TheBlackBruceWayne
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2010
- Messages
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Hey Guys,
So for #flashbackfriday I thought I would share a little background on my brand origin. If you follow me on instagram, you've probably read it before on the blog. Bit of a long read but thought I would share.
I started X Of Pentacles back in June of 2016; But prior to that, I was with my local police department- Starting the academy around August 2014
I had been staying with my dad to save up until I got my precinct assignment after graduating the academy. About 2 months prior to graduation, I ended up getting a concussion during "Ground Fighting Week"- subsequently having to prove my injury and undergoing a series of treatment via concussion specialists, a psychologist (head injuries alter your emotions/psyche), and physical therapy for several months.
I had a long road ahead of me to recovery and it sucked. As luck would have it, life was about to suck a whole lot more. July 28th, 2015 I came home one day after an appointment and found my father dead in our home- from heart failure. He had no will, no life insurance, and as I would find out- had neglected to inform me the house was in foreclosure. I had two months to clear it out and vacate.
At this point I was now homeless, but luckily my girlfriend gave me a place to crash and handle his estate while I continued to recover. During this period I was told that I would not likely be able to return to the department and should start looking at other career options as my cognitive abilities weren't what they used to be. I was pretty numb regarding emotion and my girlfriend suggested I revisit a career in menswear
(I was the Phineas Cole Brand Rep at Paul Stuart's NYC location for a brief period circa 2010)
I sought out jobs as an assistant designer with several companies (met with Isaia). I was also fortunate enough to receive advice from Agyesh Madan (Stoffa) and Greg from NMWA, but still had difficulty finding anything. Somewhere around this time I relapsed from pushing myself and had to lay low.
Eventually I put together a concept for polo shirts I had written out. Similar designs were later popular for other companies (but a failure for me due to lack of promotion/local interest) and involved incorporating dress shirt interfacing into the collar and cuffs to give them body.
It was still an effort to be around stimulation (a restaurant for example) without feeling ill- therefore I didn't socialize more than I had to. I took time to sketch and teach myself graphic illustration as a means of therapy. It served as a way to cope and maintain my sanity. Post-concussion syndrome involves short-term memory loss. I would learn a new technique and forget it a week later if I didn't consistently practice. Not to mention the migraines involved from computer usage or getting over a learning curve. After some research I would find the necessary mills and dump the bit of savings I had into developing accessories. The same concept sketches that were a therapeutic release for me during a turbulent time, ended up being my first collection.
(Left Column: "King Neptune", Right Column: "Downtown Dusk"). I was also working on my old college computer with horrible color calibration. I would have to send designs back and forth to my phone to verify color accuracy
As time progressed, so did my techniques as I continue to experiment and develop my own aesthetic. The design process might seem pretty straightforward - and can be if you use archived designs; But I opted out. The last thing you need is another paisley or polka dot print. Drake's already does them well and I've made it a point to be as stylistically different from them as I can.
As of present i'm continuing to grow and really build the identity of X Of Pentacles. I continue to face obstacles as an emerging brand- an uphill battle against established and well-funded brands, as well as the evolution of menswear. The streetwear/athleisure explosion had a tremendous impact on the industry. Many of us wouldn't think twice about buying a new tie or purchasing hopsack fabric for a new jacket, but the world outside of StyleForum is vast, and unfortunately driven by trends. Thus a suit and tie are no longer a necessity in the workplace, but rather an option for most; Dare I say an indulgence even.
This all seems daunting but I reflect back to what got me here in the first place. My love for the craft and community. The competition is steep, but I hope my originality and uniqueness offer me an opportunity to make a name as an American brand and have some global appeal. I never knew I was resilient until I had to be. Although I would never want to experience those things again, i'm grateful that they desensitized me to fear long enough to pursue a career in what I truly loved.
I remember reading a Business of Fashion article titled "#Menswear is Dead".
I chuckled. Don't they know that death is but a door?
Cheers to Friday!!
p.s.
a little peek at my current project (scarves) -The "Outlaw" series
So for #flashbackfriday I thought I would share a little background on my brand origin. If you follow me on instagram, you've probably read it before on the blog. Bit of a long read but thought I would share.
I started X Of Pentacles back in June of 2016; But prior to that, I was with my local police department- Starting the academy around August 2014
I had been staying with my dad to save up until I got my precinct assignment after graduating the academy. About 2 months prior to graduation, I ended up getting a concussion during "Ground Fighting Week"- subsequently having to prove my injury and undergoing a series of treatment via concussion specialists, a psychologist (head injuries alter your emotions/psyche), and physical therapy for several months.
I had a long road ahead of me to recovery and it sucked. As luck would have it, life was about to suck a whole lot more. July 28th, 2015 I came home one day after an appointment and found my father dead in our home- from heart failure. He had no will, no life insurance, and as I would find out- had neglected to inform me the house was in foreclosure. I had two months to clear it out and vacate.
At this point I was now homeless, but luckily my girlfriend gave me a place to crash and handle his estate while I continued to recover. During this period I was told that I would not likely be able to return to the department and should start looking at other career options as my cognitive abilities weren't what they used to be. I was pretty numb regarding emotion and my girlfriend suggested I revisit a career in menswear
(I was the Phineas Cole Brand Rep at Paul Stuart's NYC location for a brief period circa 2010)
I sought out jobs as an assistant designer with several companies (met with Isaia). I was also fortunate enough to receive advice from Agyesh Madan (Stoffa) and Greg from NMWA, but still had difficulty finding anything. Somewhere around this time I relapsed from pushing myself and had to lay low.
Eventually I put together a concept for polo shirts I had written out. Similar designs were later popular for other companies (but a failure for me due to lack of promotion/local interest) and involved incorporating dress shirt interfacing into the collar and cuffs to give them body.
It was still an effort to be around stimulation (a restaurant for example) without feeling ill- therefore I didn't socialize more than I had to. I took time to sketch and teach myself graphic illustration as a means of therapy. It served as a way to cope and maintain my sanity. Post-concussion syndrome involves short-term memory loss. I would learn a new technique and forget it a week later if I didn't consistently practice. Not to mention the migraines involved from computer usage or getting over a learning curve. After some research I would find the necessary mills and dump the bit of savings I had into developing accessories. The same concept sketches that were a therapeutic release for me during a turbulent time, ended up being my first collection.
(Left Column: "King Neptune", Right Column: "Downtown Dusk"). I was also working on my old college computer with horrible color calibration. I would have to send designs back and forth to my phone to verify color accuracy
As time progressed, so did my techniques as I continue to experiment and develop my own aesthetic. The design process might seem pretty straightforward - and can be if you use archived designs; But I opted out. The last thing you need is another paisley or polka dot print. Drake's already does them well and I've made it a point to be as stylistically different from them as I can.
As of present i'm continuing to grow and really build the identity of X Of Pentacles. I continue to face obstacles as an emerging brand- an uphill battle against established and well-funded brands, as well as the evolution of menswear. The streetwear/athleisure explosion had a tremendous impact on the industry. Many of us wouldn't think twice about buying a new tie or purchasing hopsack fabric for a new jacket, but the world outside of StyleForum is vast, and unfortunately driven by trends. Thus a suit and tie are no longer a necessity in the workplace, but rather an option for most; Dare I say an indulgence even.
This all seems daunting but I reflect back to what got me here in the first place. My love for the craft and community. The competition is steep, but I hope my originality and uniqueness offer me an opportunity to make a name as an American brand and have some global appeal. I never knew I was resilient until I had to be. Although I would never want to experience those things again, i'm grateful that they desensitized me to fear long enough to pursue a career in what I truly loved.
I remember reading a Business of Fashion article titled "#Menswear is Dead".
I chuckled. Don't they know that death is but a door?
Cheers to Friday!!
p.s.
a little peek at my current project (scarves) -The "Outlaw" series
