The real talk about threadless doesn’t begin until halfway into the video. Their other ventures sound interesting but none of them have anywhere close to the success or traffic Threadless does. This website even gets more traffic then their side sites. I feel like their other ventures just don’t have the community appeal and incentives like threadless does. I listed the four comandmants below that they talk about in the video.

Four Comandmants at Threadless

1. Allow your content to be created by the community
2. Let your community grow yourself
3. Reward the community that makes your project possible
4. Your project is not good enough – you always have to improve it

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Threadless Seminar

Over the past few months I’ve been fortunate enough for the opportunity to have some lengthy discussions about the t-shirt industry and get to know one of today’s top and one of my favorite designers. Chow Hon Lam (aka Flying Mouse) is revered in the t-shirt design world and you’ve no doubt seen his awesome work all over the internet. In the past he has been awarded newcomer of the year and most printed artist on Threadless, has took up the recent challenge of creating a new design everyday and now is branching out with his own clothing line.

On the eve of the launch of his latest project, Chow agreed to an interview here on TeeRater and has provided some sneak peaks at some of the designs that will be available at FlyingMouse365.

I want to thank you for taking the time to share some of your thoughts with my readers. How have you been?

No problem, glad to do it. I’m doing well, really excited about the new project.

I think what people most would want to know is how you got started designing t-shirts?

I subbed my very 1st submission to Threadless in 2007. After a few winnings there, it gave me the confidence to do more and more designs. I’m now really enjoying t-shirt designing.

Do you think you have a particular style that you can describe?

Can I say variety? I don’t have a particular style. I always try to do something new. I believe humans are greedy, we always like something different, something new. For me, I just don’t think I would buy 20 shirts of the same style, maybe it’s just me. I continually enjoy exploring new styles, it is fun for me.

I have certain things that inspire my own designs, is there anything that regularly inspires your work?

Everything around me. I believe everything has it’s very own story, a cup of tea, a watermelon, a pussy cat, a cloud, or even a chair. I try to create a story for them. I always believe they have something to say, but they just can’t speak. Some people tell a story through a movie, some people using a novel or comic, and some tell their story though a song. For me, I tell my story though a t-shirt, the amazing part of t-shirt design is I can tell a different story everyday.

What I and others find amazing is the amount of designs you create. How are you able to create such a large body of work?

I usually will write down ideas in my sketch book when I get some inspiration, then draw them one by one. Sometimes I can come out with a few designs in one day. I spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours to draw one design. I had an experience when I only thought of ideas without drawing anything for a full month, in that month I successfully came up with 160+ ideas. Now I can concentrate on the drawing them.

When you started submitting your designs did you ever think you would become one of the most successful and well liked designers?

No, I never thought of that. I didn’t have any experience in t-shirt design before I made my first submission. I was just thinking about having some fun and making some pocket money. I’m really happy my work is recognized by the community,

You’ve been really successful at Threadless. What did it feel like to become the most printed designer in 2007 and be named newcomer of the year?

It felt like a dream, flying in the sky, and floating in the galaxy. lol. I just feel I’m the lucky one, there are a lot of good artists out there. The awards I achieved really gave me more confidence to keep on in my t-shirt design career. I have to say thanks for the support from everyone.

There are a lot of people out there including many of my readers who want to become t-shirt designers. Is there any advice you can give to an aspiring designer?

Do more designs, and try not to let people forget your work.

I’ve been privy to your new project for several months now and we’ve discussed various aspects of the how it is going to work. Can you let the public in on the details of what FlyingMouse365 is all about?

The idea is to have a new design coming out every day for a full year, so that means that every week there will be 7 new products available. These 7 new products will be available for a quick pre-sale at a lower price for the entire week and once the week ends there will be 7 new products to replace them and so on. We will also have a permanent store that will feature the most-liked products without having a pre-sale.

That sounds great and I know my readers will be looking forward to November 11th when you plan to launch. I would just like to thank you again for sharing some of your thoughts with us.

It was my pleasure, cheers!

Be sure to check out Chow’s latest endeavor at FlyingMouse365

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Interview with Flying Mouse

Snakes & Suits is a clothing company from Chicago, IL. The brand launched on November 23rd, 2007. The company was started and is run by three friends with a background in music, fashion and skateboarding.

Who are the people behind Snakes & Suits and when did you guys start the company?

There are 3 of us that collectively run Snakes & Suits. There’s Tony Marino who is a tour manager for a few different bands. Eric Ryan who is a graphic designer and has designed everything we’ve ever printed, posted online, etc. And myself, Johnny Minardi, I’m an A&R guy at Fueled By Ramen. We’ve had ideas for years but actually launched on November 23rd 2007.

One of the unique things about Snakes & Suits is the simple and classic designs. Why did you decide to go that route instead of the more over the top designs that many other companies prefer?

You said it best about the simple and classic look. We’ve always wanted to release shirts that we love and would wear. I hate to use the word timeless because it makes us sound like we have egos but we never wanted to be pigeonholed into any one type of tee so we’ve tried to create a classic look that can be around for a long time.

What is your personal favorite Snakes & Suits tee and why?

I think the strongest shirt we’ve put out is the “Create New. Destroy Old.” design. Not even because of the look but because of the message. One of the biggest problems with every industry, especially the fashion industry, is that everyone is copying each other and is afraid to try something new. I think the message is clear to own whatever you’re doing and not to settle just because something has worked for someone else.

What do you hope for the future of Snakes & Suits? Can you tell us anything about upcoming lines?

We’re very excited to continue to expand and take big steps forward. We are planning a complete relaunch of the company. We’ve spent months designing our new web site and our brand new custom web store. Our Winter Line will be November 27th as well and features some new items that we’ve never done. We’re doing a big retail push as well and will be sold in stores all over the U.S. in the coming months.

Snakes & Suits has been at Warped Tour and Bamboozle, what were those experiences like? Has selling at major concert festivals been very helpful in terms of business and getting your brand out there?

We love the festivals! We’ve done a few Warped Tour dates each year and have done Bamboozle in NJ this past year. Those have both proved to be an amazing place to meet people that support the brand and really give a great chance to get the word out about a new line or just the brand in general. Luckily, we’ve had huge support from bands that were playing the festivals to stop by our booth for a signing and to wear the clothes on stage while they play that day.

Your ampersand logo is amazing! Very strong aesthetically and memorable. Who came up with it?

Thank you! Our designer, Eric, has designed everything for the company. He came up with a lot of variations of early logos and we kept expanding on the ones we liked. That one stuck out the second he showed us.

I know a lot of bands wear Snakes & Suits. What are some of your favorite bands to work with?

We’ve had amazing support from bands. They all contribute on different levels from helping with photo shoots, wearing the clothes live, promoting the brand on tour and online, etc. We just did our new Winter line photo shoot with This Providence and The Summer Set.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone wanting to start a clothing company?

Do what you love. Simple as that. Obviously it’s a business but just have fun and do whatever you want. Oh, and don’t copy each other.

What do you like to do when you’re not running Snakes & Suits?

Watch football, browse the internet and blogosphere, listen to tunes, play basketball and idea farming.

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Interview with Snakes and Suits

Started in 2007 by designer Alex Dakoulas, the brand has grown from a few t-shirts sold online to a full line being carried in boutiques overseas. Collaborating with event promoters, musical acts, and visual artists the brand continues to expand its efforts while strengthening its core based in playful and rebellious graphic apparel.

1. When did you start Dance Party Massacre and what is the story behind the brand?

I started DPM soon after graduating college. I had an awesome final year of school working hard and playing hard, and it gave me inspiration. It was a time when I felt really happy, and part of it was because I stopped worrying about pleasing others and just did what I wanted.

I just let go, and the freedom of feeling alive and fighting to be happy was a great influence on the ideas behind the line. Taking horror ideas where things are dark, and often are about people struggling, and combining them with parties and nightlife I thought was interesting. That felt like my life during that time. I was living it.

2. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in running the company? Is there anything you know now that you wish you had known in the beginning?

Biggest challenge as the sole owner is all the tasks that come with it. It can be very daunting at times, but when it does I just step back and stop working even a couple hours. Lately, I’ve been allowing others to come in more and more to help me too.

I usually tell people when starting like a clothing line, always order minimum amounts. You can always buy more of a design, but you can’t return them if no one buys them.

3. Some people say that there are too many “horror themed” brands on the market. What would you say to the nay sayers? Do you consider DPM to just be a horror themed brand, why or why not?

Well, that whole trend kind of came as a surprise to me. I had not seen horror making its way into indie or streetwear brands.  Part of the reason why I started up DPM was because I saw something that could be new and cool. I mean, I freakin love horror movies and I had been buying horror movie memorabilia for years. I wanted to take what I loved about horror, bring it beyond the cult fans, and make it more “hip” for lack of a better word.

With that being said, I don’t see DPM as a horror line. It’s obviously influenced by those themes and imagery, but the idea is to add other aspects to it creating something else. As we evolve, the horror aspect of the line can be interpreted as something further like rebellious, punk rock, edgy, or anything unsettling. It doesn’t have to mean blood and guts.

4. You guys have a blog on your site that you update regularly. How important do you think it is for a brand to stay in touch with their customers through blogging? Has it had a big impact on your brand personally?

The blog is on par with the online shop with traffic, so I think it’s definitely helpful. It gives people a reason to keep coming back to the website, and it allows me to update customers easily with news.

I also collect images, video, and bookmarks basically every day on things that relate to DPM, or inspire it. I wanted to have a place where I could gather all of those ideas, and even if no one else was looking at them I could go back and get immersed all over again.

5. A lot of people looking to start up their own company have questions about investments and finding the money. What advice would you give someone looking to get more information about the financial issues involved in starting up?

Personally, I have another job that brings in income besides DPM. I just kind of blindly started up this brand, and I have only ever put money into it that I had. I wouldn’t say I’m the best person to ask on business advice, because I’d be weary even to take out a loan. Although I know a lot of people do it to succeed.

6. What are some goals you have for DPM for the future? Where would you like to be in a year from now? Five years from now?

I want it to become more than a tee line. T-shirts are my background, but it’s been fun evolving it. We already have some winter-wear in the works, and if all things turn out well some rings. I just want to get bigger and better.

Five years from now DPM could be huge and in stores all across country, but I think a dream would be to have our own store. That would be the ultimate dream right now.

7. What are some other brands that you look up to or have inspired you in some way?

I would say it’s less brands, and more people. I am personally inspired by creative, independent people. I respect a lot of my friends and colleagues who are artists and designers and I love hearing what they’re working on.

Outside of people I know I’ve followed Rob Dobi and his line Fullbleed for a while. I love his style and substance to what he does. I like that 410 BC has an artist collective side to them, as I came from an art school. I still keep up with Johnny Cupcakes. Being in Boston and watching what he did grow, it just feels like I’ve constantly checked in on his stuff.

8. In your experience, what makes a tee “popular” or “sell well”? Can you usually predict which tees are going to be the best sellers? What has been the best selling DPM tee to date?

I think the best-selling tees are ones people can relate to instantly. They can be easily liked and understood by all types of people. The best-selling tee for us has been the Vampire Grill. I think it’s because it combined two things many people understand right away into something new and clever.

I wouldn’t say I can tell which tee is going to sell well, but you might get a hunch. If I could predict what people will buy I’d be a rich man.

9. You guys have had a TON of amazing press. A feature in The Boston Globe, Thrillist, Nicky Digital, AMP Magazine, Boston Herald, The Hipster Collective, etc. What advice would you give for someone looking to get press for their business? And how has this press impacted DPM?

A lot of the initial press came on its own actually. I don’t mean that to sound snooty, but my point being I think people saw something interesting, and perhaps new, when the line first started. I think if you are doing something worth talking about, people will just talk about it. Those initial interviews and press features gave me confidence that I was onto something good.

Lately, it’s been more about keeping things fresh and continuing to get people interested. First you get people’s attention, but then you have to keep it. Now I do a lot more of contacting the press on new products. I’d say that would be my advice if you’re looking for publicity. Just e-mail, write, or call all the newspapers, blogs, magazines, etc. that you think might be interested. You can never contact too many.

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Interview with Dance Party Massacre

Big cartel vs Storenvy

• Bigcartel
• There are only two things that big cartel has storenvy beat on. One is that you can use cnames on bigcartel and use your own domain.  The other is big cartel lets you have multiple pages you can edit and storenvy doesn’t let you add any extra pages besides the faq and contact pages. The downside is you have to drive all the traffic to your site by yourself and it costs you $20 a month for their best plan.

• Storenvy
• First and foremost it’s free and you have to love free. They have up to 5 pics per product, on bigcartel it would cost you $20 a month. The stats they give in the admin panel are great, even though you should be using google analytics to track all your stats.  I really like how easy it is to design a site in css and there are a couple sites that have started customizing their stores. Check out my site I did for my clothing line Shred and check out this site for Fashion Loves People. Storenvy has social networking to get you traffic and make sales. Finally I’ve spoken to the guys that work behind the scenes and they are passionate about what they’ve created and plan on making a lot of improvements.

What the owner of Storenvy had to say.

“Storenvy doesn’t want to be just another online store system. There are hundreds of them out there already and have some of the same problems. They require you to drive all traffic to your store yourself, they only offer fulfillment, or made for only stores who are well established. On top of that in this day in age the internet is all about being social. Storenvy wanted to fix all of those problems and build the first Social Store Community.

Shopping Features.

• Buy from multiple stores at once all shipping from different locations around the world. Pay all stores at once with one checkout.
• Shoppers have the ability to browse between all stores at once by different product categories. From Apparel, Jewelry, Music, Books, Housewares, Toys and more.
• Markets are a group of stores with similar interest. Example being handmade, Metal bands, & clothing companies. Shoppers will be able to see all stores in each market along with browse all products, and a forum to discuss what they find.

Social Features

• Shoppers have the ability to make their own user profile/user account. With this they have the ability mark items they find on Storenvy as favorites, share with their friends, follow a store, leave comments, chat on the forums, and follow their friends and see what they are doing.
• When you follow a store you find out whenever they add new products.
• When you follow another Storenvy User you find out what they are favoriting, and comments they are making to help you find out about new and interesting items they discover.
• Shoppers also have the option to share your favorite products they find on their facebook wall. (we are setting up Twitter integration right now as i type this)”

Storenvy is a great start for what looks like a very bright future. It doesn’t have big cartel beat on everything just yet but they also have a lot of things bigcartel doesn’t  have like a free system with social networking. I just made the switch last week and am really happy with what storenvy has to offer.

Also besides their e-commerce stores I know about storenvy because of their printing. There are lot of people out there that can vouch for their printing and really it’s the best printing/service I have ever gotten from a screen printer.  Large oversized prints, bright colors, and everything is super soft (no big piece of plastic here). Storenvy is offering 75 cents off American Apparel printed shirts until December 1st. I’m not sure if they still do this but when I first talked with them about printing they offered to send me a sample shirt, just ask Nick. Go to the storenvy printing page by clicking here.

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Storenvy: Free online store review

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

How to be a good client

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

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

Post from: How to start a Clothing Company

Ask top store owners questions about anything!

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

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