Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Reed
Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had an over active imagination. As a kid, I would draw the strange characters, monsters and fantastical scenarios that I would create in my head.
As I got older, photography became my obsession. I would take pictures of abandoned buildings, recreate scenes from horror movies, and just create a whole spooky world through photographs.
I got to share my photography with the world via social media, which was great, but I wanted to create something tangible. Something people could collect, gift, trade, wear.
Around 2015, enamel pin collecting and trading was at its peak. Especially in LA and Orange County. There was an entire subculture based around enamel pins. Conventions, pop ups, markets- all dedicated to this wearable art. I needed to be a part of this world.
I’ve had ideas for enamel pin designs for years, but it wasn’t until the end of 2018 that I produced my first enamel pin- the Baphomet Pee-Wee Herman. A mashup of the sacrilegious occult icon and an 80’s childrens-TV character. The design was kind of a hit and the first 100 pins sold out surprisingly fast. Since the Baphomet Pee-Wee did so well and I already had a ton of ideas for more pins, I just kept producing more and more designs.
Eventually, my the art and my designs became to complicated to reproduce on a 2″ enamel pin- so I moved on to T-shirts. As awesome as it is to see someone wearing your pin on their hat or jacket, it’s an even better feeling to see someone wearing your shirt.
In 2020, things really started to pick up and selling enamel pins and shirts online turned into a full blown business. Since then, I’ve done countless pop-ups, conventions and festivals and have my products in multiple stores. I just want to create rad shit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Surprisingly smooth. I never had the intention of turning my love for enamel pins and wearable art into a business. The first designs were so well received that it kind of snow balled into something bigger. The biggest struggle and cause for anxiety is paying taxes. Ugh.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started off with enamel pins but now my main focus is T-shirts and apparel. The inspiration for my art and designs is horror movies, punk/metal and nostalgia.
A majority of my designs are mashups. Sometimes they’re very niche and the references are a little obscure, but that just makes it that more special.
To this day, my most popular design is black metal Bobby Hill. It’s the iconic image of Bobby Hill from King of the Hill throwing the devil horns but he’s wearing corpse paint and standing in front of a burning church- a reference to 90’s era Norwegian black metal. I’m a huge fan of the Misfits, so I have some designs that incorporate Misfits album art with horror icons like Captain Spaulding (House of 1,000 Corpses, Devil’s Rejects) and Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)…and even Mickey Mouse.
As of now, the items I include in my shops are enamel pins, tees and hoodies, snapback hats, embroidered patches, vinyl stickers, car air fresheners, coffee mugs and pillows. All with my original, bizarre art.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I work with multiple artists to bring my ideas to life- whether it’s someone fleshing out one of my sketches for a t-shirt design or someone fabricating a custom sign for a pop up. Some of my first and most successful designs were collabs with other artists/brands, so I’m always down for something like that.
Shoot me an email or DM on Instagram!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/christophercreepcake
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creepcake_/
