Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Evans.
Summer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Mesa, AZ and moved to Los Angeles when I was 8 years old. I moved to Artshare, a small apartment building full of creatives located in the downtown arts district, with my mother and her boyfriend. I was the only kid in the arts district, so I was forced to make friends with adults within the neighborhood, which completely shaped who I am today. I met so many amazing people and was met with many different exciting opportunities – such as being able to model for many of Gottfried Helnwein’s paintings at only 9 years old.
My family has a history of drug addiction, which was something I struggled with growing up. It forced me to mature quickly and put a lot of pressure on me to take things more seriously.
I decided at a very young age that the thing I wanted the most was to break free of my family history and become something that went beyond anyone’s expectations. I put a lot of pressure on myself to constantly be working towards my future and that definitely held me back from having a traditional childhood.
At 11, I started my first business making stuffed animals and sold them at art shows. Around the same time, I started making zines and filled them with interviews from the different artists around the neighborhood.
At 13, I got my first job working at a retail store in Los Feliz. I was in middle school and would walk to work every day after school.
After my first job, working became an addiction and I made a promise to myself that I would say yes to every opportunity that was thrown at me.
I cleaned houses, built websites, did photography for small businesses, worked at music festivals, etc. I graduated high school at 17 and decided to go to film school. I dropped out of film school after a semester because it wasn’t at the pace I wanted to learn it. After dropping out, I figured the only way I would learn at the pace I wanted, I had to just start working. I instantly jumped into PA and freelance video editing work and quickly became quite competent in that field… but after a year, I hit a crisis and didn’t want to do any of it anymore.
I am now 19 and decided the one thing that made me truly happy was poop jokes and making people laugh, so that was the beginning of my current company Bad Humor Co.
I make vintage-style T-shirts that say things like Shart, Queef, Fart, etc. and I have never been happier in my life.
This business is a piece of my soul and I can’t wait to share it with everyone in the world.
Has it been a smooth road?
Drugs were extremely prevalent in my family, and I saw a lot of harm that addiction caused. Seeing this growing up was a struggle, but it also helped me decide from a young age that I would never be apart of that and my negative experiences would never define me and change the way I lived my life.
I appreciate all of the challenges I’ve had because it has made it easier for me to focus on the good. I truly believe that if you don’t experience real pain, it’s easy for you to dwell on the little things.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Bad Humor Co. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company is definitely a passion project. I have tried so many different things that were more serious and respectable, but this is the only thing that has given me a reason to wake up excited in the morning.
My company’s sole purpose is to spread laughter, self-confidence and self-awareness. I want people to stop taking themselves so seriously and understand that it’s okay to wear something that feels risky.
Since I was born in Arizona, I have always felt very out of place with the culture in Los Angeles. I have noticed it can be very uptight and serious sometimes – the people, the social movements, the clothing brands, etc. The difference with my company is the playfulness. I would have reached my ultimate goal with my business if I could change the social dynamic in Los Angeles and see a lot more people taking risks and doing and saying things that make them truly happy.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Los Angeles is the diversity. I have met so many real and inspiring people. I also know that with starting a company as controversial as mine, there has to be at least a handful of people in Los Angeles that would sport a shirt that said “Fart”.
The thing I like least about this city is the seriousness. It’s hard for me to walk down the street without having at least one person give me a weird look. Or, you walk into a cafe and no one will look at you. No one will smile at you. No one will talk to you.
There is a very heavy pressure for glamour and perfection in Los Angeles. As a young woman, I say that with experience. I have seen so many of my peers struggle with insecurities because they’re not Instagram famous, or wear expensive brands or even know how to contour their face properly. It’s frustrating.
In creating my brand, that was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to create a brand that would force people to look at you, smile at you and talk to you while you’re walking down the street. THAT’S what LA needs most.
Pricing:
- All of my Tshirts are $28 as of right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.badhumor.co
- Phone: 213-820-0098
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badhumor.co/
Image Credit:
Ali Lander-Shindler and Fannychu @fannychuphotography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
