Ten Minutes with Nate Koach of Suburban Riot

I have to admit, I have a tiny crush on Rob McElhenney, who plays Mac on Its Always Sunny in Philidelphia.  So it comes to no surprise that I’ve also gone gaga for Suburban Riot, who regularly dresses the cast of the hit TV show. This “subtle but strong” t shirt company was founded by Nate Koach, whose innate sense of style and knack for observations have served him well.

If you love what you see, then you may want to take advantage of Nate’s generosity. Be sure to use promo code “Olig1″ during checkout for a 25% discount off your entire purchase!!!

Oligoville:Tell us about your brand and how it is different from you competition.
Nate: Our difference is in our approach to art and design.  Nothing we do is too overt in its message.  It’s subtle but strong at the same time, like the people who wear our clothes.  Our ultimate goal is actually not to have the designs be about us at all, but to have it be about the nuances of the person wearing them.
Oligoville:How did your career or interest in design begin?

Nate:It began when I was a toddler and wouldn’t let my parents dress me. I guess it was just an attention to the aesthetic that I’ve always had, but it took a while to figure out how to turn it into a career.  I’ve always paid attention to the little things, which I used to think was just a compulsive side of my personality.

Oligoville:Whom or what inspires your designs?

Nate: Inspiration comes from typical moments in everyday life. There is humor and absurdity in the most mundane day to day things.  We try to harness a little of that humor and absurdity in every design, but blend it with very basic fashion concepts.  We’re inspired by people who take a chance and create a unique and individual life style.  It’s the one-off types who really keep the world moving in the right direction.  We just try to tap into that spirit and deliver a simple progressive message.

Oligoville:Describe a typical day for you?

Nate:Exercise, eat, wheel and deal, contemplate, pay bills, eat, question organized religion, eat, age, read the newspaper, eat, question my observations of the day, observe.   Our best ideas come when we are sitting around the office talking about something that we saw that day; observed at some point.  We constantly question what we see, and why people do the things they do.  The result of these shared observations and questions is usually a couple of ideas.  The ideas my not be directly related to fashion, but they are ideas spawned from day to day observation.  Some of them become inspiration for design, some are just good fodder for future conversations with people.  We’re an idea driven company, so we dedicate time, and allow for the exchange of ideas all the time.  It’s the foundation of our success so far.

Oligoville:Describe your fashion style.

Nate: My style is comprised of clownishness in small doses, combined with classic basics, fun shoes and some vintage balance.  I don’t feel the need to walk into a room and be noticed for my ridiculousness but, I also don’t want to walk into a room and blend in with everybody else either.  The whole concept of suburban riot was born from this idea.  Make a statement, without having to scream it.  It’s the idea of being bold yet subtle at the same time.

Oligoville:Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned from that.

Nate: I wasted/spent ungodly amounts of money “learning” the industry the hard way.  There was a lot of trial and error.  I came in as a novice with no experience and went straight into cut and sew production.  I chalk it up now to paying for my apparel industry education in lieu of a more classic post grad education.  The most difficult aspect of the business has been managing the production process.  I can have a great idea, that if not executed properly, turns into an unsellable waste of fabric.  Apparel production is still a very antiquated process.  There’s not a lot of innovation happening at the production level.  The innovation comes from the product developers and designers.  They are the ones who force the production world to develop their innovations. It requires a lot of arm twisting, and steadfast quality control to get a new and innovative product put on the market.

Oligoville:What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Nate:My boss is the consuming public.  If they pick up what I’m putting down, I have a job.  If not, I don’t.  That alone makes it all worth it.  It’s like answering to a collective consciousness instead of a boss.  A boss you can lie to, tell them you don’t feel well, tell them you’re “working on it”, etc.  When you answer to a consumer base, you can’t lie.  Smart consumers have a way of sniffing out charlatans and punish their insincerity quickly.  It’s an exciting way to live/work.  It’s scary, but exciting.

Oligoville:Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next 5 years and what are some goals that you have for your brand?

Nate: As I mentioned before, it’s not as much about my brand as it is about understanding consumer psychology.  It’s easy to make things smart and obscure, or fancy and complicated, but very hard to make things both smart and simple.  As long as I can deliver a smart and simple product to the marketplace, I will be happy.  It has taken three years to get my message simplified to a point where people are starting to get it.  Another 5 years and I should be getting pretty close to having it nailed.  I also want to develop an umbrella company that introduces small art inspired brands to big stores, and helps them avoid the pitfalls that put many small artist driven companies out of business.  I also want to pursue investors down the road to develop a lifestyle store that will help drive new life to malls; basically a progressive lifestyle store aimed at middle America.  Something that will help make malls cool again (if they were ever cool to begin with).

Oligoville:What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Nate: Don’t try to be a one-stop-shop.  Unless you have tons of cash and too many ideas, stick to one basic concept.  Find all the people you can who fit that one basic concept.  If they buy in, you are in business.  If you go for too broad an audience, you will end up lost in the noise.

Oligoville: What song never fails to make you happy?

Nate:Midnight Train to Georgia.  I tried singing it at a karaoke bar and got booed off the stage.  No American Idol tryouts this year.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Ten Minutes with Dani Kates of KanDi Swim

Sophisticated and playful, defines this fast growing swimwear company, determined to become an internationally known brand. KanDi Swim is well on its way to success with their passionate designer, Dani Kates, and her well balanced team of business professionals, whom ensure that every part of this business machine is functioning correctly.

Take a sweet glimpse into the life of a swimwear designer whose inspiration stems from desserts and treats. With a collection this tempting, KanDi Swim is destined to make many a women feel like they can have their cake and eat it too. Dani, for one,  seems to be enjoying every bite of her successful career.

Oligoville: Tell us about your brand and how it is different from your competition.
Dani: Our brand is sophisticated and sexy with a playful twist. The company is built on a strong management team that handles the business side and allows me to focus on my passion, designing. Our brand is different from the competition in that each design is infused with its inspiration to create special, unique and refreshing conversation pieces with an emphasis on fit and function.

Oligoville: How did your career or interest in design begin?
Dani: I’ve always had a strong interest in all aspects of Art and Design.  I went to Cornell to study Fine Arts and realized that my true passion was Fashion Design, which led me to Parsons School of Design. Studying at Parsons, and being immersed in the world of fashion was an amazing experience. For my senior thesis project I designed a collection of swimwear, which is what evolved into the company’s first line.

Oligoville: Whom or what inspires your designs?
Dani: I’m inspired by the ideologies of the Pop Art movement, the idea of nostalgia, contradiction, and irony, and most of all looking to popular culture for inspiration. Right now my inspirations for the KanDi Swim by Dani Kates label are desserts and sweets, things women universally love and can relate to.
Oligoville: Describe a typical day for you?
Dani: Fortunately for me, and what I love the most about being the lead designer for my company, is that there is no one day that’s the same.  The only routine I have is making sure I check emails and am responsive but other than that, my day changes depending on what needs to get done.  Whether its meeting with fabric reps to look at their lines, researching inspiration, designing, or planning a photoshoot, there is always something I’m excited about.

Oligoville: Describe your fashion style.
Dani: My fashion style is somewhat eclectic. I like to mix things together to create contrasting styles and create something unexpected, like wearing a romantic ruffled top with a leather motorcycle jacket, or pairing a shoe that’s considered an “evening shoe” with ripped jeans and a random T-shirt. Usually I’m wearing something that’s a conversation piece, like my favorite brown leather clutch that looks like a book or something trompe l’oeil.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned from that.
Dani: I try to learn from small mistakes rather than big ones, so fortunately for the company there haven’t been any real major setbacks, it’s really just been a matter of growing pains while setting up the infrastructure and making little adaptations here and there. The most important thing I learned is that a company is like a machine, every part needs to be working properly in order to function, so key people with different strengths are needed to ensure this.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?
Dani: There really hasn’t been one particular moment that I would categorize as the most rewarding, it’s been more of an overall feeling of achievement. As cliché as it may sound, I’m just so happy to be doing what I’m doing that every day is rewarding, and I get excited about all of the little things!!

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next 5 years and what are some goals that you have for your brand?
Dani: I’d like to expand the company into multiple labels, and continue to build an image around the Dani Kates Corp.  Within the next 5 years, we expect to become an internationally recognized brand, providing swimwear to specialty retailers, boutiques, and department stores around the world.

Oligoville:  What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Dani: Set goals, but be willing to change and adapt along the way to achieving them. It’s hard work that requires planning and many sacrifices, but if you really want it you can make it happen.

Oligoville: What song never fails to make you happy?
Madonna, Open Your Heart.

Ten Minutes With Eric Schwers of Baskit

You know your business is going places when you have fans dropping their draws for you. Its not what you think!  Our candid conversation with Head Baskit Maker, Eric Schwers reveals his inspiration behind his popular men’s underwear line, as well as his personal preference for boxers. TMI? (Too much information?) This hard working entrepreneur talks to us about the joys, the obstacles and his future plans. Here is what he had to say.

Oligoville: Tell us about your brand and how it is different from your competition.

Eric: Quality. Pure and simple. We really try to produce underwear and swimwear that is high quality and fashion forward. So when you see Baskit it’s meant to be a bit edgy but not so much so that the guy feels like he’s out on a limb.

We also spend a lot time working out the details. For example, we use superior grades of cotton and higher gram weights than most of our competitors. When you look at the product it’s hard to distinguish but after you wear it and more importantly after you wash it a couple dozen times it becomes clear. Our quality is just better. Also, in our designs little things make a big difference. Take our Short Board (board shorts). We use a traditional Velcro closure on the pouch but we’ve put a nice layer of thin, soft fabric on the inside of the garment to protect the wearer from rubbing against the Velcro. It sounds like nothing but after a day playing around on the beach you’ll thank us.

Oligoville: How did your career or interest in design begin?

Eric: I am sort of an anomaly to this business. In fact, I am the first to say that I have no business running a men’s apparel company, I have no traditional training in design and my education and previous background have nothing to do with fashion. But I know what looks good and I know how things should fit and feel when you put them on.

However, if there was a defining moment in my life regarding making clothes I would have to say that it was at a young age. My grandmother used to make my sister and I western (read: Cowboy) shirts every year and part of that process was going with her to pick out the fabric and buttons and all that. I always wanted cattle branding irons and spurs on mine. So I guess I had some design experience after all!

Oligoville: Whom or what inspires your designs?

Eric: I find inspiration in a lot of things. I see things in everyday life that I just think need to be put on a pair of underwear. The idea for our Baskit Body Art line came to me one day while I was showering at my gym and saw this totally built fellow with an all-over Japanese body tattoo. I was hooked. I saw him a few more times and then one day we both stepped out of the shower at the same time and as we were toweling off I basically said, “Look this is going to sound really strange but I make men’s underwear and I’d like to make a pair that uses the design you’ve got tattooed on your body.”  He didn’t pound me into the ground and after a bit of discussion he was totally into it and hence….we made an entire line of Baskit Body Art underwear.

Oligoville: Describe a typical day for you?

Eric: Long! I get into the office around 5am most days. This helps me catch up with my office in Asia before they close for the day. I also like the quiet time before the rest of the crew comes in (sshh…don’t tell them I said this). There’s e-mail to answer… I still respond to most of the customer e-mails personally. Discussions with the design team on current development and I speak to my sales team a few times a week. I have to say as normal as some of the everyday business actions are they are still a lot of fun and always interesting.

Oligoville: Describe your fashion style.

Eric: You mean my own style? I worked in corporate America for 10 years where navy blue suits and power ties were the norm. While I can appreciate a fine suit, I can without fail say that they’re generally uncomfortable and certainly not conducive to hot weather. I lived in DC.

These days I go for edgy but casual stuff. Baskit underwear and classic Levi’s 501s tend to be part of my standard uniform.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned from that.

Eric: I think we suffered from a lot of the things other start-ups suffer from. A lack of funding…you can never have too much funding when you’re starting out! Some of the other pitfalls… supply chain issues, seasonality, etc.

However, the one thing that has really surprised me is the attitude of some buyers and by buyers I mean commercial buyers who buy for stores.  It seems strange but I have found that a good many do not want to try something new. They want what they know. What they have tried before and what they know sells. When you introduce a new brand or even sometimes a new style they get nervous. “Why are you messing with the product!!”

We almost have to go back and walk them down the path…”In the beginning there was white underwear and it was good. Then came black and the people rejoiced! Then came colors and sawed-off briefs and the crowd went wild!”  It’s like telling a story to remind them that people do not want the same old thing. They want new cuts, colors, fabrics, etc. They both get it and breathe a sigh of relief or they have that deer in the headlights look.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Eric: The process. I really like taking something from idea to production and then seeing it on someone at some random point in time. The more random the better.  For example, I cut my finger cooking dinner a few months ago and ended up going to the ER for stitches. Long story short, when the ER Doctor was stitching my finger up he was making small talk like how did I do it? My profession? Etc. When I told him I owned an underwear company and then mentioned the brand he stood up and dropped his pants. He was wearing a pair of Baskit.

That’s probably the craziest experience yet but I have had some similar things happen and that’s when the whole thing goes full-circle.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next 5 years and what are some goals that you have for your brand?

Eric: The long-term goal is to mainstream the brand so that more guys are reaching for Baskit. It’s not that they can’t do that right now. It’s more that the US market isn’t quite there yet and we’ve spent the past three years really working on the brand and making sure the product is good when they finally go to buy it.

In terms of some short term goals, we introduced a swim line last year. That has gone really well so I think further brand extension is the obvious way forward. We’ve been working on some active wear designs but I am not ready to put anything out there yet. I think in a year or two we’ll be ready to go there. I also want to get back into boxer shorts. We’re known for really form fitting designs but I am getting an increasing amount of requests for a traditional boxer short cut with our quality. To be honest, I have had some made for myself at our factory and that’s what I wear most of the time. You probably didn’t want to know that did you?

Oligoville: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Eric: You miss every shot you do not take. It’s that simple. If you think you have a good idea and you have a solid source of funding you owe it to yourself to give it a try. And keep trying. Don’t get discourage if you get a few doors shut in your face along the way.

Oligoville: What song never fails to make you happy?

Eric: Wow. Good one. I really like music and a lot of songs really speak to me. Although I am not sure it will make sense to people I really like, ‘Fields of Love” by ATB. It’s one of those songs that always picks me up and gets me going.

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