Eighty Grand Clothing Company was established in Glendale in 2008 by Pablo Sapien. The following year, Eighty Grand gained notoriety with its first collection being featured on blogs and on one of the most popular urban clothing sites, DrJays.com. But the real claim to fame came when the company release its second collection and West Coast musician MURS wore Eighty Grand during his European tour in 2011.
For Eighty Grand's Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Sapien developed a concept that re-evaluated the fabricated social rules existing in the urban streetwear design community. Sapien collaborated with artist Joseph "Sentrock" Perez in re-defining Eighty Grand as a unique street wear brand that expresses individuality and provides commentary promoting an equal community.
"People kept telling me I had to follow certain rules for Eighty Grand to be considered streetwear, and I thought it was ridiculous," Sapien said. "I wanted Eighty Grand to be different, without the labels."
Sapien and Perez titled the collection "No Kings No Gods." Eighty Grand's fresh collection features bold designs and colors, including a snarling crowned wolf head. The crowned wolf started as an original design from Perez and became the signature design of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection.
The purpose of the collection is to provide clothing to people who value label-free individuality, which Sapien and Perez were aiming to convey with their designs. Along with printed T-shirts, the collection also features hats, which incorporate the Eighty Grand intense lettering.
The collection was released on Saturday at The Lab at 137 on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. The Lab at 137 hosts a variety of local art from around the Valley, including the new pop-up shop for Eighty Grand's collection.
When asked about the growing arts community in downtown Phoenix, Sapien agreed that Phoenix is definitely becoming a home for amazing artists.
Reach the reporter at hdiiullo@asu.edu or follow on Twitter @HaleighD_SP
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