Thousand® and SmileyWorld® Partner to Offer Teens Safety and Self Expression

April 9, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 9, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ — Following the successful debut of the Thousand Next Youth Collection, Thousand® and SmileyWorld® are proud to announce a new collaboration that brings a bold, expressive lens to youth safety. Launched for the Spring/Summer 2026 season, this limited-edition drop is a partnership between high-performance safety and the globally recognized language of optimism and self-expression.

Designed specifically for kids aged 11-16, the collection acknowledges that for today’s youth, bikes, skateboards, and scooters are more than transportation, they are tools for independence. The collaboration brings together two brands rooted in the truths that style is a powerful motivator and individuality is a moving target.

The collection features two unique helmets built around themes of distortion, motion, and shifting perception. The design language mirrors the fluid way young riders explore their identities in real-time. Graphics utilize motion-blur aesthetics and distorted SmileyWorld icons, capturing the “vibe” of the street while maintaining a sophisticated, streetwear-coded edge.

“Having a creative partner whose expertise is in adolescent self-expression has been an energizing force for our team,” said Thousand’s founder Gloria Hwang. “Our community of parents will now have unique, personality-driven helmet options that are not only eye-catching, but that capture the essence of their teen’s next chapter of increased independence and creative style.”.

“Partnering with Thousand allows us to bring SmileyWorld’s legacy of optimism to a new generation of riders. This collection turns safety into a tool for self-expression, capturing the energy and shifting perceptions of youth culture in motion,” said Janet Martin, Chief Product Officer for Lifestyle Consumer Products, The Smiley Company.

The Thousand Next & SmileyWorld® collection will be available online and at select global retailers starting Spring 2026.

About Thousand

Thousand was founded in 2015 after a friend of CEO, and founder Gloria Hwang passed away from a bicycle accident. The mission behind the sustainable, vintage-inspired helmet brand was to make safety seamless. Hwang wanted riders to have a helmet that could provide safety as well as compliment style. In 2025, after a decade of growing its community globally, Thousand celebrated its namesake accomplishment of helping to save over 1,000 cyclists’ lives. The Los Angeles-based brand is the top choice for modern urban cyclists and continues to expand its product offerings to include adult, teen, child and toddler helmet options, innovative lights, locks and multi-functional bags.

About SmileyWorld®
A brand owned by The Smiley Company. SmileyWorld is a market leader and the first lifestyle brand dedicated to emotional expression, The Original Smileys™ is a creative universe filled with thousands of unique icons that make emotional expression easy and fun. Smileys provide a shortcut to understanding complex emotions and kickstarting meaningful conversations. With a comprehensive library of over 3,000 icons, SmileyWorld® is a treasure trove of emotional expression that embodies the spirit of the digital revolution.

Featuring four teams of passionate specialists, with specialist category-specific knowledge and bringing concrete brand values and creative expertise to everything we do, we help ambitious and authentic brands stand out from the competition. By adapting our message to your audience and providing exclusive concepts that keep you fresh and relevant, we can help you harness the power of the smile to lead the world toward a future we all want to be a part of.

In 2027, SmileyWorld will be celebrating 30 Years of Smileys, an anniversary celebrating the digital revolution and its part in showcasing emotional expression around the world. Find out more at www.thesmileycompany.com.

About The Smiley® Company:

The Smiley Company is a global leader in licensing, renowned for its iconic Smiley brand that spreads positivity and happiness across various products and collaborations. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, The Smiley Company continues to inspire joy in the hearts of consumers worldwide through its diverse range of licensed offerings.

In 1996 Nicolas Loufrani, son of Franklin, took over the helm, steering Smiley into the digital revolution. Creating a whole new way of communicating, he added a variety of facial expressions to the original Smiley – his emoticons are now sent around the world infinitely.

Continuing to influence modern culture, Smiley is one of the world’s top global licensing enterprises collaborating on high-profile activities spanning fashion, art, homeware, food and beverage. Major partnerships have included Loewe, Moschino, Raf Simons, Eastpak and LA-based Market, who produce the Market Smiley Basketball – a cultural icon.