Trend Report: Let’s Tee Off

The fashion world has spun its revolving door again bringing back the retro silk screen printing style that we call, “the graphic tee.”

And while my headline was partially inspired by my recent golfing sesh yesterday evening, this is one trend that did not pop up over night.

In fact ladies, it was in the late 1960s that a group of men altered the traditional t-shirt, impacting the fashion arena  for decades to come. Richard Ellman, Robert Tree, Bill Kelly, and Stanley Mouse set up the Monster Company in California, to produce fine art designs expressly for t-shirts, often featuring emblems and motifs associated with the Grateful Dead and marijuana culture (and it was possibly these same motifs that were the catalysts for their ‘visionary’ ideas!).

Now, this once ‘middle-class fashion’ style is back for Spring 2009 and tops everyone’s ‘must-have’ list in the industry.

One New York writer and print designer comments on this evolution from rundown to runway, “The more we look around the easier it is to notice that graphic tees are making a huge comeback into mainstream clothing trends and have managed to work their way up to the level of high fashion. Famous celebrities such as Naomi Campbell have been photographed during their daily routines wearing these graphic tees.”

Barbara Hulanicki and BeBe have even teamed up to release a gorgeous collection of graphic tees and accessories.

Barbara Hulanick truly understands the cyclical nature of fashion eras as one of the most iconic fashion designers from the 60’s and 70’s, claiming fame after launching her clothing line, bibi.

So, how would a young fashionista compliment her graphic tee ?  While it may be easy and brainless to pair a hot graphic tee with skinny jeans, please don’t stop there; mix colors and styles.

This look is chic under a form fitting blazer that adds some snazz to a stuffy business meeting or pair with a big scarf and boots for those chillier Spring days.

Whether you select your favorite actress, catch phrase or ‘visionary motif’ to sport on your chest, make sure you have plenty of these graphic tees to express your style this season.

XOXO

Ten Minutes with James Atwood of Get Faveur

Faveur Clothing is a Indie Clothing company started by two brothers who had a crazy idea to design clothing that was more than just unique art and designs,but clothing with Heart, Truth and Faith!

Faveur is tattoos and three-piece suits. Blind to ethnicity and culture. Blind to politics. Blind to socio-economic boundaries. Faveur is the gift of power to the broken – the bridge from weakness to strength. A compass for the crooked roads. Here is what founder James Atwood had to say about his company.

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

James: Faveur Clothing is a Indie Clothing company that wanted to design clothing that was more than unique art & designs, but clothing with heart, truth and faith.

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

James: I have always been a sucker for great looking and great feeling t shirts. I really felt that it was a great median for the expression of my faith and a style that would also appeal to the masses.

Oligoville: Whom or what inspires your designs?

James: Faveur is a expression of my faith, all of our designs are inspired thru scripture. We bring this to art, using clothing as the canvas. Our goal is to be able to express this and give others the same option as well in a very unique and different way. And for those who don’t have or hold the same, that is totally cool with us. We hope what they get is a sick shirt, polo, hoodie or hat that is Indie, and in some way speaks about who they are.

Oligoville: Describe a typical day for you.

James: Most days are spent either on the phone, or sending and responding to emails. Daily we try to work on product development, branding and marketing the Faveur line. Except during the summer, we have a intense tour schedule that lasts six to seven weeks.

Oligoville: Describe your fashion style.

James: I keep it simple and comfortable with a baseball cap, blue jeans and a t-shirt. No suits and ties here.

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

James: My brother got married about a year and half ago and decided he needed to step away from the Faveur line. For me I learned you always have to be ready for a curve ball and always have a back up plan for partners or associates who feel that they are at a point to go in a new direction.

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

James: The most rewarding part to me would be the people that I get to meet and associate with, the relationships that have been built are unbelievable. With those relationships/friendships over the last several months, I have been able to go and speak to teenagers and young adults with different groups and that has been a real blessing.

Oligoville: Tell us where you see your brand in the next 5 years and what are some of the goals you have for your company.

James: Our long term goal is to make the Faveur line more accessible in boutiques across the country and also more European countries. We are in the process now of expanding the line offering more polo’s, and other apparel options.

Oligoville: What advice do you have for other aspiring entrepreneur?

James: Don’t quit! Also a life quote from JRR Tolkien “All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost.”

Oligoville: Which song never fails to make you happy.

Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas

Ten Minutes with Rustin Coburn of DVLP Clothing

At a quick glance, self-titled Bus Driver (CEO) and clothing designer Rustin Coburn, is a typical surfer-dude. Probe just a bit deeper, and it’s apparent that he’s a whole lot more. He is the soul and inspiration behind DVLP Clothing. DVLP is a Colorado-based company that crafts clothes for men, women, and children. DVLP creates affordable and original t-shirts, hoodies, pants, belts, and hats inspired by outdoor sports such as surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding. The founders created DVLP “to not only pay respect to the soul of the sports, but to remain rooted in the philosophical aspects that sometimes go unnoticed.” This is apparent by their collaboration with non-profit and activist groups within their community. Rustin’s experience in the janitorial world and his skills at growing a mustache make him an atypical CEO and person in general.

Oligoville: Describe a typical day in your life.

Coburn: Well, I usually wake up around 8:30 am. I go to the bathroom to drop the kids off at the pool. Then, I eat an apple and check my emails. I am usually working on sales, communicating with our manufacturers, or product development.

At about 10 am I make myself some eggs and toast. Then, I go drop the kids off at the pool again (I have a very consistent schedule).

For the rest of the day I work on whatever needs to get done. Almost every day I have quick meetings with our head Marketing/Product Development manager Noah Price, and our Finance/Warehouse manager Mike Ossell. These guys are the core of DVLP. The three of us do whatever it takes to move the company forward (and have fun doing it).

I usually work until about 11 pm, with a few more breaks for food. I work long hours when I’m in the warehouse … this is so I can give myself time to snowboard, skateboard, and hang out with friends and family.

Oligoville: When did you know that you just had to be a designer?

Coburn: It kinda happened naturally. I’ve always been into art, drawing, painting, sculpting, and just being creative. I was also really into drawing the human form, so I guess that played into it as well.

I grew up skateboarding and snowboarding, and during community college I started a little t-shirt company with some friends in Steamboat Springs, CO called Coular. It was a lot of fun, but we were young and decided to sell it two years later. I really enjoyed the process and forum it gave me to be creative.

Four years later, my good friend Mike and I decided to start designing shirts again. It started growing momentum, and I realized that I had a huge passion for clothing design, I dove into it head first. Our main focus now is designing really good fitting and good feeling apparel. I’m getting really into the denim line we are designing …

Oligoville: What three things got you where you are today?

Coburn:

1. Family and friends!!!!

2. Always having a positive outlook on life.

3. A commitment to never giving up.

Oligoville: On a typical day, describe what you’re wearing and where you found it.

Coburn: Almost everything I wear is from DVLP Clothing. I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt, and the rest of my dressing decisions are based on what the temperature is outside. I’m pretty simple, but I only wear stuff that has a slim long fit to it. I guess I wear dress shirts a lot as well.

Oligoville: What advice do you have for aspiring designers?

Coburn: Study the business side of the industry, and have a plan. Never give up on your dreams …. Winners never quit, and quitters never win. If what you are doing is not selling, then it is time for a new plan … not time to give up.

Oligoville: What do you do to kick back, relax, and let loose?

Coburn: Eat food. Hang out with friends. Spend time with girls or my girlfriend (if I have one at the time). Go dancing. Snowboarding. Skateboarding. Surfing (when I get to do it … I love it sooo much). I listen to a lot of music too.

Oligoville: If you could dress any celebrity, who would it be and why?

Coburn: Never thought about that … ummmmm … maybe Audrey Tautou or Barack Obama.

Oligoville: If you were not a designer, what would you be?

Coburn: Maybe a writer, but definitely something creative. I would love to just snowboard for a living, but I got broke off really bad four years ago. Plus, I’m getting a little too old.

Oligoville: What superpower would you like to have and why?

Coburn: I would love to be able to fly … Then again, I was having a conversation the other day about how amazing it would be to be able to speak every single language in the world. Think about all that you could accomplish … communication is such a powerful tool.

Oligoville: When did you last laugh out loud?

Coburn: Probably an hour ago. Laughing is one of the healthiest things you can do.

The by-line for DVLP is CREATE. INSPIRE. EVOLVE. MOVEFORWARD. As the Bus Driver of DVLP, Rustin has done all four of these things. After speaking with Rustin and seeing how he uses his creativity to combine community, social awareness, art, and nature, I too feel inspired to do just a bit of the same.

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