Handsome Clothing Co. – UPDATE

Following my interview with Handsome’s Christian Rice, I received news that they are being stocked in TNT, Toronto.

—

Christian told me that, ‘[this is] pretty special for us because growing up in Toronto we used to admire TNT, and everything they stocked. We realise this couldn’t have happened without people like you supporting us so we just wanted to say thanks and pass along a little video that we made.’

—

The video is definitely a bit ‘out there’ but I am chuffed for Handsome and really appreciate this gesture.

—

Handsome Clothing – The Outer Space Series from Handsome Clothing Co. on Vimeo.

—

Safe

JinjaBeard Interview with Handsome Clothing’s Christian Rice

This week, JinjaBeard managed to catch up with Christian, co-owner of Handsome Clothing.

—

—

Hi Christian! I did a small piece on Handsome’s Outer Space series back in January, but didn’t cover anything about you, the brand etc. Can you tell me a bit about how Handsome came about?

Yeah, for sure. It all started when AJ (co-owner) and I met in high school. We became really good friends and ended up rooming together at university in Canada. We started drawing on t-shirts, like funny things to begin with, and wearing them out… In our final year of school we decided to take it a little more seriously and that’s when we started screen-printing. From that, things started developing and we started doing bigger releases, more shirts every time, and it’s kind of just grown…

Flipping back to the Outer Space series I covered – what was the idea behind that?

Well, we had a release that I don’t think many people saw at all – like, before we set up our site. We started approaching stores but they didn’t really give us the time of day, or give us the respect we thought we deserved. From that, we realised that the t-shirt / streetwear market is oversaturated. So, we sat down and decided that if we are gonna do this, we need to do it big, we gotta do it right, and we have to take it seriously – and that’s where this idea of telling a story (i.e. the Outer Space series) through our shirts came about…

Something a bit different, not just a collection of random images or prints…

Exactly. We wanted to tell a story that can spread, like, a message – offer something that people can connect on a different level with, beyond just aesthetics.

Yeah, sound. So, what’s up next for Handsome?

Right now, we are just trying to push our name out there. We are continuing to develop relationships with retailers, and a few really good stores in Toronto just picked us up. We have also started working on our next line, which will continue to carry a philosophical theme, and will also relate to two of our favourite novels that we grew up reading – but I can’t give too much away, as it’s still early days and I don’t know how much could change.

Ok. When should we expecting to see some new threads from Handsome?

In the next few months we should have a few designs out there and a new release for people, maybe towards the end of the summer or just in time for the winter season. For now, though, we are going to keep pumping up the Outer Space series…

Intriguing, nice stuff. As a relatively small brand in the busy world of streetwear, are there any brands you favour, or look-up to?

That’s a good question. I mean the one I always look-up to, is Sixpack France…

Definitely. They are one of my favourites, too…

Whatever they do, it always has a story and a purpose, and it’s always perfectly executed. It’s just a different level – and that’s where we imagine ourselves to be. We really respect what they do.

I guess one of the reasons they are so successful is down to there collaborations – is this something you have given much thought to?

We are looking into it, and we love working with other artists. In the past, we did some work with record companies and we have something going on right now – that I can’t really talk about… So far we haven’t worked with other [graphic] artists…

It’s pretty much an in-house project…

Well, I hold Handsome really close to my chest as I do all of the artwork. Right now, we do want to keep it very much in-house – just because we want keep it very, like, limited, and keep a certain look going… But collaborations, as we keep growing, are only natural.

You mentioned that you had managed to get your clothing on the rails of some stores in Toronto – any chance of seeing Handsome this side of the pond?

Yeah, definitely. We are going to be selling through a store in the UK, Steady Guy. They picked up a few shirts… A lot of our sales are to the UK (online) so, for sure; we want to get it over there.

I’m sure the Internet has played, and will continue to play, a large role in Handsome’s growth…

It definitely helps kids connect – music, style… We are becoming more unified.

In particular the use of social networking sites.

They are really important. I mean, for us, we started as a couple of kids on a small campus, at a weird school in the middle of nowhere in Canada. We have made sure our Internet presence has mirrored what we believe in, and just by updating our blog or posting some news on Twitter – it really makes it easier to connect with people, and know what people want… Plus, it’s all free.

As a relatively small label that is experiencing success and continuing to grow, do you have any advice for other new brands that are trying to breakthrough?

I couldn’t really pinpoint the key to success; I just know we have a real passion for it. We dealt with a lot of knockbacks, people that straight up denied us the opportunity the first time around. But we knew this was something we wanted to do, and do right. We stuck with it, put the time into it, and when we went back to some of the same stores that didn’t even return our calls at the first go, this time around they started, like, jumping over each other to get to us. It’s down to believing…

Determination, I guess.

I don’t want to say it’s blind determination but if you feel it – you gotta do it.

Great. Well, it’s been great talking to you Christian, thanks for taking the time out to chat to me.

I appreciate you contacting us and supporting Handsome. Obviously we are still growing, so everyone that helps us out we feel really close and grateful to. We don’t want to achieve success alone, we want to bring out people that we meet along the way – something we use our blog for.

Nice one! Thanks, Christian – keep up the good work!

—

Handsome Clothing Co.

—

Safe

Handsome Clothing Co. – The Outer Space Series

Handsome Clothing Co. is a brand that really excites me, particularly because of the Lookbook behind their newest collection. It is (very) loosely based upon the ‘man-on-the-moon’ mission of 1969 but takes a very unique, intriguing path. The two astronauts embark on a discovery of truth and reasoning behind our existence, a voyage towards hope and, ultimately, conclude that we are all ONE.

—

This ties in nicely with the brand values, pushing the message that being handsome is unconditional – there are no racial, sexual or religious boundaries. Rather, being handsome is something we can all achieve – it is not solely an idea based around aesthetical value.

—

The collection – and the customer – draws inspiration from the arts: literature, music, artwork, culture and social diversity. That is the message, the clothing is the messenger.

—

The Lookbook

(The Outer Space Series)

—

The collection is limited, with six prints available on their tees and three to choose from for their sweatshirts.

Below is one t-shirt print and one sweatshirt print.

—

(The Lunar Crystal – its power sent the two astronauts on their quest)

(A Man Who Believes Nothing – with open minds the astronauts were able to learn the meaning behind their existence)

—

Handsome Clothing Co.

—

Safe