Someone Clothing Interview
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Someone Clothing now available on AlwaysUrban
Tell us about how you came up with the name of your brand?
There’s 2 parts to the name. More so formulated from part 2.
1. As I grew as an artist in college and started putting my paintings in front of people I didn’t want the attention on me, but instead I wanted the attention on my art itself and what I had come up with. One night my roommate and I were painting and I signed one “someone.” From then on I’ve signed all my paintings “someone.”
2. I’ve always loathed how the media and society focus way too much on fame, image, money, celebrities, and paying certain people a ridiculous amount of money for certain things they do when they could be paid a little less and others could be paid a little more who could really use it, making a big difference. Instead I wanted/want to change the views and shine the limelight on people who are often neglected such as, the homeless, people like my mentally-retarded friend Wally Haynes, teachers, starving artists, kids, etc.
You are someone. I am someone. She is someone. He is someone.
Tell us about how you came up with your logo?
We really don’t have a logo, because I wanted our brand to be way more art driven and a lot less of logo after logo and variations of that same logo jammed in your face. The “logo” that we kind of use is my signature. The same signature I’ve used on my paintings since day 1.
What should your fans/customers know about your brand that they might not know?
Our company is owned and operated by myself and my partner. After starting the company with $500 we have put our hearts into this dream and have grown into a highly respectable company. Also, as we grow, we will head up fund-raising efforts and rehabilitation efforts for the homeless, thus giving them clothing and teaching them a trade to further their chances in future job searches and life.
What should your fans/customers know about your current line/designs that they might not know?
Our “MONKEYARMS” series! This series is a collection of clothing done by myself that are pieces of clothing which is never-seen-again wearable art. Never duplicated, 1 of 1 shirts. This gives people the option of wearing something that no one else is. This series is even more limited than Nike Dunks or whatever else that is out there like that. With the amount of designs, ink color options, shirt color options, painting styles using screen-print ink, and shirt sizes, every customer is guaranteed to have nothing like the next guy or girl.
What inspired you to start your company?
$500 and a vision. A vision of creating clothes that aren’t like anything out there. I think the clothing industry is mostly over-saturated with the same look.
What inspired you to start designing?
I’ve always designed since age 4, I was just a beginner then. When I got through 2 years of college I didn’t know what else to pick for a major, so I was kind of forced to paint and find myself a style. Once I got going I just continued something that was already there, something that was already in me. To answer the question, my life inspires me. The people, the conversations, the observations, the events, the etc.
Do you remember when you first realized that design/fashion design would be what you did professionally?
To be honest… When I got fired from my job as a salesperson in a local skateboard and snowboard shop. I was already in that kind of industry, my friend and I had already started the company, but when I was fired it had lit a fire, I was fired up (no puns intended). That was my opportunity to do something I’ve always loved and had a passion for.
What can you say that might convince someone to never buy clothes at the mall again?
Keep it small and keep it simple. Buy product from people who are passionate about that product and know what it’s all about, not from a person who are somewhat trained to sell and primarily meet sales goals. Don’t try to buy a snowboard DVD from a salesperson who doesn’t know, from their own products they are selling, which DVDs are skateboarding and which are snowboarding. Buy product from a company whose owner is happy to talk to you about the product or whatever else.
