University sophomore Jordan Carter wants more students around campus to wear Renaissance-themed clothing. @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Jordan+Carter@@That era is a theme for his new clothing line, Chief Repertoire Apparel.@@http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chief-Repertoire-Apparel/257607584300287@@
Carter started Chief Repertoire Apparel in December 2011 with Kevin Lowe, a local skateboarder and snowboarder@@http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chief-Repertoire-Apparel/257607584300287?sk=info@@. Together, they design and print casual-wear clothing that includes drawings of lions, pyramids, pharaohs, carpet rugs and Renaissance colors. Carter hired an artist to draw the designs.
Carter said he has always been interested in fashion and designing his own clothes. He found inspiration from his mother, who works for Nike.
“She is one of the most generous, most humble people you might meet,” Carter said. “The clothing brand aims to symbolize being the best you can be. You can live that lavish lifestyle, but you also can give back to people and you don’t have to be stuck up.”
Carter received advice from Dick Sloan@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Dick+Sloan@@, undergraduate coordinator of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Lundquist College of Business@@http://lcb.uoregon.edu/@@. Sloan helped Carter learn what he had to do to start the business.
“He approached me more from the standpoint of the mechanics of getting started, asking, ‘What are the things I need to do?’ He’s pretty self-managed and focused and he’s confident in his venture,” Sloan said. “He has a very well-developed network of support.”
Sloan said students learn the marketing theories and management techniques in classes, but many struggle when they get to the point of trying to initiate a new business because they are unclear on specific actionable items they have to work with. These can include incorporating and protecting intellectual property, he said.
The company is primarily based out of Portland, which can make it difficult for Carter to balance school with business.
“Sometimes it can be a little hectic,” he said. “School has taken a slight back burner. But I still try to keep it pretty equal. It’s hard to balance.”
Carter has high hopes for the business venture. He has already sold more than 100 items of clothing all around the Pacific Northwest and wants to continue to expand.
“In five years we want a printing shop where we can print our clothes, but also where we can print for other people’s brands,” Carter said. “We want for someone to see my design and just say ‘Oh, that’s Chief Repertoire.”
Tyler Williams, a pre-business major@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Tyler+Williams@@ and Carter’s roommate, said he enjoys seeing the behind-the-scenes aspects of the business and wearing the product.
“I like the creativity and uniqueness behind the brand. They are making clothes that you can’t find anywhere else and make you stick out in a crowd,” Williams said. “I also like the idea behind it: ‘Be humble, live like a chief,’ which promotes humility while at the same time being the best you can be.”
Sloan said Carter is off to a good start and is making the right business moves to get his venture off the ground.
“He knows what he doesn’t know, which is very important. He’s reaching out to find out what he needs to know,” he said. “He is driven, curious, he seems to have all the qualities in someone you would expect to have some successful venture somewhere. He’s not your typical student.”
The best way to follow the brand is through their blog.