, I’ve been wearing the red one for some time and it could do with a wash. I love the simplicity of it, it’s just the right weight, it has a small animal text logo on the left breast in red, and the claw logo on the neck at the back, and not having cuffs as such means that there’s no elastic to stretch and sag after a couple of years. Mine have got to be twenty+ years old, possibly older, and if ME were to do new ones like them I’d buy some more in different colours. With a thin base laye and an ultralight down jacket they’re perfect for the weather at the moment.
‘Cool’ is an illusion,
It’s for interwebz influencers and daft people with more money than taste; I’ll wear what the hell I want, at 67 I’m too old and sodding cranky to put up with anyone questioning what I choose to wear - I didn’t give a shit at 17, fifty years on I’m coming up even shorter on the number of ****s I couldn’t give for other peoples opinions.
Ah Hot Tuna! I had a load of T-shirts in the 90's that lasted for years. Pride of place went to my Bula hat, I thought I was the dogs in that! 😁
Ah Hot Tuna!
Yeah, I’ve got a Hot Tuna tee, and a tank/vest, the tee is a sort of orangy pink colour, with a big dayglo and black fish logo on the back. The tank top is white, IIRC, with the same dayglo and black fish, it’s lurking in a drawer somewhere, I’ll have to dig it out now the warmer weather is here. There used to be a local mountain biking travel company called Rough Tracks, I think. Print company I worked for did all their print and design and I went on one of their holidays in France, in the Parc du Volcans, and there was a photo in the brochure of a bunch of us at a café, with me wearing my Hot Tuna top!
Great holiday, I took my Cannondale M800 Beast Of The East with an original pair of orange Bombers that I had fitted to it.
I always thought that Animal was just a brand label without any real product. They slapped the word Animal on anything to make it 'cool' like the Nissans. Now I learn that they made watch straps.
It is like discovering a 'cool' brand that does extreme sports, crazy stunts and even F1 racing is basically a fizzy drinks company.
At least now they are owned by MW they will just be a brand label.
reckoned I might fancy a nice bright red hoodie and cap, comes to £55 so free shipping - great!
Adding the discount code takes the total down to £49.50 so an added £4.50 shipping. 😐 That gives me pause for thought, the thought being, nah, I'm not that arsed. Sorry Animal, your checkout policy lost you an order there.
It is like discovering a ‘cool’ brand that does extreme sports, crazy stunts and even F1 racing is basically a fizzy drinks company.
back to front there - they're not a Fizzy Drinks company. Red Bull isn't a drinks company that also sponsors events its an events company that also sells drinks. When their name is on an event its their event - they're not the sponsor. The drinks were a later add-on.
I wonder whether part of their problem was in having a name that is just a generic noun so couldn’t really be searched for on a search engine. I used to look for Animal watches on eBay and it threw up all sorts of crap.
I wonder whether part of their problem was in having a name that is just a generic noun so couldn’t really be searched for on a search engine.
Given that Animal predate most internet search engines, and eBay, I doubt that was at the front of their mind when they were branding.
My wife and I had snowboard jackets from Animal and they were great, but that was nearly 20 years ago 😳
@maccruiskeen, isn't it the other way around? They started as a drinks company in the 80s then created the events in the 90s and 00s?
Here’s my two Animal fleeces, they’re so easy to wear, and comfortable, and because the sleeves don’t have an elastic cuff, it’s easy to push the sleeves up without going baggy.
Just having the small logo on the front and the ‘claw’ on the back means they’re fairly subtle. I’d love a couple more in different colours if they reintroduced them. The white flecks on the black one are bits of down from my Quechua down jacket, cheap, but they leak like sieve!
Dug my Hot Tuna tee out, a bit creased, but it hasn’t been worn for some time. Wearing it right now, it’s a bit faded, it was a brighter pink when I bought it, probably early 90’s, maybe late 80’s. Buggered if I can remember now.
