Since Michael West first stepped on a skateboard in the early eighties, he always had ideas. Mike was engulfed in the progressive street skateboarding scene in Hermosa and Venice Beach, until 1985, when a friend introduced him to snowboarding. The concept of actually skating on the snow was something entirely new. Throughout the following years, Mike worked and rode at the local mountain in Big Bear; using punk, rap and jazz as well as collection of sneakers and vintage as forms of inspiration. In addition to finishing business school at the University of Southern California, Mike realized that if he was going to do something in his own, it should start when had nothing to lose. And that's exactly how things got started.

On November 13, 1992, the 686 clothing company was formed. The 686 name comes from a crucial date in the life of Mike's grandmother (June 6th 1986) and adds up to his age when he started the company. Since the beginning, 686 has been all about providing the riding community innovative and fashionable outerwear and technical clothing inspired directly from the same Los Angeles urban and artistic principles it was founded upon. The company's "more than you expected" philosophy of providing progressive and fashion forward designs is well known.

Being independently rider-owned and operated as well as an obsession to make products progressively unique is what 686 is all about.