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Worse on Purpose

DC Shoes

Skate footwear and apparel.

Status: Avoid
Founded
1993
Website
dcshoes.com
HQ
USA
Manufacturing
Various
Ownership type
Brand licensing (ABG-style)
Parent
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Acquired
2024

Ownership

ABG Boardriders acquisition 2024. Snowboard boot design was reportedly moved to an unrelated footwear division in Florida prior to or around the ABG deal; Travis Rice left the team and moved to Union.

Why Avoid

ABG licensing model. Design-team displacement documented in the ABG essay.

Sister brands under Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)

See all 12 sister brands

Read the full investigation

Investigation · April 17, 2026

Your Favorite Brands Got Worse On Purpose

Authentic Brands Group buys dead brands, strips the design and manufacturing, and licenses the name to anyone who'll pay. Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, Sports Illustrated. Plus the ones still worth buying.

Read the full investigation

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