FollowPart One: Clothing and Accessories
Oklahoma City pride has reached an all-time high in recent years with booming renovations and local business expansions. Small businesses, new and old, are embracing the demand for locally made clothing, particularly with an Oklahoma theme. Likewise, local shopping incentive program, “Keep it Local OK,” has increased in enrollment every year since it’s creation in 2010. As you, your friends or family get ready to head back to school or work this fall, you’ll find the following retailers sufficiently stocked with local lines of clothing and accessories. And yes, there’s beard oil too.
Red Dirt Emporium—Bricktown
This 2-year-old Bricktown Canal storefront is the go-to tourist shop for locally designed and printed T-shirts. Kent Johnson, co-owner of Red Dirt Emporium, designs and prints all of the unique Oklahoma-themed T-shirts at his screen-printing company, Massive Graphics, located in Norman. Year round he prints shirts for local retailers, such as Blue Seven. Although Kent’s main demographic is tourists, he often sets up booths at local events where his Okie-themed clothing is in high demand. “It’s just Okie pride, man,” Kent says. The large Oklahoma flag mural he painted in his Bricktown shop represents just that.
Blue Seven—Nichols Hills
Blue Seven, one of Oklahoma City’s trendiest retailers, offers local clothing and accessories to shoppers interested in supporting local designers. This store was on the trendy radar almost 13 years ago, when the previous owner, Rusty Nix, was making his largely demanded tie watches. Owners Caleb and Julie Arter bought Blue Seven eight years ago. Although they’ve kept the original novelty and gift shop feel, they now offer more locally made clothing. Their stash of locally made items has grown so much, Blue Seven now has its own sister shop inside, called Just OK; it includes apparel from almost 50 Oklahoma-based vendors. This place has Okie T-shirts galore with brands such as Waving Wheat Dry Goods, turquoise jewelry by Micah Hamilton and reversible bowties. Oh, and did I mention the beard oil by Clad Stache? If you have a beard, come here. If you don’t have a beard, come here. Jacob Peregrin, buying and operations manager, agrees the city’s culture is thriving more than ever. “The community’s growing up fast and in creative ways,” Jacob relates. “It’s not mimicking. It feels very organic.”
The Plaza District
This historic business district has seen major changes in the past several years. Young local artists and business owners are thriving, most of them selling almost 100 percent locally made goods.
Cassie Neahring is owner of the vintage boutique, Out on a Limb. She up-cycles thrift store items, such as dresses and headbands, and transforms them into more modern pieces. She also designs and creates original clothing and jewelry. Celebrating the store’s one-year anniversary August 14, Cassie says one of the things she likes most about her shop is having her sewing machine on her store countertop. “Little kids will come in and stare,” Cassie says. “And it’s cool because they’ll say, “I want to sew!”
Across the street at DNA Galleries, owners Amanda and Dylan Bradway highlight their artistic talents by designing their own T-shirts and trendy leggings while displaying the creative products of many other local designers. DNA Galleries has a concept that has stayed true since it’s opening in 2008: to support local talent. “Ninety-eight percent of everything in our store is made locally,” says store manager and “head honcho,” Crystal Murphy. Here you will find many novelties, including socks printed with pictures of Oklahoma’s tallest building, the Devon Tower.
Next door, Tree & Leaf Clothing, Inc. also provides unique, Oklahoma-themed apparel. It’s easy to see owner Dusty Gilpin’s Oklahoma pride as you walk in his store. Numerous T-shirts with unique Oklahoma-inspired designs, such as the state flag, colorful bison and the Oklahoma City Thunder line the walls of the store. Tree and Leaf has somewhat of a skateboard culture vibe, with a back wall inventory of spray paints for all you graffiti enthusiasts. You should come here and check it out.
Collected Thread, next door to Tree & Leaf Clothing, is a true brick-and-mortar boutique. Within the quaint, shabby chic interior are rows of Oklahoma-themed shirts designed by local brands like Fishwater Tees and OK Screen Printing. Owner Lindsay Zodrow says one of her most popular categories is her children’s and toddler clothing line, designed by Love Well Handmade. You can also pick up jewelry created by designer, Dana Scott from the Norman area. Hint: Dana Scott is also one of the owners of The Social Club in Norman, a salon plus creative boutique that sells locally made accessories and other treasures.
Last, but certainly not least, is Dig It! Boutique. Their popular retro, sci-fi and pop culture-inspired tees are designed by local companies such as Crazed Lemming and Middle Cat Clothing. Mason jar coffee mugs wrapped with handcrafted leather line the shelves in front of a room that holds entirely up-cycled clothing. Owners Art and Stephanie Sunday are also celebrating the store’s 4-year anniversary in the Plaza District this month. “Everybody works together really well here,” Stephanie says.
Shop Good—Midtown
Shop Good, located in Midtown, has a mission to ensure every item sold helps a good cause. Owners Justin and Audrey Falk give some of their profits to charities all while giving local designers and artists a platform to sell their products. Justin and other local artists design the T-shirts, and they are screen printed in their shop across the street. You can find anything from Thunder to other Oklahoma designs as well as locally made jewelry and children’s clothing.
BY Jessica Valentine | Photos by Emily Brashier
