Bianca Chandôn is a street fashion label founded in 2014 by professional skater Alex Olson.

The Californian skater decided to launch his own brand after becoming bored with the styles of his then-sponsor and seeking a new creative challenge. The name combines the first name of actress Bianca Jagger and the last name of French racing driver Olivier Chandon de Brailles. Both are icons of the seventies and serve as major sources of inspiration for Alex Olson’s designs.

Olson aimed to create a brand that spoke a different language than other well-known skate brands. He soon separated the fashion line from the skatewear part of the brand and named it Call Me 917. The name originally came from a marketing campaign by Bianca Chandôn, in which visitors were encouraged to call a phone number featuring these digits, allegedly reaching a real person named Bianca Chandôn. This stunt garnered attention, followed by the brand’s first official drop, which made Bianca Chandôn a recognized name in street fashion.

Even today, the Bianca Chandôn brand remains heavily influenced by skate culture, and many of its designs reflect this influence. Olson’s brand is known for eclectic graphics, comfortable jersey pieces, and a diverse, vibrant color palette. In addition to its skate aesthetics, Olson draws inspiration from New York’s downtown culture of the seventies and incorporates elements from the eighties and nineties into his designs.

These ideas brought fresh energy to the industry in 2014, and Bianca Chandôn’s collections quickly gained popularity beyond the skateboarding world. The brand initially produced skateboard decks but later shifted its focus entirely to apparel and accessories. Today, its collection includes colorful hoodies, oversized shirts, joggers, caps, hats, and lifestyle items like candles. Alongside the brand name, bold lettering, floral patterns, neon colors, and the iconic “Lover” graphic have become defining symbols of the label.

Unlike Call Me 917, Bianca Chandôn’s pieces are not exclusively designed for skating. Olson sees his brand as a bridge between high fashion and streetwear culture. Most of his pieces are produced in North America, with a strong emphasis on reusing materials from previous productions. Sustainability has become an increasingly important aspect of his creative process, and Olson carefully considers his ecological footprint. Beyond environmentally conscious production, he is committed to social justice and equality and supports various charitable initiatives.

Bianca Chandôn does not have its own stores but is available at selected retailers in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Although the brand has been relatively quiet in recent years, it returned with a major collaboration.

In August 2022, Bianca Chandôn partnered with Vans for an exclusive sneaker collection. This collaboration included the Sk8-Hi Reissue VLT LX, Old Skool VLT LX, Authentic VLT LX, and Classic Slip-On VLT LX, all featuring a distinctive vintage aesthetic. The vulcanized waffle sole of these Vans models appears intentionally worn, giving the impression that they have already been skated in multiple times. Black stains and scuff marks cover the shoes, and on the sole, Bianca Chandôn’s signature appears handwritten, as if scrawled with a pen.

The Sk8-Hi is available in black with star details, featuring a leather Vans stripe and suede accents. The OG Authentic comes in a complementary blue colorway, with a white upper decorated with blue stars and a canvas toe box. This model showcases the most pronounced intentional wear effects.

Other collaborations include projects with Dover Street Market, Crescent Down, Union L.A., and Tom Bianchi. A particularly notable capsule collection was released in 2018 in collaboration with American photographer and artist Tom Bianchi. Olson was inspired by the book Fire Island Pines, Polaroids 1975-1983, which documents the queer scene of that era.

According to Bianchi, the book provides “an unfiltered snapshot of gay life and documents a time before the AIDS crisis.” Olson translated this aesthetic into a collection of t-shirts and hats in various colors. A portion of the proceeds from the collection was donated to Visual AIDS, an organization that uses art to combat AIDS by fostering dialogue and supporting HIV-positive artists.

Bianca Chandôn is a refreshing alternative in a market flooded with baggy shirts, caps, and skater pants. Olson has mastered the art of making statements through fashion, creating a unique aesthetic that blends subculture, art, and street fashion.