I was very pleased to be able to interview the seriously cool and visionary dude behind Glamour Kills,  Mark Capicotto. He has done amazing things with his brand and the success he is now enjoying should ignite the spirit and desire in all fledgling tshirt designers and fashion entrepreneurs! It can be achieved! Glamour Kills have just put out their summer line and it is immense! So enjoy the interview below and have a look at just a very select cross-s3ection of the new threads available!

GK Summer Line 2009!

There are a lot of bold tshirt brands out there now, treading a similar line to you, how do you keep innovating, competing and leading the way?
Glamour Kills: I always try to keep glamour kills doing something different, thats why i started the company. and with our popularity its spawns alot of companies trying to do the same thing and now we have to set the new trend. Right now im changing our style up drastically without losing the glamour kills feel. we want to appeal to more than just one type of person.

What inspired the new summer line?
Glamour Kills: Music, i mean music and design are my two passions and they go hand and hand for me. It sounds cliche but i draw all my inspritaion from there….well maybe a little from perez hilton.

GK Bikinis

I see you are broadening your line more and more, the addition of boardshorts/bikinis is really cool, did you ever imagine going beyond printing just tshirts when you first started and how does it feel to be producing nearly everything a human can wear?
Glamour Kills: It’s surreal when I first started I wanted to do all of these things but didnt know how, just t-shirts. as the company grew and the knowledge of the business grew it became easier. Im still wanting to do more (be on the look out for shoes backpacks hats soon but its really surreal to see people wearing the stuff i still get all giddy when i see someone in the mall wearing something.

GK Board Shorts

What is your favourite designs from the summer line and why? (did you design it and if not who did?)
Glamour Kills: Well the summer line is the first line where i didnt design 100% of everything myself. As the company has grown it is difficult for me to do everything. But i work with a select few designers who help take our vision to life. Id have to say my favorite tee of the summer line is the space odyssey shirt (pictured below!) i dont know what it is, i wear that thing everywhere.

GK Space Odyssey Tshirt

How far ahead do you work on your seasonal lines and what is good and bad about this approach?
Glamour Kills: We are just wrapping up our fall line now its good to be prepared and have plenty of time before the release but its hard to design for that far in advance its summer right now so i wanna make summer shirts but i cant cause its for the fall haha. But we are hoping to get cracking on the winter stuff soon so its done before summer is over.

When you launched, did you know where you wanted to position yourselves as a brand and how did you go about making it happen?
Glamour Kills: I really didnt when i started I just wanted people to wear my stuff i didnt care who. The music industry was something i knew pretty well so going that route for the brand made sence for me. But the music skate scene is where we fit best and i love being here.

GK Rad Tshirt

What have been your biggest high points and lowest lows since starting the brand?
Glamour Kills: Some high points were being picked up nationally by a major retailer as well as overseas.
As well as seeing my stuff everywhere its a great felling. I wouldnt say ive had any lows, everything is great.

What is the next big move for Glamour Kills?
Glamour Kills: We are opening up some stores across the country early next year as well as a tonne of other stuff that i cant disclose just yet. but soon!

A HUGE thank you to Mark for his time and great responses! The Glamour Kills summer line is out now and available to view and buy on www.glamourkills.com

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Glamour Kills Interview

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I’m going to have

• Eric Terry from Linty Fresh
• Ben from Fright Rags
• John and Michael Paul from Fuzzy Ink
• David Murray from SEIBEI
• Ray from Lowdtown Friends & Freaks
• Jorge from Stereo Bear
• Jon Kruse from Shred and Mediocore Clothing
• Tim from Assault Shirts

Please look at their sites and come up with some questions

Just post your questions in a comment below. Subscribe to our rss feed so you don’t miss the asnwers

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Ask top store owners questions about anything!

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2. SEO for Apparel and T-Shirt Companies Tim Toomey from Assault Blog and Assault Shirts talks about how to get SEO results without spending a lot of money. He gives some great...
3. Discover Your Market: A look at something new Two important things When taking on the endeavor of a new market it is always important to realize and address couple things. The first is...

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Ten Things You Must Do When Starting Any Clothing Brand

Related posts:

1. Costs of starting a clothing company How much do I need to start my clothing brand? This is a HUGE question that I get asked a lot. And the simple answer...
2. How to launch your clothing line Well, that really shouldn’t be a question, because EVERYONE knows that your launch is maybe the single most important release for your clothing company. So...
3. Creating a Good Brand Description Describing your brand properly is a necessary skill for building a successful clothing line. Not only does it help clarify what your company is all...

Also be sure to visit http://www.410bc.com and http://www.410bc.bigcartel.com for more 410 BC.

1. Let’s start off with the basics, how and when and why did you start 410 BC?

410 BC is almost 2 years old and this is the basic story behind how we started. About three and a half years ago, I got into diy/screen printing with my friends. I was just designing tees and screen printing them by hand – very simple stuff. I wasn’t too great at it at first, but I kept practicing and got better. I started doing this because I’d always want a specific tee that I couldn’t find. I had all these ideas in my head for designs that I could never get anywhere. I just wasn’t happy with a lot of the selections at big name brands and stores. When I did find something that I liked it was usually too expensive, being a college student you have to learn to scrimp and save (at least I did). Also, I’ve always been into conscious consumerism and I’m very picky about which companies I support, I just don’t want to spend my money on a company I don’t respect and I hate buying things that everyone else has. Sometimes I’d get a tee and then see five different people at school wearing the same thing as me. All of these reasons prompted me to start making my own designs. Then a few of my friends got into it too. People found out about what we were doing and liked our designs, so they asked us to make them tees. Eventually we started getting random e-mails and requests from strangers who heard about us or saw a tee somewhere and wanted one. It was really unexpected and at that point we realized we could make a business out of this. It has always been fun since day one. Being able to make designs with your friends and meet and network with other artists and commission designs and give back to the art community is the best, I could spend my whole life doing this and be very happy. We’ve always been an artist collective and the thought of being an artist collective/business seemed so awesome because we knew we’d be able to do even more. At the end of August in 2007 was when we decided to become a full-fledged business and we created 410bc.com, which went live in September 2007. Ever since then we’ve been growing and pushing to expand and improve every way we can.

2. I read somewhere that you guys started out screen printing everything by hand in your college dorm room. Did you find it difficult to make the transition from completely diy to an actual professional company and brand?

Not really, it came pretty naturally. Of course we’ve faced a lot of obstacles since establishing ourselves as a business, pretty much the obstacles that most small businesses face. In terms of just transitioning it was a fairly slow process, but a very natural change. Becoming a business just seemed like the next step and it always felt right and has been so rewarding. I’ve always felt very comfortable with this and although I know this isn’t the same for everyone at 410 BC, personally I love the business side of things. I do most of the business side and it’s probably my favorite work, which is saying a lot because I also really love the art/creative side. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been into business and entrepreneurship although I didn’t recognize it as such. When I was in elementary school I used to go door to door on my block selling my old toys and other things I made. Then when I got into middle school, I made my own magazine and Xeroxed copies at the library and sold it to kids in school/my parents (my parents bought about 20 copies each, haha).

3. What were some obstacles you’ve faced as a business? What was the hardest part of starting up?

Finances, haha. Never having enough money. We’re all college students and none of us come from money, so that’s been really difficult. Every business needs money to start up, that’s just the way it goes. That old saying “you need to spend money to make money” is true. In the beginning most companies don’t even break even for a few years. Most small businesses fail because they can’t make ends meet. We literally had hardly any startup money, the only money I had was a tiny bit of savings from my summer job. Even though I’m young, I’ve been self-sufficient since graduating high school. I pay all my own bills, bought my own car, etc, so saving for the business was tough on top of bills. That goes for the rest of 410 BC as well; we all have a lot of personal expenses, mostly related to the high costs of college. Everything we make from 410 BC goes back into the company. We haven’t taken out any business loans yet or anything like that, so for now it’s just recycling our profit. We want to expand the business more, but that is going to take time and a lot more money. There are just so many expenses. The amount we’ve spent on accountants and lawyers alone this year makes my head hurt.

4. How do you manage running this business while being in college full time? Did you ever just want to drop out and focus entirely on the business? What would you tell someone who is trying to decide between being a college student or opening their own business?

I’m going to be completely honest, yes, it has been extremely difficult being in college full time and doing this. There have been too many sleepless nights staying up to work on 410 BC while studying for an exam or writing a 20 page paper. I missed out on the typical college experience for sure. I had to give up a large part of my social life to keep my grades up and run 410 BC at the same time. Sure I’ve made close friends at school, but I never drink and hardly ever go to parties because I’m just way too busy. I always have 410 BC stuff to do on the weekends and I always have to turn down friends or be the one who has to leave things early. There were times when doing the business and school felt like too much, they are both so time consuming. I had thought seriously about giving one up. I kept at it and I have never regretted my decision. I am lucky enough that I have other people helping out so much with the company, some other students run businesses without any help at all. But again, everyone else at 410 BC is in the same boat as me. Nicole (Nicole Giambalvo = one of 410 BC’s co-founders) probably has it the toughest right now because she is applying to law school, taking the LSATs and doing 410 BC. She does so much, I don’t even know how she does it, she really amazes/inspires me. She is a Philosophy major at Mount Holyoke College, so 20 page papers are nothing for her, she gets crazy long papers all the time. A typical day at school last year she was updating the 410 BC site/blog, responding to e-mails, working on design stuff, working on marketing, student teaching a philosophy course at a school in Springfield, taking classes, doing school work (keeping up a 3.7 GPA!) and all the other things she does like volunteering and working in Mount Holyoke’s art department. She is probably going to be really embarrassed that I told you all this because she is super modest, but seriously all that work makes Harvard Law look like a walk in the park.

I am really happy that I stayed in school and did not drop out. You never know where life is going to take you and if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to college, you should take it because a college degree is so important. My experience at college has been amazing. Especially with networking, I have been able to meet and network with so many people and learn so much about business. And although it will be tough work, if you are dedicated and have passion, you can definitely run a business and do college at the same time.

5. Your website design has always intrigued me. It’s very clean and unique, one of my favorite site designs. Tell me a little more about that and how the actual site evolved.

We have Luis Lucas (www.lalucas.com) to thank for that. Luis does a lot of work with ALIFE and Married to the Mob, which is how we first got in contact with him, when we found out about the awesome site design he did for MOB. He has been so great to work with. When we met him he was such a genuinely nice guy, so enthusiastic and made us feel so comfortable. He was really excited about the project and our brand, he gave so much feedback and industry tips and thought it was cool that we were so young and doing this. Sometimes people will patronize you when you’re young and breaking into the industry and Luis was just the opposite of this. He is truly gifted, a design genius and I cannot say enough good things about him. Working with him has truly been an honor and a privilege. Our re-design is still pretty new, before that we had gone through a bunch of different site designs. One by Elena Gallen, another person we have worked with a lot and love (www.elenagallen.com). The rest were all done by us using adobe dreamweaver, we probably went through about 6 different designs in total.

6. Have you guys ever gotten really bad feedback? What did you do?

Of course, anyone who puts their stuff out there for the world to see will get some negative feedback! If it’s constructive criticism and you can use it, then it’s great. I actually really like getting constructive criticism because it’s helpful. If it’s something that is just malicious or negative for the sake of being negative and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, well you just shrug it off. You learn to not pay attention to certain things and you develop thick skin. I remember in some community or blog someone once said they hated, no “loathed”, 410 BC. I was a little bummed at first, not going to lie, but then I just realized how silly that sounded. Who has that much hatred in them that they actually spend time and energy on “loathing” some clothing brand that has no effect on them? It didn’t make sense to me. We’re just doing our thing, trying to do a good thing and giving back to our community any way we can. I mean you might not like our stuff, you might never buy it or wear it, but what is there to hate really? It’s not like we’re using sweatshop labor or killing people in the process of our tee shirt making, haha. There will always be people who never have anything good to say, there will always be people walking around with a lot of hate towards everything and everyone and you just have to accept it and you can’t let it get to you. Most of the time people will just say they hate something because they’re mad they didn’t come up with it first. Also, it’s always good to look at the ratio of people saying they like your stuff versus people saying they hate your stuff. If you’ve got tons of people saying they love your stuff and only one or two people saying they hate it, then you don’t have anything to worry about.

7. You guys have been coming out with more and more skate decks. What prompted that decision and how have the decks been doing sales wise?

We started producing skate decks because a lot of our art has been influenced by skate culture and a few of us skate, so it just made sense for us to make decks. A lot of our customers and friends skate as well so we were constantly being asked to make decks. We always wanted to eventually do decks since day one, but we couldn’t afford it for a while. The first run we only released two decks. Those did really well and we made enough money from those sales to release an artist series of 3 decks. Then after that we did another very limited artist series deck. This line we have released 5 skate decks and they have all been selling well so far. People seem to really like the artwork on these, which is awesome. We do sponsor skaters and reach out to the skate community. We’ve sponsored skate competitions at local skate parks and we’ve gone to parks and had giveaways, so I think all that has helped us to get out there so people know we make boards. Our decks are very high quality and also sweatshop free/made in the US and they hold up for a long time, so that’s another reason people like our boards.

8. What are some other clothing brands you like?

Obey, Ben Sherman, Cheap Monday, Obesity and Speed, Supreme and Mishka are a few of my personal favorites. We really like a bunch of the other indie tee brands out there as well. We’ve got so much respect for other brands doing their thing. Any brand that can get themselves out there and bring something unique to the industry is good by us. Got a lot of respect for Electric Zombie, Snakes and Suits, Seibei, Pyknic, Paper Root, Linty Fresh, all those guys and many more are doing awesome things. I’m actually wearing an EZ tee right now haha.

9. I was impressed by the cut and sew you guys came out with for this line, very strong pieces. I especially love the 410 BC varsity jacket. You usually don’t see such a young brand doing cut and sew. How did you make that happen? Are you planning to do more cut and sew in the future?

Thanks! We were honestly planning this for a while. We just saved and saved for a long time to be able to afford it. It got a bit frustrating at times because it took so long to get everything together. We saved money that we made from previous lines and cut down on a bunch of costs in order to do the jackets, those were especially expensive. We’ve already made almost everything back from the jackets though, we’ve been selling those a lot. We were actually really surprised at how quickly people started buying those. We were a bit worried that people might not like them or might not want to spend money on them and then we’d be out the costs, but luckily that’s not the case. You can expect to see a lot more cut and sew pieces from us in the future. I don’t want to give away too much, but right now we’re working on some Oxford button down shirts and more sweaters, to be released in the winter in time for the holidays. We also have 410 BC books coming out with the winter line. They are commemorative books for our two-year anniversary. They’re hardcover, “coffee table” style. We’re really happy with how they came out and hopefully other people will like them.

10. What are your plans for the (near) future?

After graduating this year, we’re going to get a new office space and hire 1 or 2 new full time employees and hopefully a few part-timers as well. We’ve also been looking at retail space.

We definitely do want to open up a flagship store as soon as possible. That’s been a dream of ours for a long time and we’re going to do everything we can to make it happen. Whether or not it happens depends a lot upon things that are out of our control though. Hopefully our customers will continue to support us and make this dream a reality. Whether or not the economy improves soon will also be a factor. We definitely are not going to give up on this though, so at some point it will happen!

11. What do you think of all the new brands popping up? Do you think the market is over saturated? How many of these brands will actually end up being successful? Do you think there are too many brands doing the same thing?

I think there are too many brands doing the same thing, yes, particularly young brands. I’ve noticed a lot of brands that are just starting up and they take ideas from more established successful brands. Now I’m not just talking about inspiration because in my opinion, that is totally fine and a natural part of the creative process. What I’m talking about is straight up copying of ideas and not brining anything new in terms of concept or execution. For a brand to be successful they must bring something new to the market. I admire unique and original ideas even if the design or product isn’t my style or aesthetic, I can appreciate it. Now I’m not saying that there aren’t any new brands that are unique, there certainly are many! But a lot definitely need to be more creative and make a conscious effort to do something different. You may sell tees and you may make money in the beginning by doing something that’s already been done many times before, but you won’t make it in the long run. You can’t build a memorable brand when you’re basing things off another brand. This can often be a really big issue and I don’t think there are enough open discussions and debates about it. There have been times that I’ve looked at sites of certain brands and their entire line is identical to something that another brand did six months ago. I want to make it clear though that I’m not even talking about brands that have similar styles or themes, rather I’m referring to an established and unique brand versus a brand that has yet to find it’s own niche, so instead directly copies designs from other brands.

12. I’ve read that 410 BC donates money to different charity organizations and gives back to the community in various ways. Can you tell us about some of the ways your company has given back? Why is this important to your brand?

We’ve supported various non-profit organizations in different ways. Sometimes we’ll just release a specific tee and donate a percentage of the proceeds. Other times we are more hands on. For example we raised a lot of money for a local non-profit organization called Hands Up For Kidz (a group that supports children and families in underserved communities who are impacted by HIV/AIDS and alcoholism/substance abuse). Hands Up For Kidz had a fashion show recently where 410 BC was a main sponsor. The fashion show raised enough money to send 50 needy children from addicted families to a therapeutic summer camp environment with no expense to the family. That was through tickets to the fashion show and a raffle. That was definitely one of our big charitable contributions as of late. This is important to our brand because we promote ethical consumerism and a lot of our customers, especially ones who have followed us since the beginning, have always known us for that. We’ve been planning to do an entire line of shirts soon that all go to specific causes. I know Nicole wants to do something with the Guide Dog Foundation as well since she volunteered there over the summer.

13. What do you think are some necessary components to creating a successful clothing brand?

Creativity, passion, a unique vision, a business plan or some knowledge of business management (I don’t mean you need to go out and get an MBA, but having an understanding of how you plan to run your business and make it successful is important. While some people have a natural inclination or talent with entrepreneurship, it’s still good to do some reading and research), patience. You also need to be a bit of a risk taker, especially in the beginning when you are starting your brand and investing your own money in it. It’s a risk all entrepreneurs take, but the thought of losing a lot of money is really scary to most people, which is why they don’t start their own business even if they have a great idea. Specifically in terms of a clothing brand, it’s definitely necessary to take professional product shots (photography is so important, especially if you’re web based, but so many young brands overlook this), creating quality products (you won’t get customers to come back to you if they buy a tee from you and then after getting it in the mail they find that the fit, cut or print are bad), going the extra mile with packaging and presentation so that customers are really surprised and excited the day they get your package in the mail. Although I don’t think it’s necessary, having a blog has been very beneficial for us. We update the blog regularly and we have various people who work for/with 410 BC blogging on a number of subjects. We get e-mails regularly from our blog readers, so it’s been a great tool for us to stay connected to our customers.

14. What advice would you give to a new brand or someone who wants to start their own clothing line?

It’s so imperative to have something that will make your brand stand out, to offer something to customers that they can’t get from somewhere else. You need to really ask yourself “what is going to make my brand unique?” and think, “why will people want to buy something from my brand?” Then go from there. Having some sort of a business plan is important, even if it’s not a traditional business plan. It can be very helpful to just write your ideas out. I got a journal and forced myself to use it and that has been so helpful with generating and remembering ideas I have for 410 BC.

15. There have been a number of well known bands and musicians seen sporting 410 BC such as Tegan and Sara, M.I.A., Hayley Williams of Paramore, Beirut, etc. How important has this type of publicity been for your business? Do you think it is necessary for a brand to have popular bands wear their clothes if they want to be successful?

I’m not sure if it’s necessary, but it definitely helps. We’re just grateful that some of the bands and artists we admire like our stuff. We were sort of in awe when we found out about all these bands wearing 410 BC, we would get messages from customers and people started sending us photos, most of the time we had no idea and it was just a huge shock. In running 410 BC we’ve been able to meet different bands and musicians, interview them for our blog, work out sponsorships and it’s just been so awesome, we’ve been really lucky.

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Interview With Reese Imhof of 410 BC

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2. Electric Zombie Interview I’m very glad to say that the first interview for tee shirt fashion is with Kyle Crawford of Electric Zombie. I want this interview to...
3. Pyknic Interview We had the opportunity to interview Pyknic, http://www.pyknicwear.com Pyknic is a very popular brand that was founded in 2006 and has been gaining popularity ever...

If I don’t know you I will be skeptical and look at a few things that will let me know if you are full of shit : )

Alexa Ranking

Go to www.alexa.com and pull up their site. I’ve run a bunch of different sites so I know how much traffic a site is getting compared to what their alexa ranking is. For example the ranking of this site is 235,304. I get 18k in visitors every month.  Around 1-2 million in ranking will be a couple thousand hits. Also look at the traffic Rank for 7 day and 1 month. If they are a new site it will take a while for their 3 month average to go up but they could be getting amazing traffic right now.

Page Rank

Google uses it to tell how much value to place on your site and I use it the same way. Page rank is calculated by google and gives you a rating from 0-10 depending on how many link backs you have. So if you have a 2 or below I know you aren’t linked to a lot of websites.

This really gets me a good overview on how well a company is doing. Sometimes they run on subdomains, like if they have a bigcartel store, and alexa just calculates the ranking for bigcartel.com and not the actual store. By the way, you can have your own domain on bigcartel by using cnames. So now you are equipt with a bullshit detector, use it wisely.

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Bullshit Detector - for websites

No related posts.

Be sure to visit seibei.com and pick up a tee/follow David’s blog

1. What’s the story behind Seibei? When did you start the brand?

SEIBEI has its roots in my time at university as a Japanese major. In my third year, my advisor had us read a story by Shiga Naoya entitled Seibei to hyoutan (”Seibei and his gourds”). The story was about a young artist named Seibei who was kind of a weirdo, bucked trends of the day, and was dedicated to his work to the distraction of everything else. This story really stuck with me, so eventually I decided that if I ever found work as an artist, I’d want to work under this name. When I got back from Japan (where I spent my last year of school), a friend and I were goofing around with fabric paints one night and I made my first commercial shirt ever, a shirt making a joke about a friend of ours. I wore it out and the reaction was huge. It was then that I realized that I could start putting all of my dumb jokes and cartoons onto t-shirts, so I taught myself how to screen print and got cracking (learning to screen print was actually a pretty long and involved process, and by the time I really became a good printer, I quit my day job and had to start hiring out my printing). My early work was mostly in jokes with friends and definitely had more of a “goofy image and accompanying joke” Busted Tees feel (they’re good people - that’s just not what I want out of my work anymore). This was in 2004. I’d say I didn’t really begin things in earnest until 2006, though. Up until March 2009 I was holding down a full time job at a print shop and printing my own work and running SEIBEI and not sleeping much.

2. I read that you run Seibei full time. What has that been like? What is an average day like for you at Seibei headquarters?

I’m working on creating a more structured schedule these days, but basically every day starts with checking email, reading a few industry blogs, reading Achewood, checking Twitter, and processing and shipping orders. My afternoons rotate between working on side projects (trying to get a zine and a book together, figure sculpting, other stuff), working on new designs (I draw a good deal every day, but don’t actually work in Illustrator terribly often, which I’m trying to change), making Zombie Hunter shirts, and gearing up for shows. I go to the gym and take Jeet Kune Do so I at least don’t get any fatter, and I spend a good deal of time hanging out with my girlfriend (when she’s not in class at the Culinary Institute of America) and other friends. I usually sketch whenever I’m watching tv or sitting around.

3. I saw on your blog that you had a booth at Renegade Craft Fair and All Points West. How was that? Do you plan on selling at any other festivals?

Selling at festivals is the best - Renegade Craft Fair is one of the biggest reasons I’m able to do this full time, and I’ve been down with them for years. If you already have a quality product it’s important to get it in front of as many people as possible, and now that I’m doing this full time, I’ve become a bit of a shut in, so it’s important to actually see people and get enough sunlight to avoid rickets. I’m trying to do as many festivals and shows as I can from here on out - there’s nothing like getting to see people’s reactions in person, and it’s hell of rewarding to meet the people who are buying your shirts and supporting your work. Also, it’s great to meet other artists who are out there hustlin’ and right there in the trenches with you. Shows are one of the most fun and rewarding parts of this gig.

4. What has been the best business decision you’ve ever made?

Right before I moved to New York in 2007, I had done this really shitty little craft show in Virginia. It was put on by a local Craft Mafia, and they hyped it like none other, and I was really stoked for it, and it was a complete failure. I had even bought an ad in the program (last time I ever did that), and it was just dead. The few people that were there were not stoked at all, and my work got a lot of eye rolls (which I was already no stranger to). I had just been accepted to my first ever Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, and failing so hard at this show had made me super depressed, and I considered dropping out of the show because I had just moved and was strapped for cash. Fortunately, I decided to do the show (my girlfriend probably gave me a good pep talk), and it was a BLOW OUT. I met tons of great people, outsold most of the people who’d been doing it for years, and it really helped me feel like I could make it as an artist. I remember driving over the Triboro Bridge heading home from the show, watching the sun set, and just feeling like I could conquer the world. So, I guess the lesson from this is hard work and perserverance. Just keep swimming!

5. What has been the worst business decision (if any) you’ve ever made? Or is there anything you’ve done with Seibei that you regret?

Nothing I’m ashamed of, but nothing really worth talking too much about, either. I’ve overestimated how popular some designs would be (who DOESN’T like a drawing of a muscley kid with a veiny donut head jumping rope?) and ended up putting 95% of a print run into the “bargain bin” once or twice, and I’ve shipped tons of product to shows that end up getting rained out, and there was that time I had my cash box stolen. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled “fuck” more loudly or with more sincerity, but, it happens. I think one of the reasons I’m still here is because I’m good at rolling with the punches. No one became a success by being a wuss. This is a business for tough mutants.

6. What is your next line going to be like/what do you have planned?

I have some new releases planned for Renegade Chicago, but to be honest, I just ran out of time to get everything ready for it, so some of them are going to be delayed. That said, Greg Abbott and I have done a piece together that I think could be the best SEIBEI tee yet, my buddy Jayna Fey and I are cooking up something, and soon enough I’ll be doing a piece with my bros for life, the Two Rabbits. I’ve also gotten in to resin casting, so soon I’m going to premiere a series of limited edition, hand painted figurines made by yours truly. I’m hoping to have some to sell or give away at Renegade Chicago, but I can’t make any promises. There’s a hell of a learning curve, and I don’t like to sell or give away something unless I’m completely happy with it.
7. What has been your most popular tee to date?

The Sandwich Dinosaur, without question, though the Intramural Zombie Hunter and a few others have been nipping at its heels for some time. Around Halloween and Christmas I usually pull a few all-nighters a week making Zombie Hunter shirts, and I still fall behind. Something about the Sandwich Dinosaur really speaks to people - it’s like an ancient totem or a Jungian archetype or something. I literally spent ten minutes drawing it directly into a screen with screen filler and drawing fluid to test a press I’d built years ago, to wear as a goof at a kebab shop where I made sandwiches.

8. What do you think makes Seibei different from other brands?

Earlier this year I actually met a woman who ALSO had a degree in Japanese Literature, and ALSO ran her own t-shirt line, so I guess it’s not that. What I’m trying to do with SEIBEI, in addition to having fun and expressing myself as an artist, is unite the weirdos and the spazzes of the world - I think you have to be able to laugh at yourself at least a little bit and be a little different to wear a shirt with a dinosaur saying MAKE ME A SANDWICH, much less my other works. I was recently thinking about Johnny Cash’s concept of the Man In Black - someone who wears clothing of a somber tone to remind us of all of those who suffer and are less fortunate. I think we need a Man In Bright (for lack of a better gender neutral term that encompasses fun colors) - someone who wears goofy clothing to help us to keep a smile on our faces, even in dark times. The world is full of hate and suffering, but it is also full of love and magic and dinosaurs. I want to make people happy by helping to remind them of this. On that tip, I’ve been wanting to get into more charitable donation, but haven’t found a good outlet for it.

9. Do you think the tee shirt market is oversaturated with too many brands doing the same thing?

Sure, but I’m not really concerned with it. I think there are a lot of brands who need to have their brand name on the shirt because that’s the only way you can tell what company produced it, but plenty of people like that and that’s fine (on the flip side, there are plenty of companies I love and respect who drop their brand name on every shirt they do). I don’t like a lot of brands out there mainly due to weird personal tastes, but who gives a shit? It’s a big world and there’s room for a lot of us. In the end, I have too much work to do to spend any time hating on other companies. Okay, to be fair, I probably multitask while hating on people - I just try to make sure I’m filling orders or something while cussing rampantly under my breath.

10. What do you think is necessary or key to having a successful clothing brand?

Having something unique to say and doing it well, and then backing that up with tireless dedication and hard work. Constantly try to improve and one up yourself. Try to provide a great experience for the customer, so they feel a personal connection with you and your brand. Also, having a coherent worldview and aesthetic is something I worry a lot about, personally.

11. Have you actively marketed Seibei? If so, which marketing tactics have worked and which haven’t?

Not really. I’ve had mixed results with print advertising, but I mostly rely on word of mouth. I have had really good success with banner ads…I really ought to do some of those again. I’ve also been wanting to try Google AdWords, but again, it’s one of those things not high up on my list of priorities. This may be a bit foolish on my part, but I’m a big believer in a “if you build it, they will come” sort of business philosophy. I just try to focus my efforts on making a good product and making my customers happy so, ideally, they’ll do the advertising work for me.

12. Where would you like Seibei to be in 5 years?

Eventually, I want to have a small retail space with an attached art gallery. I’ve made so many good friends through working as SEIBEI who are far more talented than I am, so I’d love to start curating shows just as an excuse to get to hang out and work with them. I’m also starting to look into a wider range of products - cut and sew pieces, resin toys, skate decks - and I just want to keep creating new things. I don’t think I’ll ever be a millionaire; I just want to keep having fun with this. It’s great to know that people all over the world are wearing my work and that it makes them happy.

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Interview with David Murray of SEIBEI

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1. Ugmonk Interview originally posted on Build.AOK. Check out the full interview with pics there. AOK: Hey Jeff how’s it going today? Ugmonk: Busy, but good. AOK: Before...
2. Printing it yourself VS hiring it out My buddy David Murray over at SEIBEI wrote this great article about doing screen printing vs hiring it out. I get e-mails all the time...
3. Electric Zombie Interview I’m very glad to say that the first interview for tee shirt fashion is with Kyle Crawford of Electric Zombie. I want this interview to...

originally posted on iamthetrend

Could you start off by giving us a little background on yourself?

Keaton Henson: I was born and raised in london england. was always into both art and music and have been in love with nothing else ever since. i now work as an illustrator/artist and musician in greater london and rarely leave my room.

Has art been something that you have always been involved with or did
you fall into as you went?

Keaton Henson: As mentioned before art, in all its forms has always been my life. I failed throughout school and college and hated art in the education system, so left at an early age and began working.

You have a very recognizable style, how did you develop into this style
and what were your influences?

Keaton Henson: I believe a style is something that takes your entire life until this point to form, and it continues to change and adapt as you live.

I think my style comes from pretty much everything I enjoy/have been into. From cartoons that terrified me as a child, to some really cool artist I saw in an exhibition a week ago. With my music I’m influenced by literally everything.

Congratulations on the designs for Electric Zombie and Drop Dead! How
was working with those brands?

Keaton Henson: Yeah it was good. they’re both great clients and give me lots of reign on the designs.

You seem to do a lot of CD artwork and T-Shirt design. Do you have a
preference when it comes to projects?

Keaton Henson: I prefer to work within the more fashion end, like the blood is the new black and topshop ranges. Its a huge relief to be able to draw things that can make people think instead of just rustling up some colourful creatures with guts and slime.

Do you have a favorite medium to work with and what draws you to it?

Keaton Henson: I like to work with pen/brush and ink most the time, I also use some watercolour and obviously do a lot of colouring digitally. But really do like to stay close to the original black and white images, mainly because I’m colourblind, also because its such an ancient and trusted way of image making.

You really have done a wide range of projects, do you have a favorite?

Keaton Henson: As i said i loved doing the blood is the new black and ranges. But my true love lies in my song-writing. I’m in the middle of working on my album and its taking years but definitely means the most. I’ve also just finished a book which took over a lot of my life and i enjoyed hugely.

So how do you fill your time when your not designing?

Well, when Im not designing i tend to be writing songs, or thinking about what to draw next. I don’t drink or anything so don’t tend to spend much time out at nights, and am working during the days so my evenings and weekends are a chance to draw and write whatever I want, without clients or even showing it to anyone else.

I always believe that art and music pretty much go hand in hand. Do you
usually listen to music while designing and if so, whom do you listen to?

Keaton Henson: Ironically, despite my aforementioned obsession with music, I tend to work with the tv on, as i find these days its less likely to distract me than music. So most of my work is created with ‘bargain hunt’ or something equally arduous playing in the background.

When your designing is there a certain mood you like to set or be in
before working?

Keaton Henson: Not really to be honest. with illustration its something i can just dive in and out of. When writing songs I guess I get a little introspective and angst, but designing for clients is a lot like plumbing to me. Once the ideas there, its just a process of technique and labor.

Any upcoming projects that we should be on the lookout for?

Keaton Henson: Definitely, there’s a few new tshirts and skate decks on the way, but mainly my book. which is hopefully going to be published at some point soon. And i’m in the process of adapting my website to show more of my music and videos and stuff like that.

Lastly are you open to people approaching for designs and if so what is
the best way to contact you?

Keaton Henson: Yeah definitely. i love to gain new clients as often as possible. and id say the best way would just be to email me at lawlessprovide@hotmail.com and we can get going from there.

To check out the rest of Keaton’s Work visit: www.keatonhenson.com

originally posted on iamthetrend

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Interview with Keaton Henson

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1. Interview with Mark Capicotto of Glamour Kills I had the opportunity to ask Mark Capicotto of Glamour Kills a few questions about starting a clothing company and this is what he...
2. Ugmonk Interview originally posted on Build.AOK. Check out the full interview with pics there. AOK: Hey Jeff how’s it going today? Ugmonk: Busy, but good. AOK: Before...
3. Interview with David Murray of SEIBEI David Murray is the man behind Seibei, an awesome, quirky and extremely unique brand that has gained a large fan base for good reason! David,...

What is networking? Why is networking important? Why am I writing this and how does it have to do with Too Legit? All of these questions will be answered in the following Facet of Legitimacy.
Let’s say that you need to find a job. You spend hours and hours and come up with a resume that highlights everything you have ever done. You go to the local stationary store and buy some really nice paper to print your resume onto. After this, you drop off your resume to several local businesses that might be interested in employing you. Do you realize how many applications for employment all of these businesses get? Do you understand what your chances of getting employed are? Your chances are slim. A much easier approach lies on the inside. If you know someone on the inside of the company, business, or corporation, they will most likely not have a problem helping you out by recommending you. This would save time, money, and energy on something as simple (but important) as getting a job. And how would you get “on the inside”? Through networking, of course! This is just one example of the wonders good networking and contacts will have.
So what exactly is networking? Networking is the act of meeting new people in a business or social context. Networking is something that everyone experiences pretty much daily. Meeting someone new at the coffee shop in the morning or going to a conference and trading business cards. Networking sets up future interactions and mutually beneficial relationships among two or more people, businesses, or institutions.

Networking comes in many different shapes and forms. For example, networking with potential clients and customers differs from networking with potential resources and manufacturers. Being knowledgeable of the different types of networking and how to network within each will definitely show positive results. In the end, you will have stronger contacts and a better platform with which to run your business off of. In the next few paragraphs, I will go somewhat more in depth into each type. However, due to the broad scope of networking, it would be almost impossible to include all the information available.

Social Networking sites are extremely important when it comes to networking. Personally, social networking sites are the reason for Too Legit’s existence and are what continue to keep it alive. The most popular social networking sites to date are: Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, in terms of overall users and traffic. All 3 are invaluable resources that are key to almost any business’ success in this day and age. The ability to connect and communicate with people all over the world in a matter of seconds has made networking online extremely easy and important.
Be professional and know who you are talking to at all times. It’s the little things that count. Using correct grammar and punctuation could be the deciding factor of whether or not you get that manufacturing account you have always wanted or that interview on a prestigious blog. I have talked with people who use subpar English and they definitely do not impress me. Think about it from the big business’ perspective: You are looking to do professional business with someone and they are talking to you as if you were their old friend from high school. Not cool at all.

Twitter: Twitter is a free, real-time short messaging service that allows people from all over the globe to connect and read about what others are doing. I use Twitter on a daily basis and it allows me to quickly send out information to a large group of people (followers) and lets me see what is going on with them (following). For any established or upcoming business or brand, I HIGHLY recommend you sign up for your own Twitter account today and begin using it. I cannot explain how many contacts I have gained from simple 140 character interactions with people. A more detailed article about the use of twitter and its benefits can be found on the BA blog here.
MySpace: Over the past year or so, my activity on MySpace has decreased substantially. Partly because I find MySpace annoying due to the fact that it is crawling with spammers who have no desire to connect; only to gain the most friends, (I don’t understand the thrill of having a million friends that don’t know you, but whatever floats your boat) and secondly because I don’t really go on my personal MySpace very much either. However, for an upcoming brand, MySpace can be a valuable tool. You set up a page with your brand name, pictures of your products, info on the brand, and maybe a link or two to your website/webshop and you’re good to go.
Facebook: I look at Facebook as a MySpace 2.0. It has all the functionality of MySpace, but is cleaner, faster, and overall, more refined. Facebook allows you to create a fan page of your business, brand, cause, etc. and suggest to your friends that fan page. People who aren’t your friends can also “Become a Fan” and follow updates that you make along the way. There are no crazy layouts on Facebook, but you can still include pictures of your products, links to external sites, and a brand bio.
By no means are these the only social networking sites. There are easily hundreds of sites you can join to get your business out there. A couple of them are Digg, Flickr, DeviantArt, and LinkedIn. Each of these has a specific genre or theme to them. For example, Flickr is all about pictures, DeviantArt is about art/design, and LinkedIn is about business. (All of my social networking links can be found at the end of the article.)
Other good online resources include forums and websites directly related to your business. Since my major focus is fashion and clothing, I found sites such as the forum on Hypebeast.com, the forum on Lurk99cents.com, tshirtforums.com, and the talk and resource areas on emptees.com very valuable when it came to meeting new people, discussing my product, and collecting contacts.

Networking in person can be a lot more complicated and difficult than networking online for several different reasons. First, when you are online and are “posting” information, sending e-mails, and interacting with others, you are able to type out what you would like to say, edit that, and then send it. In person, that is not the case. Someone asks you something and you respond right then and there. Being careful about what you say and how you say it is very important because someone’s reaction will be completely different depending on how they hear what you are saying.
In addition, it’s harder to pick up on tone of voice online because, well, you aren’t hearing them say it, you are reading it. Your tone means a lot, so that is something to watch out for. Coming off mad or overly sarcastic can lead to a negative interaction between you and a potential contact.
If you go to an event or conference, be sure to take along some business cards to handout to potential clients and contacts and other information about who you are and what you do. It would be stupid to go to a conference without having anything to leave with someone. You have to understand that people converse with a ton of people at these sorts of events. Without something to trigger their memory when they return home, there is no way they will remember you.

So why is networking important? As Albert Schuster, president of Network in Philadelphia, once said, “Networking offers another avenue to reach vendors, customers, future business partners… It allows you to present yourself and your networking objective in a much more personal way than an advertisement, promotion, or an online resume can.” Without a strong network of friends, family, contacts, and clients, your business will ultimately fail. In order to be successful, you must have help from other people. Meeting new people and connecting with them will definitely help you in the long run.
When talking with someone, whether in person, over the phone, through e-mail, or by any other means of communication, be sure to be human, and more importantly, be yourself. The worst possible thing that you could do is make someone feel as if they are just another number in a vast list of contacts you have sitting on your desk. Creating a personal relationship will enable you to stand out and rise above the noise. In addition, if you put up a false persona of who you really are, the value of your connection will usually decrease. Being genuine is a top notch way to win true friends, valuable resources, and goes hand in hand with the ultimate goal, being successful. Moreover, being genuine is, in large part, one of the main ideals that Too Legit was originally based upon and continues to build upon.
Lastly, I want to make a point of never being lazy. Networking is most effective when you do it constantly and consistently. You need to network when you don’t really have to. Yes, networking is a lot of work and takes time, but once you have successfully made contacts, it is very valuable and rewarding. In addition, make sure you engage people as often as possible. Don’t wait for them to get back to you on a call or e-mail, call them first!

At first, networking wasn’t a large priority for the brand. I would design the shirts, get them printed, and try to sell them. That was it. I thought it was just a simple market. You make something that the consumer wants, and they buy it. That is not totally incorrect, but there is a lot more to it. Since then, I have grown a greater appreciation for the powers of networking. Through the Too Legit Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, I have accumulated many contacts and friendships that have been useful already and will continue to be useful as time passes. Anyone can have a clothing brand and sell a few t-shirts to their friends and the local crowd, but a good brand has a national or even global following. The only way to reach out to the people not directly in contact with you is to network.
Although networking online is not the only way to network, it comprises the bulk of how I network. As the brand is still young, I have not attended any shows to date. However, in the next few months that will change and I will most definitely meet new people and create new contacts.

All in all, I can’t stress it enough that creating mutually beneficial relationships that are meaningful and personal is one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of creating and expanding a business whether it be a clothing brand or not. Sign up for social networking sites, actively connect, and be able to describe who you are and what you do to any person that might walk up to you.
I doubt very many people read through this whole article as it is rather lengthy. And even so, I have left out a lot of things and will probably write a Networking Pt. 2 post at some point. This is the first Facet of Legitimacy to date so please leave comments or message me with any feedback you might have. I want to make this series as informational and as helpful as possible. I know that I’m not some big brand, but I do feel that I have a small bit of knowledge that I’d like to share with people.
Thanks for reading.

-Chris
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/toolegitclothes
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Too-Le…ng/79830493302
MySpace – MySpace - Too Legit Clothing - 17 - Male - SAN JOSE, California - myspace.com/toolegitclothing
Site – http://www.toolegitclothing.com
Shop – http://shop.toolegitclothing.com

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Networking for clothing lines

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AOK: Hey Jeff how’s it going today?

Ugmonk: Busy, but good.

AOK: Before we get into Ugmonk tell us about yourself and your design background.

Ugmonk: I’ve grown up doing all type of traditional art and decided to get into design a several years ago. I started doing some t-shirt design when I heard about online contests like Threadless and Design By Humans. After winning a couple times at DBH, I became very interested in the t-shirt industry and began to do quite a bit of freelance t-shirt design. After doing freelance and contest shirts I decided that I wanted to create my own line and that’s when I started Ugmonk. You can see some of my other design work at my portfolio site: www.jeffsheldon.com

AOK: So the first question…Ugmonk? Explain the name for us.

Ugmonk: Completely made up. It’s just easy to remember and weird enough to help it stand out.

AOK: So, it’s obvious you are a big fan of typography. What made you decide to make a tee line based around that?

Ugmonk: I am a huge fan of typography. After studying design, specifically the history of graphic design, I got really interested in typography and its impact on how we interact with design on a daily basis. Most people don’t notice the little things that make each letter of each typeface different and unique. I began experimenting with using type as a design element for shirts rather than using it just to write out a slogan or brand name. The more I played with the letter forms, the more I realized the potential to base a clothing line around type. Mixing typography and t-shirts has been done before, but my goal was to find new ways to merge the two and bring something fresh and new.

AOK: I sort of see the line as a silent response to the current trends within tee design to make things very over the top. Am I right in this thought?

Ugmonk: Yes, that is one of the main reasons I decided to start Ugmonk. I have nothing against crazy illustrations, skulls/zombies, etc. but my my personal taste is for a much more clean geometric style. After searching quite a bit, I realized that there isn’t that much out in the t-shirt world that appeals to people like me who tend to like the simple, clean design.

AOK: As you grow do you plan to keep the line type based or is the door open to other things?

Ugmonk: Ugmonk is definitely not restricted to just type-based designs as I continue to develop the Ugmonk aesthetic, I think there are other characteristics (I can work in) that keep the brand image consistent.

AOK: To follow that question, do you feel like Ugmonk has the versatility to become a full on apparel line?

Ugmonk: Right now Ugmonk is consists of t-shirts and posters, but will soon be expanding to other clothing and merchandise. I want to carry over the clean type-based style to all sorts of other products.

AOK: Using only type on your tees makes a very strong visual statement; Do you think there are any drawbacks to this look?

Ugmonk: I think that strong visual statement is one of the things that sets Ugmonk apart from the hundreds of other brands out there. The bold graphics and colors may not be for everyone but this is a key part about what makes it unique.

AOK: One of the biggest reasons I asked you to be in the AOK Mart is that everything from the brand is completely designed by you. Do you feel the consistency this allows is part of your early success?

Ugmonk: Being the sole designer for my brand has definitely allowed me to keep things very consistent and control the direction that the brand is moving in. Many brands hire outside artists to design their products which may work well for some, but can also prohibit the brand from establishing a consistent image. For me, designing is my favorite part and I hope to always be able to do it.

AOK: On the flip side do you ever feel being so close to the product can hinder things?

Ugmonk: For sure, it can go both ways. I like to bounce my ideas off my friends and other designer to get their opinions. Working solo can be nice, but can also have its drawbacks. If there is no one around to give to constructive feedback it can be like designing in a black hole.

AOK: You’ve seemingly gained a lot of traction in a very short amount of time. Personally, I think this is because the brand is very focused in its style. Do you agree?

Ugmonk: Yes, before I started Ugmonk, one of my goals was to have a consistent brand image and find a specific niche to market my brand to. I’ve been overwhelmed by the great response that I’ve received from the design community and t-shirt fans.

AOK: Going off the last question you’ve integrated the Big Cartel service into your site beautifully and in your checkout area you make note of things like your screenprinted tags. Do you believe your attention to detail and presentation are part of what separates you from being another tee shirt company from a brand with a future?

Ugmonk: Those are the small things that take a little extra thought and work, but also contribute to the success of Ugmonk. I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist but I am very picky about the details.

AOK: Talk us through some of your favorite Ugmonk products.

Ugmonk: My favorite t-shirt is “And Then I Woke Up.” I am a big fan of ampersands and was really pleased with how the print came out on the tri-blend shirt and it’s by far the most comfortable shirt I own.

I also really like “Math Problem.” There is something about a giant Clarendon number five that just works so well on a t-shirt. The yellow version definitely gets a lot of looks and it’s funny to see people’s expressions after they read the shirt.

AOK: What do you feel are some mistakes you’ve made thus far?

Ugmonk: The main mistake that I have made so far was not getting samples from the printer before I had the first batch of shirts run. Since then I have found a great screen printer who does awesome work and is a pleasure to work with.

AOK: Any advice for upcoming brands?

Ugmonk: Have a plan and think things through before deciding that you are going to print some shirts and try to sell them. Decide what you want your brand to represent and how you are going to make it stand out. There is a lot more to running a brand that one might think, so be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and effort if you want it to succeed.

AOK: Who are some brands out there you’re currently digging?

Ugmonk: I have always loved the work or Scott Hansen (ISO50) and his distinct style. I really admire his attention to detail and would wear any of his shirts. I’m a fan of Johnny Cupcakes and what he has done with his brand. His story is very inspirational and is a great model for young brands to follow.

AOK: What’s coming up for the brand and any shout outs?

Ugmonk: Lots more in store for Ugmonk. Stay up to date by subscribing to the Ugmonk Newsletter.
Thanks for the interview!

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Ugmonk Interview

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1. Electric Zombie Interview I’m very glad to say that the first interview for tee shirt fashion is with Kyle Crawford of Electric Zombie. I want this interview to...
2. Interview with Mark Capicotto of Glamour Kills I had the opportunity to ask Mark Capicotto of Glamour Kills a few questions about starting a clothing company and this is what he...
3. Pyknic Interview We had the opportunity to interview Pyknic, http://www.pyknicwear.com Pyknic is a very popular brand that was founded in 2006 and has been gaining popularity ever...

1. When did you start Electric Zombie?

I started Electric Zombie in 2007 after ending a relationship between
Rockett Clothing and myself.
Electric Zombie was a graphics name I had been going by for a while,
when it came time to name my clothing line, it seemed fitting.

2. Where do you expect the company will be in a few years?

I’m a pretty negative person, so I don’t expect much. I feel like if
you feel and have this positive attitude all the time, the let down is
much worse. I feel as if I put my head in a bad place and success
comes, it’s much more rewarding. Rather than the positive “I knew it!”
response. That being said, I can’t really tell you. I personally think
that this year is a make or break year for me. I’m going to be 26 in
june and I look at it as, “how long will I be freelancing or designing
for bands for? When is it going to be lame for me to be designing for
these young bands?” Electric Zombie is always something to come back
to. It’s my hobby as it is. My sole income isn’t established from my
brand. So If it doesn’t go up hill and exceed expectations, I am most
likely going to put off releasing anything for a while and focus on my
career instead of relying on a hobby

3. Tell us a little bit about your upcoming line.

The new line that just came out is my strongest line to date. I went
with some new designers. Tested some waters. Tried out a new brand of
shirt. Explored a lot of different options and leaped into the world
of cut and sew. In the summer I am going to be testing out new
packaging waters. Just having fun. The summer I think is all abotu
fun, cutting loose and taking risks. Thats what I plan on doing. I
wish I could give away more but I cant!

4. How did you feel being voted for best young brand of 2008?

It feels good, I totally didn’t expect it. Like I said I am a very
VERY negative person. I feel as if people get this vibe from me that I
am big headed cocky and full of myself. It’s totally not the case. I’m
just a normal dude who has way more insecurities than a twelve year
old girl. It was a refreshing award to win, I can’t wait to see who’s
nominated this year and hopefully I can win something else!

5. What trends are you sick of?

There’s no trends I am really sick of. Just certain designers. There’s
going to be a huge trend change this year. Illustration is going to be
a thing of the past and only people who are known and hired for will
continue to strive. But those who think they can pick up a pen and
doodle scan and sell are in for a rude awakening. I think things are
going to go back to basics. I think 1 color designs will be a hit this
year.

kiss the “doodling” good-bye

6. How do you feel about branding?

I think it’s somewhat important. I don’t feel the need to cram my logo
down the customer/consumer’s throat. In my case I think a theme or a
style is what people know me for. Over the top and crazy designs.
I don’t think it’s a necessity, but it couldn’t hurt. Branding isn’t
for everyone.

7. What do you do to market your brand? What’s worked and what hasn’t?

I think I am one of those word of mouth brands. I don’t advertise in
magazines. I don’t buy ad spaces. I just give shirts to friends in
bands and do an occasional bulletin or blog post. It just happens. I
feel very lucky. Like I said, I feel the designs speak for themselves

8. What makes a successful brand?

good designs, getting inside the mind of the customer. Look at it as,
“If I were going to buy a shirt from someone, what perks would I like?
What would make me happy?” Understanding, being straight forward and
take risks. Don’t just do it to do it, if you have a good idea use it.
Don’t do it for the attention or the money. I do this for fun and to
give everyone what they want and that’s rad tee shirts

9. How do you feel about the t-shirt industry right now? Particularly
with so many new and similar brands flooding the market.

Everyone is starting to do the clothing line again. In my perspective,
there’s too many zombie horror lines. Which sucks because it’s one of
my favorite things and what I am most passionate about. I’m not sure
if people want to “outdo me” or “If he can do it why can’t I?”

everyone is using the same people and doing the same things.
at first I didn’t really like 410bc, because I felt like we were doing
similar things. Now the brand has a new direction and it’s seriously
great. They aren’t just some “shirt” company, I think they’ll be going
places.

But back to the question at hand,
in my line of shirts.

Dekay, Zombie Licorice and now American Slasher, are all doing the
same things. It seriously makes me want to give up. Ideas that I have
can’t be used, things I wanted to do can’t be done. Childish or not,
it’s really annoying to see that people can’t get their own ideas. I
am by no means saying that I am an originator. But people know me for
a certain theme and style. From my clothing line to my band merch
designs. People trying to jump on the band wagon look like they’re
doing just that and it puts a damper on my ideas and hard work.

10. To end, is there anything you have planned for EZ that you can
share with our readers?

Summer is going to be lot’s of fun. The summer is going to knock your
socks off. From The packaging to the garment at hand. The extras will
be over the top and I’m excited to get that ball rolling. Keep your
eyesssss pealedddd!

Originally posted at Tee Shirt Fashion

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Electric Zombie Interview

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