The Hatman meets…the strange clothing co.

Hello and welcome to the first in a series of what I’m calling “the Hatman meets”.

My new website is almost upon us, and it will be a fusion of all things cool about UK independent clothing brands, grooming product manufacturers and barbers!

My mission is to create a ‘movement’ in which we all start to support the smaller more personal brands and move away from the ‘big’ high street brands that are monopolising the fashion industry.

The small indie brands are all hard working, passionate, and very creative people, whether they’re designing capsule clothing collections or toiling over cauldrons of wax and oils to create that perfect blend to make exquisite beard oils, and moustache wax.

My first interview is with the designer, creator, illustrator, photographer, head of marketing, packaging and PR (he pretty much does it all!!) of the newly formed ‘street wear’ label that is strange clothing co…Patrick Currier

Firstly we need to discuss the man behind the product, then the product itself…trust me it’ll all make sense in a few minutes!

Patrick is not only all of the above for his fledgling apparel company (it was literally born in May 2014…still wet behind the ears!) but unsurprisingly for a man who oozes creativity, he’s also the frontman, guitar playing , vocalist , and songwriter for the brilliant (and somehow unsigned!?…really??) Red Crow.

In fact, if he wasn’t such an affable chap…you’d probably hate him!

From a music point of view just check out this video they shot for “City Riser” it’s just brilliant!
I defy you not to be humming along for the rest of the day!

Patrick speaks with a distinct American accent.

He explains “I was born in the UK, my mother is English and my dad was an American Airman”

At a young age he moved back to the US and spent a good 10 years in California, then Oklahoma, then Boston…and then back to the UK.

Quite a journey.

“My heart is here in the UK, my time in Cali was great, I loved being a kid there, wasn’t sure if it was Cali, or just that I loved being a kid!…and still do!”

When asked what he meant by that, he simply explained that kids have no inhibitions with their creativity, anything goes, he went on to explain that from a young age he had the desire to become a great artist.

“I guess I have no inhibitors in my brain!”

Patrick is clearly a passionate guy, his brain is whizzing and like me, sometimes he’s thinking so fast that his words can’t catch up!

When asked what he was most passionate about, his music or his clothing brand he answered quite simply “Music has it’s hooks in me,I can never let go”

Pre Red Crow his interest in music wained, he found solace in illustration.

At first he says he used to draw for himself, then after some rave reviews designed a couple of t-shirts for bands, and even did some cartoon strips and became a creative illustrator for huge brands like Dr.Pepper.

So to sum him up…he’s a brilliant singer songwriter, fantastic illustrator, creative genius (childlike genius he calls it!) and in my opinion…he’s a bloody nice bloke too!

All this at the tender age of…(now here’s the funny bit…) “My age is a closely guarded secret” he laughs…”my age is irrelevant, I find people are too quick to judge you if you’re from a certain era”….

You disliking him yet?…

He’s actually right, as stated in one of my earlier posts, age is just a number, your own style shouldn’t be defined because you are of a certain age.

What is relevant though, is that Patrick says that he gives value to any creative thought.
So you can pretty much guarantee he’ll put everything into it, he’s driven and has incredible self discipline.

“When I’m drawing a design I know how far to go with it, when the tweaking stops and I’m 100% happy with the final article.”

This can be seen below, where you will see one of his designs from start to finish, from pencil sketch, ink version, to final T-shirt.

incredible detail…and yes that really is Billy Huxley modelling it!!

What about the name “Strange Clothing Co.?

“It’s dark and ridiculous”…his sense of humour is coming through.

Dark due to the nature of some of the designs, skulls, Octopods, rams heads…a bit of gothic horror influence?
He’s certainly a fan.

Ridiculous?

Take the ‘Octopod’ design for example, Patrick explains that his influence came from late 19th/early 20th century posters about amazing creatures that nobody actually ever saw or probably ever even existed…all just from someone’s imagination!

again check out the amazing detail in the design, through to the finished article!

Actually funnily enough the first thing Patrick designed was the logo, which again has an explanation for the font and style used.

“I wanted the logo to look like the writing you’d see on the old travelling salesman carts that used to sell all kinds of crazy medicines and elixirs to the unsuspecting townsfolk in the old west”

Told you…very active imagination!

“nailed it though!”

Patrick knows where he wants the brand to go, he’s already designed the next collection, he’s introducing more products too, including accessories, hats and leggings.

The beauty of buying from a great indie clothing company like strange clothing co
Is that you probably won’t bump in to at least 10 other guys wearing the same top as you in a pub!

“All designs are limited in number, I’ll retire some them to make sure I keep the brand fresh.”

“If you order before June you even get a limited edition numbered ‘Octopod’ print”

“you’re not just buying a shirt…you’re buying art”
Love it.
Look at some of the other amazing designs on offer…