Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Packard.
Devin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My clothing part of my brand started when I was working at a shoe store called Kicks LA formerly located in Larchmont. (closed down). My first design “blumpkin” was pretty out there a male dinosaur receiving oral from a females dino while on the toilet.
To me, it represented us as a society how we shit where we sleep in simpler terms. But, most weren’t too fond on my creative out thinking haha. So my next design had to be something the embraced the people and being a shoe head and salesman at the time Los Marz. Sorta came to life. If you lived in the early 90’s you’d and have some basketball knowledge you know who Mars Blackmon is, hopefully. I had a friend redraw the am image, of course, it was altered and the word Los Angeles was the main focus.
The first shirt blumpkin probably sold 2-3 if that of the first 24 batch run. So this time with LA I wanted to do as minimal as possible just to see if it was even worth it. I sold out, it made me feel amazing knowing I made something from nothing. More so this shirt was a success and disregarded the blumpkin that was my first sorta hello world I’m creating shirts moment. From there I sold them out the shop out the back door to customers who asked about what I was wearing which of course I wore the shirt every day for notoriety. Soon later the owner said to sell them in the store. I had my first real account.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The main struggle would be life itself. Currently a father of 3, 12, 5, 9 months so juggling being a parent and husband and artist is pretty tricky let alone friends and other I guess life duties. Even wanting to get this email and answers back you guys haha. My grandmother died a couple of years ago also that really slowed down my wanting to do anything. She was my best friend my mother actually since my real mother wasn’t around. So when she died a lot of my energy died with her. It took a lot to want to be an artist. But the key is being consistent and when I’m recording or making designs or thinking of some new idea I remember how fun the arts are. And why I do what I do in the first place.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is Devin James Art. Which is mainly just me in general. I wanted to start something that represents the people and that what my brand is about. My music my clothing my connection to the world. I would say my most proud of is peers acknowledging my work effort and how they embraced it to their own. Knowing that I helped someone want to be better or work harder for themselves makes me feel like my job was done somewhat here on earth.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Not taking more risk and continuing to believe in myself. There was a time where the audience or my peers’ gratification was more important than my own and that was a time when I should have not cared the most. They say live and you learn and as you grow you learn and understand yourself.
Pricing:
- Los Marz Shirt $36
- Artsy Hoodie $56
- Artsy Dad Hat $32
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Devinjamesart.com
- Instagram: @devinjamesart
- Twitter: @devinjamesart
- Other: YouTube : Pack Bundy
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