Palm Angels

Francesco Ragazzi is the Italian art director of Moncler. Pharrell Williams is a designer, recording artist, and producer based in Miami.

"Most Anticipated Art Book Releases of 2014: This book, which features large-format photographs of skaters in Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach, captures the LA skateboarding scene, style, and street culture through the eyes of the world's most elite communities of skaters. Photographed by Francesco Ragazzi, the Italian art director of Moncler, Palm Angels takes the reader inside skate culture. Because of Ragazzi's artistic eye, the book is less focused on analyzing tricks and more about conveying the sensation of the men and women that engage in the dangerous, yet endlessly entertaining activity. Palm Angels includes an introduction by Pharrell Williams, who has become an icon in skate style." -Complex Magazine“SKATING ALONG: A new photo book by Moncler art director Francesco Ragazzi shines the spotlight on the Los Angeles skateboarding scene, its culture and fashion. In Palm Angels, Ragazzi’s images capture ace skaters in Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach.” –Women’s Wear Daily“…Palm Angels features a special focus on the look and fashions of skate culture…it emphasizes dramatic movement through stunning images…Ragazzi provides readers a with a firsthand glimpse into skateboarding in its modern form, still very much infused with effortless style.” –Acquire.com “Palm Angels is the definitive book on the L.A. skateboarding scene, capturing the style and street culture…” –Mykita “Palm Angles is a special tome that shows off RAgazzi’s unique style away from the world of high fashion.” –Stealmag.com  “Featuring large-format photographs of skaters in Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach, Palm Angels is the definitive book on the Los Angeles skateboarding scene, capturing the style and street culture of the world’s most elite communities of skaters…Palm Angels features a special focus on the look and fashions of skate culture. While it emphasizes dramatic movement through stunning images taken in various Los Angeles neighborhoods, the book is less focused on describing tricks as it is about conveying the sensation of men and women engaged in an epic, all-consuming activity. In the spirit of the photography taken of the legendary Z-boys of Dogtown, Ragazzi provides readers with a firsthand glimpse into skateboarding in its modern form.” –Highsnobiety"Francesco Ragazzi — best known for his art direction for Italian fashion label Moncler — has released Palm Angels which is composed of large-format photographs of skaters in Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach. A book that captures the essence of L.A.’s skateboarding scene, and the intersection between the sport and its raw sensibility within fashion [it] is a great reference point for those looking for a glimpse at the iconic culture that first exploded in California during the late ’60s and early ’70s. Shot in the spirit of the legendary Z-boys of Dogtown, Ragazzi offers readers a glimpse of the longstanding sport in modern-day…Palm Angels is a special tome that shows off Ragazzi’s unique style away from the world of high fashion.” –HypeBeast  “…featuring beautiful large-format photographs of skateboarders…Palm Angels celebrates the life and style of skateboard culture. Less about tricks, it is the dramatic movements of these skaters that is the focal point of these stunning images…Ragazzi’s images provide a firsthand glimpse into skateboarding in its modern form, still very much infused with effortless style. This gorgeous tome is sure to appeal both skateboarders and photographers alike.” –Style of Sport  “…genuine, effortless, and passionate photographs…A fascination with the City of Angels, its golden light, its sunset, its sky framed by a never-ending stand of palm trees, the entrenched culture of skateboarding—these were the starting points for Ragazzi. With his camera he discarded all his preconceived notions and chose to see Los Angeles through the eyes of an outsider.” –Style.com