As I’m writing the “Designers Guide to the Apparel Industry” eBook that I plan to release soon, I started to take notice of WHO are the role models that inspired this book. Essentially, who are the designers who started freelancing and eventually started and now run a successful clothing line? As Steve Knerem’s “start a clothing line” series sheds light on HIS experience doing what so many of us designers want to do: Branch out and release something of our own.

These designers got started working for clients. As you know, you’re mostly working on THEIR ideas and helping them solve problems. I’m sure a lot of designers reading this have felt the urge to work on their own ideas but probably never had the time. Heck, you may have even “started a line” yourself but there’s a good chance your tees are gathering dust in your basement because you were never able to take the line beyond a casual hobby.

The folks I’m featuring here have taken it past the hobby phase and created their own unique brand. Everyone talks about starting their own line, which as we’ve seen the past few years, lots have done just that – started. While I give people praise for starting something on their own terms, let these folks be role models and inspiration to take it to that next level.

Some of these I have interviewed for my eBook and you can read case studies about HOW they did it. You can get notified by email when the book comes out.

Mark Capicotti

Mark Capicotto created Glamour Kills

Rob Dobi

Rob’s portfolio is at RobDobi.com
He created Full Bleed.

Dan Mumford

Dan’s portfolio is at Dan-Mumford.com
His apparel is available at MumfordClothing.com

Sam Kaufman

Sam runs East Fork Studio
Lead & Light

Brandon Herbel

Brandon blogs under the alias All Work No Sleep and runs Make Believe Studio.
Make Believe Clothing Co.

Kyle Crawford

Kyle’s portfolio is at Kyleisez.com
Electric Zombie is the clothing line, with a bunch of satellite websites that are all amazing.

Johnny Cupcakes

Johnny Cupcakes does… Johnny Cupcakes. You should check the story out.

Michael Leon

Michael Leon is the man behind Commonwealth Stacks

Jacob Bannon

Jacob Bannon is the creative mastermind behind Deathwish

Glenn Jones

Glenn’s portfolio can be found on Behance or on his website.
Glennz is the place to find his world famous shirts.

David Murray

David Murray is the guy designing SEIBEI.

Jeff Sheldon

Jeff Sheldon is the man behind Ugmonk.

Eric Terry

Eric Terry is the designer of the amazing stuff at LintyFresh.

Shepard Fairey

As we all know, Shepard Fairey is Obey Giant. They also do Obey Clothing.