Ownd

Just because the recession hit, doesn’t mean you can’t go around strutting in style anymore. Just ask the creators of the clothing label Ownd, whose philosophy is that no matter what state the economy is in, good clothes should always be a staple in one’s life. In fact, the economic recession is primarily what prompted the creation of the brand, and what turned ideas in their heads into a growing reality.

Ownd was conceptualized in the middle of Boston, Massachusetts in the fall of 2008, during the time that America was experiencing the brunt of the recession. Along with thousands of other individuals, the creator of Ownd was laid off from his job. Of course, the initial reaction in a situation as such would be to feel alarmed, and to try to look for a replacement job – any job – as soon as possible, in order to maintain having food on the table and the rent fully paid. However, finding a job during a time when the demand was so much greater than the supply proved to be harder than he thought.

Instead of wallowing over the situation and falling into the pits of despair, he decided to turn the situation around by giving himself a job – in the form of starting his own business line. Armed with a borrowed laptop and sketches of his design ideas, he started paving the way for his clothing line to take form. By the summer of 2009, Ownd was a fully functional clothing line business, complete with its first line of t-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as its own website, thanks to the creator’s friends who also pitched in in order to introduce Ownd to the rest of the world.

The Ownd logo script tee - simple, clean and uncluttered

The creator of Ownd is aware of the number of clothing labels out in the market. However, he wanted to bring something fresh to the table that was completely his own, something that was of high-quality and came in limited quantities. Perhaps, what sets Ownd apart from the rest of the streetwear clothing labels is that it banks on the reality of the recession – a reality that too many people are unfortunately familiar with, and can relate to. However, what Ownd proves is that of a success story – that despite the setbacks of the recession and the job lay offs, one can still use the situation to their advantage and move forward with their life. With its very existence, this message is what Ownd sends out to the individuals who have been affected by the recession – a message of hope, and of “making it in the real world by doing something that you love”.

"Unemployed is the New Black" tee -- the perfect recession clothing

Ownd designs are marked by clean and simple graphics, yet are made of high-quality materials. The label’s t-shirt designs, such as that of the logo script of Ownd simply printed on the shirt, and the “Unemployed is the New Black” print, are printed with environmentally conscious inks on soft jersey cotton material. In addition, the brand’s merchandise production is completely sweatshop free, 90% of which is done in the USA. All of the designs come from the brilliant and diverse minds of the creator and his designer friends, who believe in the idea of honest and affordable artistic expression. As such, this idea is something that they would want to impart to the public as well through their label.

The logo of Ownd and a tag on one of its t-shirts

With inspired designers who love what they do, there is no limit to the direction that Ownd can take, recession or not. Get your own fill of Ownd from Karmaloop.com, and from the brand’s official website, GetOwnd.com.