Located on the corner of Howard and 11th streets in Old Market, Curbside Clothing is a laid-back t-shirt kind of boutique emphasizing the role local omaha artists can play in the fashion scene.
T-shirts being the canvas of choice, Curbside is a community of artists making their talents known as well as encouraging others to submit sketches and print ideas of their own.
Owner Adam Hogan started up the store in May 2011, creating a collaboration of six core local artists, including himself, and surpassing what previously was only recognized as an online store. The Curbside brand he created in 2007 is a testament to what he has experienced throughout life.
“For me, Curbside is a tangible form of what I have seen, experienced and explored in other countries,” Hogan said. “The designs are without bells, without whistles, they are true representations of unique moments told through the artist’s perspective.”
Musician and store employee Ryan Callinan was one of the first to help Hogan in his creative business venture.
“Adam is a big traveler, all over the world, and I think his realization was that everything that was happening was along the curbside. Waiting for a taxi, meeting for a coffee, meeting people you know. The pulse of the community was always on the curbside, I think that’s where the name came from,” Callinan said.
The “curbside” concept and brand has been an ongoing process. The store opening was simply the next step with the evolution of that brand. But soon after the idea evolved to incorporate more artists of the Omaha art scene, forming an aforementioned core group as well as many featured artists.
Old Market clothing store, Curbside Clothing, features clothing designed by a number of local artists. Photo by Kathleen Ambre.
“We took on some more artists with the idea that if it’s all Omaha locally based, artists that may have been unrepresented can be represented. You may not be able to afford a three thousand dollar painting but you can certainly afford a twenty dollar t-shirt, it helps the artists get there name out there,” Callinan said.
“As far as local art, what I see via web through Steve Joy, Gerard … I think there is a movement especially curbside representing artists,” artist Justin Beller said, “I was totally stoked we got to use this book that I had drew,
written poetry on when I was in the south pacific. It’s cool, it kind of gives me a flashback seeing the designs, I’m flattered by Curbside to represent.”
From Justin Beller’s sketches inspired from the south pacific, to graffiti artist Gerard Pefung’s signature elephant graphics, each artist has much to offer.
Other forms of inspiration came from the San Francisco art scene, specifically the Upper Playground clothing brand.
“A bunch of local artists there essentially made up the brand,” artist Gerard Pefung said.
“We opened up the idea of maybe trying to pull people in and make their work known, more valuable and part of a community.”
Community involvement has become a sort of mantra for Curbside Clothing, a banner on the wall amongst various photos, painting and framed silkscreen prints, proudly claims “All designs and art are created and printed local!” Anyone is open to submit design ideas online through the company website, any shirt can be a canvas for up-and-coming artists, and for Curbside Clothing things are looking up.