What happened when Barns, Bullet and Hugo declined the nine-to-five job after they finished university? They caught the latest rage and opened up a boulder gym. What the three climbing friends didn’t expect, was that the ablok-Boulder Gym in Grenoble was not just becoming a place to train for bouldering, but was quickly developing into a boulder and climbing scene in and around Grenoble, playing a role in the climbing community for up-and-coming events and concerns pertaining to the sport. The three found themselves right in the vortex of the vertical, Grenoble sports scene. At the young age of 13 years, a deep friendship was bonded within the circle of three, out of a passion for climbing and bouldering.
ABK Climbing: Urban / Outdoor
In the heart of the French sport climbing Eldorado in and around Grenoble, it’s easy to see what dictates the needs of sports people: Most that frequent the ablok-boulder hall and even those outside on the crags wear clothing for alpine mountaineering and combine them with a surfer style. What was missing, was comfortable, cool but still durable climbing wear – more casual and less technical in other words – to reflect the setting of the scene.
Climbing and clothes became a reality for the three friends in 2008. A series of abk t-shirts with designs by Francois Blaire made an appearance in the scene. More t-shirts and more ideas emerged when Stéphane Legrain, well-known for her textile creations and self-designed t-shirts for events and stores, climbed on board. Soon they were riding on a wave of success with shirts being created for ablok competitions. After a year the now five young entrepreneurs opted for a new name: ABK Company materialises on the shirts. 2010 things are going in all directions – not only do Hugo, Barns and Bullet still have the boulder gym to maintain but they now have an awful lot of interest in their climbing apparel.
ABK Company does not make you stronger … only more beautiful
The saying “ABK Company does not make you stronger… only more beautiful” came from one of the first ABK customers and quickly became the brand’s slogan. The mission statement resonates much of what makes up the dynamic young brand – irony and wit being only a few examples, expressed well and truly in the t-shirt graphics. Be individual, relax, be happy and feel comfortable, pretty much sum up the buddy’s beliefs.
In gravity-defying action sports such as skating, longboarding, downhill biking, slacklining and even the occasional base jumping, graphics of the ABK Company shirts, pants and sweaters can be found. Why is clever, resourceful ABK design always found where the action is? No need to ask – where there’s fun to be had, you’ll easily trace the ABK Company.
A synergy with other outdoor and industry-related companies has been made possible for the ABK Company with their main offices placed in Grenoble in a corporate park not far from where it all started out. Having such close proximity to the boulder gym is paramount to the company. Firstly, the boulder gym is still an important scene meeting point and secondly Grenoble is very much a student and sports-city, making it a launching pad for a variety of outdoor companies. The city offers outdoor sports enthusiasts a perfect environment. Grenoble is surrounded by three mountain ranges – Belle Donne, Chartreuse and Vercors – with diversity being the key word and for those inclined to anything verticle there are many surfaces to attack! Grenoble is definitely worth a visit as well as a drop in to the ablok boulder hall! The annual ablok competition might even be worthwhile, after all, it’s where the story of ABK in 2008 started out…