CompanyYo-yo BrandEst. 2016
A-RT (Alternate Return Tops)
Alternate Return Tops (A-RT) is a Canadian yo-yo design venture founded in 2016 by Jensen Kimmitt and Charles Haycock, both formerly of the CLYW competitive team. The brand launched with a late-2015 fundraising bundle (Junior, Peon, Orphan) and has since operated as a small, irregular-drop label rather than a continuous retail catalog, distributing historically through Shopify with resale support from Yoyo Store Rewind (Japan) and, more recently, direct through its own WooCommerce storefront at a-rt.ca. Known for irreverent branding and limited small-batch releases, including collaborations with SF Yoyos, At Design Lab, and Toki-Yo.
* Editorial Note on Brand Controversy: Readers should be aware that A-RT (A Return To Things) and its founders have faced significant criticism and community division regarding business practices and interpersonal conduct. Specifically, the brand drew heavy backlash for its origins and branding overlap with pre-existing independent entities, alongside controversies surrounding dismissive responses to community intellectual property concerns. While A-RT remains culturally influential and retains a dedicated following for its unique approach to throw design, these ethical and professional friction points have led various community members and independent enthusiasts to distance themselves from the brand.
