What began as a senior project in high school has directed University senior Logan Steinfield onto a career avenue in product design. While shadowing a designer of snowboard parts four years ago in Ashland, Ore., Steinfield discovered the perfect way to “express his passions for urban art and an earth-friendly lifestyle.”
Since the fall of 2006, Steinfield and his four friends have designed, screen-printed and sold T-shirts, sweatshirts and beanies with Ethic Grown Clothing Company. The small business, based out of EGCC member Gabe DiChiro’s garage, distributes organically grown cotton apparel and aims to feature the designs of young up-and-coming artists.
“We grew up with it,” Steinfield said of the Ethic Grown name and meaning. “It’s in step with our green intention and (the cotton is) grown in an ethical manner. Back in high school we were trying to think of a name while skating. We started talking about what ethics are and where they came from,” he said.

Steinfield likened the process of choosing company members, some of whom began in Ashland, to choosing band members. There were a few slips at first but now Steinfield is delighted with his team.
While Steinfield and marketing and sales member Joel Driver, a University junior, acknowledge that EGCC could be “greener,” they are pleased that they accrue no transportation costs and have hand-touched every T-shirt.
Among the edgy, skateboard and graffiti-inspired designs students can find when passing EGCC’s booth outside the EMU amphitheater on sunny spring days are images of President Barack Obama. During election season, EGCC donated 15 percent of its T-shirt revenue to the Obama campaign.
Though EGCC fuses art and skate culture into its designs, Steinfield said the apparel is not directed to any particular demographic. The company loves to sell to people who wear a variety of styles.
EGCC tries to keep its organic cotton apparel as cheap as possible for students. Hats cost $10, T-shirts cost $20, long-sleeved shirts cost $25 and sweatshirts cost $40.
Speaking to EGCC’s collaborative energy, Driver says that his mom has been knitting beanies for them to embellish and sell. He hopes EGCC will expand to offer women’s cuts in the near future.
Steinfield said, “It’d be fun to branch out to other Earth-friendly materials. We want to mix organic with a more fresh sort of vibe.”
EGCC sells its apparel at fairs, including the Portland Saturday Market, online and on campus when the weather permits.
“We have two or three new artists designing right now,” Steinfield said. “It gives them a chance to get a name for themselves.”
“I graduated from Roseburg a year after (the Ashland group) and I started hanging out in their house,” Driver said. “The Ashland and Roseburg friends mixed.”
“Joel was buying all of our clothes and working for free,” Steinfield said. He joked that Driver worked harder than anyone without being an actual part of the company.
The five core members, all college students, include one consultant. On a good week, they’ll work up to 20 hours each but their main priority is school. Driver, who is currently undeclared, is considering a Spanish major and Steinfield studies product design.
“It’s kind of cool we can make money from nothing,” Steinfield said. It’s such a social, creative start job.”
“I’d love to see it turn into something bigger but we need to finish our degrees first,” Driver added.
“We try to keep it catchy, something people will look at and say, ‘whoa! What the heck is that?’” Steinfield said.
The company looks to Patagonia, a company that takes clothes back and recycles them, for inspiration.
“I’d love for this to continue,” Steinfield said. He would love to earn his BFA and obtain internships after finishing his degree this year.
The company owns 50 screens now after beginning with one during Steinfield’s freshmen year of college.
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