THE FEATHERED CLASSIC

The 'feathered classic' was one of the very first garment designs I composed a few years ago.

At the time, I was just figuring out my own style of design. Playing around with levels of simplicity, placement and sizing, all while sampling a handful of different garments.

I was never planning on releasing this to the public, but after gifting a few of these shirts to a handful of my friends, it quickly became a go-to favorite for most of them.

Nowadays, I constantly hear from friends & family members how its their 'favorite shirt' and how they wear it all the time. 

Timelessly simplistic & sleek 

My original idea behind the designing of the 'feathered classic' was to create something timelessly simple and noticeably sleek. That which requires nothing more and nothing less. But for the individual who wears it, to walk with a feather on their shoulder... 

My goal was for people to commend the shirt for its simple yet meticulously placed designs. I strived to create a trademark shirt for embrace on my first go at it. Which I seem to have succeeded in doing so...

Even years later I see friends wearing this shirt and it still hasn't lost its touch. 

Backstory / Growing up in a Running Community

I grew up in Missoula Montana. An unreal small town to be a trail runner. A place where you can access an endless amount of winding trails along the river or all throughout the hills, right off your doorstep... 

With this being said, I was a runner growing up. My mother was an avid trail runner, and my father was constantly running, biking & swimming; training & competing in triathlons and Ironmans around Idaho and Canada.

My family was active to say the least. Like most families that live in Missoula.

I quickly caught on and was constantly running & training alongside my parents, struggling to keep up with my dad starting at a pretty young age. I competed in my first triathlon in Couer D' Alene, Idaho before I was even 8 years old. When I was in elementary school I was running middle school XC in the fall and beating kids years older than me. I was setting track records for the 1500m and the 3000m in the spring, and training and competing with a group called 'Mountain West' in the winter.

I continued to run track and XC throughout middle school before I decided to no longer run once I reached high school, for I wanted to pursue soccer as my main athletic. 

After two years of not running competitively I decided to return to my roots and competed in both track and XC my remaining two years of high school. I somehow managed to train and compete at a varsity level for both soccer and XC at the same time in the fall. Running the 800m, 400m and the 4x4 relay in the spring for track those remaining years. 

Even though I have moved away from running and competing these days, the connections and relationships that I have gained from all those years are to be cherished for a lifetime. The running community in Missoula really is like no other. 

The meaning behind 'walk w/ a feather on your shoulder'

When it came to running, my mother used to always tell me to remain as light as a feather. Where as my father would advise me to imagine running with a chip on my shoulder. Which had to do with your form, stability and movement as you are running. These two sources of advice have carried with me throughout the years and have inspired me through some of my design process. I seem to have combined these two sources together into a metaphor as some might say. 

The 'feathered classic' details a set of feathers resting upon your shoulder blades. Helpful reminders to move quickly and lightly. Encouraging you to move with balance and diligence. 

Ive also always thought of these metaphors in a much deeper sense as well. The 'feathered classic' also details a full front chest print reading 'EMBRACE' which needs no further explanation. I wish for embrace to have no set in stone description or explanation. For I have always thought of embrace, as a way of life. A way of thinking and feeling about yourself, your actions and your words. A centerpiece that is meant to encourage you to embrace all aspects of yourself; who you are and how you are. 

The last detail of the 'feathered classic' is featured on the back nape location, detailing a sketched outline of a golden eagle.

Ive always felt a sort of connection to all birds of prey. bald eagles, owls, ospreys, hawks and raptors. But golden eagles specifically I have always felt a sense of spiritual connection with. They are not seen as often as other birds of prey, and for that they hold a certain image in my mind of being ghost-like figures. An animal that moves quickly and quietly effortlessly. 

The golden eagle is an animal that I have encountered in the most peculiar ways on many different occasions. The bird has always fascinated me and I have always felt that they are a source of good luck, as I often feel that they are watching over me.  

These animals have been a source of inspiration for me through design, as well as through my own life. Ive always felt an odd connection to these animals for how unique and ghost like they are. I have found myself in recent years striving to maneuver similarly to them and I constantly find myself in areas that they reside. Which makes me feel that I am doing something right...

Every time I wear this shirt, I carry their good luck with me in the form of their feathers, resting upon my shoulders.