www.uneekgrafix.com

Could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? (name, age, > education, the basics!)

Christopher Magruder, 30, BFA Graphic Design, Designs under the name of UneekGrafix.

So when did you first realize your passion for the arts and what really drew you to it?

Somewhere between eighth grade and freshman year in school. I was really into graffiti, handstyles, hip hop, djing …..the whole subculture. I had always been big into drawing and graphic design just seemed like the next step.

You are both a photographer and an designer, do you find it tough juggling both aspects and is their a side that your prefer more?

Not at all. Actually I find that they work rather nicely together. Its kind of a left-brain, right-brain type of situation. Working with one has helped me work better in the other. I think that it has helped me become more successful in both.

You have worked with a pretty wide range of clients anywhere from huge companies such as Wrigley and Volvo to upstart companies. Do you prefer working on those big clients or helping the little guys establishing
their identity?

I like the little guys. I like the whole interaction with a start-up. Working together from the initial idea and helping someone create their “big idea” is something that really inspires me to keep working. It is a very gratifying feeling knowing that I helped someone take an idea or thought and turn it into something tangible.
On the flip side it’s always nice to get a big client like the aforementioned because they always have huge resources, project scopes and of course budgets.

So did you go to school or get any formal training in the arts or are you self taught?

BFA in graphic design and some photo classes through school. That’s about it. No specialty art school or private classes. Just me, my sketch book, headphones and a mac.

What have been some of your favorite projects to work on?

Any branding project. I love logos. I love designing them. I love when you can take someone’s idea and create a visual representation of their thoughts. I guess if I had to pick one project for each of the avenues it would go like this.

Brands – I really enjoyed the PetFoto logo design project. Which as it turns out was an unused concept from a previous project. After some cleaver editing and some reworking of elements it turned into one of my favorite logos I have designed. Its fun, memorable and clever. Exactly what a good logo is supposed to portray.

Bands – I recently worked with group called Me,The Mirror for some promo photos. Now a while back the front man of the band was in another band I worked with so it was one of those return client/new band things. We really enjoyed the first go around and the second was no different. The guys in the band are great and their music is even better. Ohh yea the photos didn’t tunr out that bad too.

What is one thing you hate about being and artist and one thing you love?

The hours…. and the hours.
I work both contracted jobs and personal freelance with UneekGrafix so somedays seem to never end. 40+ hours on contracts plus client work gets to be tough. But I love what I do and it’s what keeps me getting up every morning. Well, that and my lovely wife and dog too.

One thing that I have noticed is most of the successful artist, photographers and designers have in common is they know how to market themselves and their product. What do you do to set yourself apart from the competition?

I have ridiculous low pricing and I try to give my clients the biggest bang for their buck. But beer and pizza is not the best form of payment. I try and keep my overhead low with projects, which helps me keep my costs low on the client side. Plus when I start a project with a new client I’m really not looking to get into a “one and done” type of situation. I want to build long lasting relationships with my clients and I want to see them succeed. Nothing makes me happier than when a satisfied client call back to discus a new project.

Now for some rapid fire questions!!!

Favorite Color:
Blue

Favorite Movie:
Super Troopers.

One word that describes you:
Uneek! Or Reliable

Biggie or 2pac?
Notorious (sung in a high falsetto)

Favorite Season:
Road Construction. That’s a season, right?

Favorite website?
Humm. (insert shameless self promotion?)

Thanks a ton for your time! Any last minute announcements or shout outs?

Yes if your a band and your looking for high quality, professional design and photography and you mention that your an IATT reader you get special discounted pricing. Get at it!

So you could start off by telling us your name and how you are involved with Dead, Serious!

Hi, I’m Yves & I’m the owner/founder of Dead, Serious!

When did Dead, Serious! launch and where did you guys come up with the name?

We started out really small over two years ago actually & been working our way up since.
As for the name, we wanted one that had a double meaning & also in a way had a sarcastic note to it. I was obsessed (and still am) with zombie flicks, ‘Dead, Serious!’ popped in my head & my partner at that time loved it too. So we decided to go for it & work around the name for our very first shirt. Keaton Henson took care of that by making an awesome zombie design. That’s how it all began.

What do you think makes Dead, Serious! standout from it’s competition and why should we shop there?

What makes us standout is the fact that quality is most important to us. Quality in general, ranging from the designs to the prints and material we work with. We want to offer our customers a product that they can truly cherish in every aspect.

You guys have worked with some pretty incredible artists, do you have any favorites?

I’m gonna be totally honest with you and say no. We truly love every single artist we’ve worked with so far. It would be unfair to mention only one because I do think all of them put in the best of themselves. Every single one of them is my favorite.

We really couldn’t be more blessed being backed up by all of these awesome designers to be honest.

How would you describe the Dead, Serious! style in one word?

Hot!

Something that has always impressed me about your line is how professional you guys come off. From the designs, to the mockups, photographs and more you guys seem to always take that extra step. Could you talk a little bit about how you are building your brand identity?

Oh, thank you, that’s really awesome to hear.

We’re continuing to build our brand identity by bringing in quality on all levels, ranging from the designs to the photographs and models. We feel that if we’d try to do everything as professional as possible we’ll hopefully come across the best way.

However, we’re still evolving in this matter but that’s what is making it all so fascinating, trying to grow bigger & better by learning out of the experiences from the past.

What is the most difficult part of running a clothing line?

The most difficult part is by far the whole financial arrangement behind it. Thank God we’ve fixed ourselves a very good accountant to take care of it. It honestly used to drive me crazy, the amount of time I invested in it kept me from doing the fun side of the company which was extremely frustrating.

Let me just throw this out there, you have some of the best looking models in the game. Are you just surrounded by gorgeous women or do you seek them out to help promote Dead, Serious!?

Haha thanks, well, it may sound unbelievable but most of them are actually just friends of mine. However, we also have a couple professional models that help us out.

You have to keep in mind though that about 90% of our models never modelled before so they’re absolutely doing an amazing job. They’ve actually become a very important part of our brand identity.

With so many indie clothing brands popping up do you embrace them or fear them?

I don’t see other companies as competition but in the contrary, I see them as colleagues in a way. I’d rather have good contacts with them instead of pulling out knives, you know. I believe you’re not doing yourself or your company a favor by acting all hostile towards newbies. I think you just have to keep on believing in your own product & your loyal fans and if that faith is there I’m sure you’ll be doing just fine.

What are some of your favorite websites?

My favorite websites are those of our designers. I check their blogs frequently because I’m really interested in what they’re up to & always love seeing new work of them.

Besides that I like visiting fellow brand sites & sites like yours to actually keep me updated on what’s happening in the industry all over.

Any new bands we should check out?

I’ve heard Blink 182 is rather good?

Any last minute shout outs or anything we didn’t cover that you wanted to mention?

We’d like to thank every single person that helped us out in any way, to help us push this brand. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without your love & support.

Make sure to check out their entire line at: http://deadseriousclothing.bigcartel.com/

Originally starting out as a solo project by Craig Minowa, Cloud Cult has blossomed over the past 15 years into a band that has managed to stay independent and true to themselves. Here is an interview we recently did with Craig!

For fans of: Menomena, Mates of State, Anathallo

Check out Cloud Cult on:
www.myspace.com/cloudcult
www.cloudcult.com

For those of our readers who may have never heard of Cloud Cult, tell us about yourself; who are you and what do you do?

We’re a band from the Midwest working on our 9th album. We write and perform music for the sake of spiritual exploration.

How would you describe your music and style?

It’s very eclectic, as some songs are folky, some have electronica. We use a lot of orchestration, so we’ve been called orchestral rock.

What would you say influences your music the most?

The Grand Mystery. The big unknown. The hereafter. The search for the purpose and meaning of life. Ghosts, life, aliens and magic.

What is the writing process like for you guys?

I have a recording studio at earthology here in the woods of Wisconsin. I spend my days writing and recording. I send those recordings to the band, and we figure out how to make them better.

Your record label that you formed, Earthology, is environmentally and socially friendly, focusing on sustainability and being environmentally and socially responsible. Why do you think that you are the only record label to go this route thus far?

There are other record labels that have taken steps in that direction since Earthology’s inception in the late 90s. It’s getting to be a trendier thing to do, and more people are starting to understand the importance of trying to establish some sort of balance when it comes to looking at how our businesses impact the environment. As human animals, I think our evolution has taught us to usurp as many resources as possible, because there’s always been plenty, but our population and our massive consumption levels have tipped that into a new paradigm where our educated brains need to override the genetic desires and consciously make choices to live in moderation.

What do you think more bands/artists could do to be more “green” such as Cloud Cult is?

There are very simple things that can be done to minimize your ecological footprint. Look at your merchandise first. Look for 100% postconsumer recycled packaging for your cds. Don’t fall for the “recycled” sales gimmick, if it’s not “postconsumer” content, then it’s not truly recycled. Yes, it costs more to do organic t-shirts, but cotton is the most pesticide intensive crop on the planet. We need to take responsibility for our
actions. You can’t poo-poo the Exxons and Monsantos of the world, if you aren’t taking the steps to run your own business in a responsible fashion. Just because it’s a smaller business, doesn’t mean you can’t afford to run it ethically. Get creative with your merchandise. In the early days, we’d buy used t-shirts in bulk and sew our logo on them. They were cheap to make and they were totally green. You can also minimize your touring
footprint by planting trees to absorb our greenhouse gases and buying wind power from companies like nativeenergy.com to fuel the grid for what you consume.

I have never seen anything like live paintings being done during a show before, and think that it is a totally unique and amazing! What is the concept/reason behind having the paintings going on during the live
performances?

The painters are Connie Minowa and Scott West. One is my wife and one was one of my closest friends in college. They went to school for painting, so they were painting around me a lot when I was writing
music. It just felt natural to bring that to the stage in order to bring another artistic dimension to the performances.

I love the artwork that is on the cover of your latest releases this past December, both the Limited Edition “Lost Songs from the Lost Years”, and the double-disc of “They Live on the Sun” and “Aurora Borealis”. Who did the cover art for those albums?

The artwork on “Aurora Borealis” was done by Scott West. The artwork on “They Live on the Sun” is a photo by Joshua Mohr of our son, Kaidin. I did the artwork on “Lost Songs”, but 90% of it is manipulated imagery of old archived public domain artwork of fairy tales.

After being in the music industry and performing for over 15 years now, what kind of advice do you have to give to up and coming bands/artists?

Don’t fall for the old myth of instant success. You have to be totally in love with creating music if you want to survive the years of uphill struggle. But if you’re in it for the true love of the art, the struggle
won’t be as noticeable. Also, don’t think that you have to get signed to be successful. You can do it on your own and oftentimes make it more profitable at a smaller level, because you aren’t paying someone else
to do all your work. Learn the business and get active in taking care of yourself.

What can fans expect to see from Cloud Cult going forth in 2010?

We have a new album coming out this summer and a national tour to follow.

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/09/cloud-cult-talks-to-us-about-music-art-and-being-green/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/05/artist-matthew-skiff-sits-down-for-a-interview/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/05/artist-matthew-skiff-sits-down-for-a-interview/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:01:12 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=3293 Matthew Skiff is one of the most respected artists in the t-shirt game, working for companies such as Disturbia, Zombie Liquorice, Randr, The Printed Mind, 410BC, Pyknic, the list goes on and on. He is one of those artists that is able to pull off several different styles and do a great job doing it. We had a chance to ask him some questions to see what exactly makes this artist who he is.

Could you start out by telling us a little background on yourself? (Name, Age, Location, the basics!)

My name is Matthew Skiff and I was born in raised in Colorado. I’m currently 23 years old, but am creeping up on my 24th birthday on St. Patrick’s Day.

When did you first realize you had a passion for art and what drew you to it?

It was a long long time ago. We I was a kid, I was raised on cartoons and people that grew up when I did had (arguably) the best cartoons. Every morning before I would go to school, I would watch a couple hours of cartoons, then when I would get home from school I would watch a couple of hours of cartoons, and then of course there was Saturday morning cartoons, and then Nickelodeon , the Cartoon Network…even the Disney Channel always had good stuff on during the weekends. It’s safe to say I was raised on cartoons…and while watching cartoons I would usually have a pad of paper and a pencil, and I would draw the characters I saw on TV. I was really into comic books as a kid as well, and when I was a kid, the only thing I wanted to do was be a comic book artist.

Did you get a formal training in art and if so how do you think it shaped you as an artist?

I didn’t really get that much formal training. I mean, there was always art classes in school that I took, but it was all formal art training and nothing really that I wanted to do. Even in college, I took a few drawing classes but it was still very formal…all these boring still life drawings, that while beneficial, wasn’t something I really had that much interest in. I took a ton of computer graphics and graphic design classes in College as well that helped me become more familiar with the various computer programs I use today. But i really think that the drawing I did outside of school has helped me out a lot. I have stacks and stacks of drawings in storage somewhere….it would be very interesting to go back and look at those sometime soon…

Like any great artist you have a very recognizable style. Did you stumble across your stylistic approach or was it something that you set out for?

Like i stated earlier….cartoons and comic books really drove the direction my art is right now. It’s all an emphasis on “line” mainly, and keeping things simple and clean, but detailed as well (if that makes any sense). I don’t really think about it when I draw things, however different subject matter does require different variations on the simple vs. detailed idea.

What have been some of your favorite projects that you have worked on?

There are so many fun t-shirt projects that I have worked on, however I am now getting into a lot of different things as well. I just finished up a skateboard series for a small company in Greece that I had a blast working on. I am about to start some snowboards that I am incredibly excited about. When I first started out doing the kind of thing I’m doing now…my ultimate goal was to eventually end up doing snowboards, and now that I am finally able to…I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been able to do so many awesome designs and work with so many amazing people/bands/companies in the very short time that I have been doing this…I wouldn’t even have thought this would be possible if you told me this when I graduated college.

I eventually want to kind of break a way a bit from what I usually do. Maybe start something of my own or even get into clothing design or something different than just illustration.

What is the most rewarding part of being an artist?

The final result is the most rewarding thing to me. Getting to it is a long process that I almost dread every single time I start a design. Once the final result is there…it hopefully looks good, and I am just happy that it is finally finished. It’s also good to know that the client is happy with it, and I guess in the line of work I do…that’s the only thing that matters. I do get a bit frustrated when I have to change so many things after (in my mind) it’s finished, but that is just the nature of the beast. I complain sometimes about it, but that fact is…I get to do thisevery single day. I eventually want to get back into more personal art, but it seems that every time I think I’ll get a break in my schedule, it fills up.

Do you have to be in a particular mood when you create or can you just create whenever/wherever?

I wouldn’t say a particular mood, however I have to be well rested. I’m not the kind of person who can get 5 hours of sleep…wake up and immediately start drawing. I need a lot of sleep and then even when I wake up, it takes me quite a while to prepare myself for the days work. I need to sit and maybe watch a bit of TV, surf the internet and then eventually answer e-mails and start work. I’d love to be the person who could wake up early and immediately start work…I’d get so much more done! However, that’s just not who I am, although I am working (not very hard) to change that…we’ll see if I can!

Who are some artist that you have looked up to over the years?

Gosh, there are so many. I did a blog post a few months ago where I talked about a lot of my influences growing up (outside the t-shirt/merch world) (http://www.ithew.com/2009/12/influcences-and-inspiration/). But then there is people that I have become familiar with in the recent years that do what I do (but so much better). Brandon Heart is the one I look up to the most, not really for he’s t-shirt stuff, but the stuff he does for Soup Graphix…mainly his skateboard designs. I have been a fan of his for years without really knowing it until I found out who he was. There are others too that I have become fans of and that have been very helpful to me, people like Godmachine and Jimiyo.

What would be one word that describes you?

Loser

What is your favorite season?

This is a hard question. I love snowboarding so naturally I want to say winter, and here in Colorado we have some pretty good winter’s. However the past year I haven’t been able to go snowboard, so the cold and snow is just annoying to me. Right now I would have to say the fall, I love seeing the leaves change and there is just a certain feeling the fall has. And Halloween is in the fall, I always am a little bit sad when the Month of October is over and all the tv stations stop showing horror movies or Halloween specials.

Where do you spend most of your time on the web?

Facebook and Twitter occupy most of my time. I do head over to IGN sometimes to check out movie and video game news. WWTDD is another place I frequent…I have to keep up with my celebrity gossip!

If someone wanted to contact and hire you, are you available and how would the do so?

Yes I am available for work, but there will be a bit of a wait. The best way to contact me is through e-mail (matthewskiff [AT]gmail.com)

For more information on Matthew hit up his site at: www.ithew.com

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/05/artist-matthew-skiff-sits-down-for-a-interview/feed/ 6 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/15/faunagraphics-own-sarah-yates-talks-to-us-about-art/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/15/faunagraphics-own-sarah-yates-talks-to-us-about-art/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:04:53 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=2855 Sarah Yates is one of those artists that can do everything, and do everything well. After my first look at faunagraphic.com I was blown away on how well she dominates the many mediums of art. From work as a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Photographer & Graffiti Artist, Sarah is firing on all cylinders and I knew we had to get an interview with her to see what makes her tick. So sit back enjoy the interview and feast your eyes on some incredible art.

When did you first realize you had a talent and passion for art and what drew you to it?

I first realized I wanted to take the design/art route when I was in high school and it was my strongest but favorite subject. But I had always drawn from being young but didn’t think art was good money for relying on as a living… I’d always been taught to have a finger in many pies when it came to work.. I used to collect logos as a hobby when I was younger, sounds weird but I liked graphic design too so I saw that as the first most reliable base to build an art / illustration career on!

Did you get a formal art education, and if so where did you go and how do you feel it shaped you as an artist?

No I just did art in high school, and then studied graphic design at college and university. Them courses are not really arty – more technical, and learning about Print bleed, leading, fonts and layout – the use of imagery came into it but didn’t compare to a proper art course. I think learning graphic design shaped my knowledge on marketing myself as an artist … I have focused more on developing my own style as an artist since I graduated in 2008.

So you are a self-described graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, and graffiti artist is there certain area of art that you enjoy more or do you love them all equally?

I honestly appreciate graphic design in certain aspects, and enjoy doing it when working on projects, which I can be freely creative in, but my favorite work is the illustration and graffiti/spray painting, anything to get me outdoors painting pieces on walls, it’s a much more better feeling of achievement than designing something on the computer for me but I guess deep down I love them equally.

Are you an artist that needs to be in a particular mood when creating, or can you just design at any time?

I think I can draw at any time, but I have to be in certain mood to do a really detailed illustration.. , If it’s something like a piece on a wall with spray paint or graffiti letters, it’s more of relaxed mood for me.

I can usually plan a piece of artwork in a few minutes. Most of my canvas a show is usually done a week before when a new idea clicks, and I usually walk of the house to do a wall not knowing what I’m going to paint, but just taking some ideas or a sketchbook to work with.

What has been your favorite piece that you have done and what did you like most about it?

My favorite pieces are the ones in factories; I enjoyed finding and looking for the spots, choosing the walls and then painting them. Derelict places are popular in Sheffield and south Yorkshire but they are so interesting to look around.

My favorite piece would be some parrots I painted with Rocket01, in some old shower rooms of a steel factory, the pieces can be interpreted in loads of ways, nature can overcome anything or birds aren’t meant to be caged type of thing!

Who are some artists that inspired you or that you looked up to over the years?

I’ve always liked the work of Boris Vallejo, I’ve have his books since I was younger, I was inspired by SATONE, 123klan, NeckCNS during the “teens” – Miss Van – Tara McPherson, are some of the names I did projects on through school, now I enjoy looking at a lot of peoples work because I am over exposed to loads of different artists!

What is the most rewarding part about being an artist?

Finishing a piece of work! 2nd most rewarding thing – selling it! 3rd most rewarding thing – getting free food and booze when painting at an event!

If someone wanted to hire you for a project are you available and how can they contact you?

I am available for projects, and you can contact me through my website, Or email me at E-mail Me!

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/15/faunagraphics-own-sarah-yates-talks-to-us-about-art/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/08/we-interview-17-year-old-entrepreneur-and-owner-of-skeg-clothing/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/08/we-interview-17-year-old-entrepreneur-and-owner-of-skeg-clothing/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:57:52 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=2739 I first came across Skeg Clothing> sometime last month and was immediately impressed with everything they had to offer. Their website looked extremely professional, and they had the products to back it up, but what surprised me most is that this company is run by 17 year old Jahl Herapath. In a time when most 17 year olds are working part time jobs, attending high school and not thinking much further than the weekend, Jahl has been planning on how Skeg can reach global domination status.

So let’s start with the nitty gritty; name, age, origin, and of course porn star name:

Hi I’m Jahl Herapath, I’m 17 years old and I grew up in the small town of Mission Beach in far north Queensland, Australia. If I was a porn star my name would probably have to be Dirk Diggler.

When and why did you decide to start Skeg?

The main reason ‘Skeg’ was started was because my friends and I really wanted to do something with our lives that we actually enjoyed doing. We didn’t want to work the typical 9-5 jobs or go to university to become a doctor or a lawyer, we were kids who enjoyed freedom and a care free lifestyle just being able to get out there and do what we want without a worry, it was the ultimate feeling for us. Hence creating a lifestyle of our own seemed like the best idea in the world! We were already sick of the unbearable fashion trends that were coming out in Australia and decided that we should be the ones to take a risk.

The initial idea for Skeg was first raised a few years ago between me and some of my close friends. It basically all started back when we were younger, after school and during the holidays we‘d all go down to local skate park and film all sorts of footage. It was an idea influenced and fuelled by the likes of Baker 3 and CKY. We were practically convinced we’d get famous out of it and spent each and every weekend filming countless hours of footage. The concept for ‘Skeg’ basically grew from there and we thought let’s start making t-shirts to wear in the footage so we look real legit! This idea however never really took flight and it wasn’t until sometime after then that my friend Zac Leonardi now the co-founder of Skeg, decided he wanted to start a clothing label after having the success of printing his own artwork on a t-shirt in art class. The original name for the line that Zac had suggested back then was ‘No Brain Function’ I myself didn’t really believe in the name so I proceeded to convince him otherwise with ‘Skeg’ a title originally thought up by another close friend Marco who used to call us ‘Skegs’ when we’d go skating.

We finally got our first real taste of production with a local printing company which involved a combination of tacky fonts and badly executed art design, thus the whole idea yet again essentially fell through partly due to our lack of experience and general funding. After this we basically went back to the drawing board once again and that’s when Zac decided to do a ‘gap year’ in the army which is basically a term used in Australia where you can go away for a year after school and basically train to be in the army whilst earning a reasonable amount of cash. At the same time I spent nights working endless hours at a local restaurant washing dishes to do my bit to help contribute to getting our idea off the ground. It wasn’t until about mid 2009 that we had the funds to start contacting designers and companies alike. Skeg basically expanded from this and along with the support from friends and family it officially launched on the 7th January this year.

Correct me if I am wrong but Skeg is basically aimed towards the skateboarding/streetwear crowd. There are some huge brands in that category, what do you think sets you guys apart and what is going to make you successful?

With Skeg we’re trying to stray from the pack and do something completely different from your average run of the mill skate brand, we don’t want to have a mass corporate feel about the whole thing we just want to stay true to the idea. We hope to maintain that skate lifestyle and be very accepting of everything around us with things like local visits to kids at skate parks and simply going there to get involved, skate and have a good time. One of the big things in the mix is that we plan to release a lot of limited edition clothing as I personally hate when you buy an awesome new shirt only to discover that you and every other person also owns it.

I really don’t come across that many indie clothing lines from Australia, does being from Australia tend to help or hurt you as a company?

Generally from starting out the only issue I’ve really faced is getting in touch with someone that can print our clothing at the standard we want it. So in terms of production that’s probably the only issue we’ve been facing at the moment. As for indie labels based in Australia it works quite well for us as the whole ‘indie clothing scene’ seems to be quite underground meaning that if you’re not really into fashion you aren’t going to find a whole lot out there. With that in mind it leaves us with a very open market in terms of places to stock our label because of the lack of known Australian indie labels being stocked in shops where I live. However my location is probably another factor on this though as I’m pretty sure if I approached the larger cities I’d find a lot more competition from brands I’ve never even heard of.

You have teamed up with some incredible artists; when you approached them with your ideas did you give them specific details as to what you wanted to see or did you leave it up to them?

Being an artist myself I had a very strong sense of what I was aiming for with each individual design thus in turn I essentially had quite a lot of detailed input into their process. However I wanted to work with each artist in a way that also ensured that they could still be free to express themselves and do what they wanted and liked.

What has been the most challenging part of running Skeg?

Probably online marketing as I’m not really experienced on that whole side of things. I’m slowly progressing by contacting t-shirt blogs and other sites alike but at this stage I’m guessing it’s going to be a long-term thing until we have some decent traffic to our site. The major downer is that there are very few Australian based clothing lines online thus making very little room for support and networking. This is why I really appreciate you guys for giving us the opportunity to be featured on your site, I am hoping this kind of publicity will help in terms of getting the word out about ‘Skeg’ on an international scale.

What are some brands that you have looked up to for inspiration?

Afends, Insight and Sixpack France would have to be the standout brands for our main sources of inspiration. I remember originally wanting to start our label and coming across Afends an Australian company who had basically already set a standard for what we initially wanted Skeg to be only we planned Skeg to be a little more fashionable than what they were doing. I was in fact bummed out that Afends already used Mike Bukowski as one of their artists as I’d been into his stuff for ages and really wanted to work with him for Skeg, however I didn’t want people to get the impression that we were copying Afends by using that particular artist.

For only being 17, you sure seem like you have your shit together! Is there anyone else that helps you run Skeg or is this a one man show?

Well to be honest I have in fact been running the whole show by myself for the most part, as my business partner/friend Zac has spent the majority of last year working in the army thus leaving him very little time to help out but he does with every opportunity he gets. Hopefully this year he’ll have more time to be able to lend a hand behind the scenes running the business. That’s pretty much all of the input that goes into Skeg aside from the legal side of things. With those kinds of issues I usually go running to Zac’s mum for advice and she lends a hand where she can. I also have a few friends that are competent writers and help in that area where needed but other than that it’s been a one man show for quite a while now.

What is your favorite thing about running a clothing line?

The sheer pleasure of seeing people actually wearing our label in public is definitely one of the kicks I get about running a clothing line, I also love receiving online orders and packaging them up with heaps of little goodies and surprises . In another big way art direction also gets me quite hyped up, just the whole aspect of being able to work with such renowned artists and share your own ideas for them to interpret is really enjoyable.

What can we expect from Skeg in the future?

In the future we plan to sway towards more ‘cut n sewn’ products with a higher sense of fashion in terms of illustration and overall branding. What you can definitely expect from our next range however is a much more obscured and sinister theme than what is already current. As for anything else well, let’s just say if I told you I’d probably have to kill you.

Any last minute shout outs?

Go check out The Medics they’re an awesome band that recently joined the Skeg family and I’m expecting big things from them in the future!

Thanks Heaps,

Check out the entire Skeg Line at: <a href=”http://skeg.bigcartel.com/”>skeg.bigcartel.com

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/08/we-interview-17-year-old-entrepreneur-and-owner-of-skeg-clothing/feed/ 4 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/08/interview-with-justin-ross-founder-of-jackthreads-com/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/08/interview-with-justin-ross-founder-of-jackthreads-com/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:47:08 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=2108 I’m not sure how I first came across Jackthreads.com but from the first time I was on the site I knew I was going to dig what they had to offer. In a nutshell Jackthreads.com is a “members” only site that allows it’s members the chance at some amazing threads at a discount of at least 51% off! On top of that monster discount they are actually featuring some pretty amazing brands such as Obey, Burton, Crooks and Castles, Skull Candy and a ton more. So after being a member for a couple months I decided to approach Jason, the owner of Jackthreads, to get this interview.

To become a member or check out Jackthreads for yourself simply visit their website: www.jackthreads.com

To start out can you tell us a bit about yourself? (Name, age, position with Jackthreads)

Jason Ross, 28, founder and business development guy. My position is to have my hand in everything. I work with the buying team, the creative team, logistics and the marketing team to make sure we’re performing well on all fronts.

For our readers that aren’t familiar with Jackthreads.com, how would you sum up the site?

It’s an online private shopping community where guys can find cool stuff. We have exclusive brands at great prices everyday… at least 50% off. It’s exciting to be a member of JackThreads because there is something new everyday. Unlike a normal online store that rarely changes and you only visit once a season, JackThreads is always fresh. We have style for everybody at prices you wont find anywhere else.

So where did the idea for Jackthreads start and when did you guys officially launch?

We launched July 31, 2008. The idea came from a lot of places. I’ve always been into streetwear and sneakers. Basically, any exclusive brand or fashion that wasn’t really easy to find appealed to me. At the same time though, I have always been a bargain shopper. But the two really didn’t go hand in hand. That’s when I stated looking for a place to get the brands I love at discounted prices. I did some research and quickly realized that there wasn’t a site out there that offered what I wanted so I created JackThreads. Problem solved.

What have been some of your biggest obstacles in running a website where the products and suppliers change everyday?

There are tons of obstacles. The biggest challenge is getting top quality, fresh products on the site every single day. It’s possible and we’re doing it well but it’s a LOT of work. Other than that, managing logistics on the back end is challenging as we grow.

Everything on your site is at least 51% off or more which is incredible, how are you guys doing this? Are these over-runs, discontinued, last years styles or are you guys just that awesome?

We’re just that awesome. We’ve worked hard to establish ourselves and build exclusive relationships with people in the industry. It didn’t happen overnight.

What have been are some of your favorite brands that you have featured on the site?

I love them all. Our members go crazy for Supra shoes, WeSC, Shades of Greige and Obey but we sell a lot of brands and we have the members to support any brand we carry.

2009 seems to have been a pretty successful launch for Jackthreads, so what can we expect to see from Jackthreads in 2010?

In 2010, we’re going to add even more brands across more categories that fit the lifestyle of our members. We are also going to continue to improve our member experience in many ways. It will be a great year.

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/08/interview-with-justin-ross-founder-of-jackthreads-com/feed/ 1 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/21/interview-with-alvaro-arteaga/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/21/interview-with-alvaro-arteaga/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:05:45 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=1932 We just had a chance to chat with Alvaro Arteaga about how he creates his pieces, his love for art and his recent Springfield Still Life piece. If you are a fan of Threadless you have more than likely seen one of his pieces over there! On with the interview!

www.alvarejo.com

When did you first realize you had a talent and passion for art and what drew you to it?

Well, I’ve been drawing since i can remember, but i guess it was since i became a teenager when i realized i could really draw and illustrate. The interest in art was developed during high school, when i started to read about art history, artists life, etc. The good thing is that I’ve always had a keen interest in art and graphic stuff, so it’s been easy to get involved and be passionate about projects that can take the “artsy” part of my brain.

Did you get a formal art education, and if so where did you go and how do you feel it shaped you as an artist?

I studied graphic design here in Vina del mar, Chile in the UVM School of Art & Design. I think that the things I learned there helped me becoming really focused on what i do, instead of becoming a “free spirit” that only does things whenever he feels to. Learning about deadlines, workflows and knowning how to interact with other designers/artits at work makes you a better and disciplined artist. The fact that i studied art history for 5 years in the university, developed a very good sense of what works and what doesn’t, from an artistic/visual point of view. If you don’t know anything about art, then i personally think it’s gonna be very hard for you to create something completely new. Your brain has to be filled with images, and a strong knowledge of the arts.

Are you an artist that needs to be in a particular mood when creating, or can you just design at any time?

Absolutley. I always try to create a good mood when i’m working, and that applies to my 9 to 5 job too. First of all, I like having a clean workspace. Having too much stuff around helps me getting distracted, so i try to have the least thing possible around. And second, I need to have some good music in order to work propperly. I’m a music fan, and simply can’t imagine a workspace without some great songs playing in the background. Keeps you uplifted, focused and lightens the mood in a very possitive way, And third, I gotta have food around, good food btw.

I absolutely love your Springfield Still Life design which is available on Threadless. Have you always been a big Simpsons fan and why did you decide to do a Simpsons piece?

I’ve been a fan since they first were put on air, and I’ve remained that way until today. The idea struck me at the last minute, one day before the Pop Life competition ended. I thought that if it was about portraying a cultural or Pop icon on a tee, i had to do some sort of an hommage to the world’s most known family.

What has been your favorite piece that you have done and what did you like most about it?

I’d have to say it’s “Murphy’s Law”. I just love that design. They way it started as a simple skecth and was perfected by the suggestions that a lot of bloggers made in Threadless was simply amazing. I love the idea, the details, colors, etc. I’m very very pleased with how it came out finally.

Do you have any prints or artwork for sale?

No i don’t at the moment.

Who are some artists that inspired you or that you looked up to over the years?

The Argentinian artist Quino, Salvador Dalí, Sam keith, the artwork inspired from all the Tolkien books, Maurice Sendak, old books illustrations and things like that.

If someone wanted to hire you for a project are you available and how can they contact you?

Well, i’ve been trying to find a job in the States for almost a year now, but being in Chile complicates the legal stuff a bit. Yeah I’m available for working there or for any other interesting project. They can checkout my site www.alvarejo.com, there you can find my contact info.

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/21/interview-with-alvaro-arteaga/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/14/iatt-tv-live-ep11-12709/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/14/iatt-tv-live-ep11-12709/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:01:58 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=1771 IAMTHETREND.TV was filmed live on December 7th, 2009.

Episode Guide:

Industry BS:
27 Sweaters you wish your grandma would be buy you!
Anti Theft Lunch Box!

Sales:
Threadless $9 tees all day today!
Single Second Clothing: 40% off blood40
Craig Watkins “Wotto” $10 tees, and original artwork on sale
1of7.com Free Shipping the rest of the year

Do You like my Tee-Tees
Zombie Liqourice -We review the entire new line!
I Miss You Clothing Review:
Retro Campaigns

STORENVY GIVEAWAY!
Fright Rags: Ladies of the Evil Dead $79.95
10 colors, discharge, comes with evil dirt, 11×17 signed poster, trapdoor box

Very Nice
Adam’s Pick: Ugmonk: Two Are Better Than One $24
Beau’s Pick: Mr Tastee’s Illinois $22

]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/14/iatt-tv-live-ep11-12709/feed/ 2 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/08/an-interview-with-zombie-head/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/08/an-interview-with-zombie-head/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:54:29 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iamthetrend.com/?p=1709 I’m not exactly sure how I first came across Zombie-head.com but what I can tell you is I was immediately impressed with what they had to offer. Long story short Zombie Head makes incredible detailed and grotesque monster and zombie inspired jewelry. From bracelets, earrings, pendants, pins and beads they really have something for anyone into horror. Each piece is one of a kind and is hand made to perfection. What I was most impressed with was the level of detail in each piece. The very colorful and extremely detailed pieces run from around $10 to $50 depending on the type of piece.

You can check out their store at: Zombie-head.com. The only thing I wish they made that they dont at this point is ornaments! I could imagine some incredibly crazy looking elf and santa ornaments being a hit!

And now enough of my ramblings, on with the interview!

I always like to start off with the basics, please state your name, age, favorite power ranger, the usual!

My name is Krystal Osborne i am 25 years old (eeek!) and i have always hated the power rangers.

So when did you start Zombie Head and what was the inspiration behind it?

Istarted about 2006, and i was just putzin around with gift ideas, it was around x-mas and i was broke. so i started making jewelry that i would want to get as a present or that I would want to ware and then friends and friends of friends started wanting them and I enjoyed making them so much i started selling them. My online presence selling zombie heads started in 2007.

I was reading that each piece is individually made, which is incredible i must add, but how long does it take you to finish a piece?

I get asked this a lot and to tell you the truth i really don’t know. i try to make at least 8 heads to bake all at once. but sometimes i don’t start painting them right away. It depends on if I’m still in a mood to sculpt. so like i said its hard to really say but i know its collectively a few hours per piece.

Obviously most of your pieces deal with zombies, monsters, ghoulies, etc. So when did the fascination with horror start?

Oh man when i was very young. iv just always been interested in things like ghost stories and anything that scared me. my love of zombies came when i watched return of the living dead at age 5. i was all tough watching it but later that night i flipped out and i just knew zombies were going to burst into my bed room and eat me. after that i couldn’t get enough. my mom use to take me to the library to watch old Vincent price films on a projector and gave me old horror movies in my Easter basket. it just was non stop, and still is.

What are most of your pieces made of and can you give us a quick walk through on how your pieces come to life?

Well…. i gather up all my tools, sit down with about a ping pong ball size of clay (super sculpey) make my general shape, then go for the eyes, then nose if there is any, then build up teeth then the rest of the mouth and then just really play around with it until it looks the way i think it should. and trust me sometime i think oh man this one is going to be sooooo nasty. then when i go to paint it, it doesn’t paint well at all. sometimes if there is too much detail, the detail gets lost later with the paint.

Have any of your pieces made it into any horror mags or movies?

Yes actually. my little monsters have been in a few magazines, shriek freak, synergy (Australian) and the folks at girls and corpses contacted me and said they thought my stuff would go great in their mag and we got a great full page ad. as far as movies go i’ve done make up for a few indie horror films.

You must be a huge horror movie fan, what are some of your favorite flicks?

Wow … its really hard to pick ultimate favorites but i guess the ones that impacted me the most would have to be Tom Savini’s version of night of the living dead. i think the zombies in that film by far are the most frighting and realistic and return of the living dead. those have always had a hold on me. but the list could go on and on.

So what can we expect to see from Zombie Head in 2010?

Well i would eventually like to make rings. I have a friend of ours who is a great silver smith and i’d like him to set the heads as he would set a stone. also my artwork on T shirts would be awesome.

Any last minute shout outs or info you would like to touch on?

Well id like to say thanks for all of our awesome friends and customers that have helped get the word out. and thanks to my boyfriend who is really the brains of this operation, i always tell him if it wasn’t for him setting up the shop id still be making them but they wouldn’t be going anywhere. and thank you for giving me this interview.

Make sure to check out everything Zombie Head at: www.zombie-head.com

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