Made in Mesa Arizona

When returning to our original production designs we always had a fondness for one of our first shapes. Its debut as the 401k in 2006 and subsequent release as the California and VK models saw many versions of a shape we considered iconic. In 2006 Paul Han took 2nd place at the World Yoyo Contest with a 401k. In recent years we saw brands playing with similar designs but we sat comfortably knowing we could tap our heritage at any time. The push came when local pest controller turned yo-yo fan Keith Conklin started bugging us to recreate his favorite shape. We knew a re-release wasn’t going to cut it. We wanted to use the shape as a pure element but modernize the specs. We employed a significant inner bump, something we hadn’t done as dramatically since the Space Cowboy in 2014. The push in width created room for the axle, a nice flat face and allowed the original weight distribution to shine again…. much wider.

KAPITAL: Whats in the name?

The original 401k was excessive. It had a $100-$140 retail price and came in a custom package with a printed instruction book. Its theme was modern communist, which at the time, we didn’t understand a lot about. Over the next 4-5 years and a half dozen visits to Russia and China we had a bit of a better understanding. We still loved the art and style of the time, but had a little more sensitivity to, like the genocides committed and the down sides history we were drawing from. Coming back to the shape with a new release and coming off the patriotic American the contrast was too much to avoid so we leaned in. 401k is American wealth. Capital is the growth engine. To show the nod to Marx nod to the OG shape and create the contrast with American, KAPITAL was the working title, and it stuck. The primary art has a flavor and look for some more color ways and art to tie it back to the contrasting American made / $$$ / communist herritage.