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We’re pulling back the curtain to reveal the key pieces and players behind the creation of our soft, sustainable graphic tees, as guided by Cariloha Art Director, Kent B.
All our graphic tees you see in our showrooms and online are handmade by our Art/Illustration Team. Kent oversees the art and printing processes, making sure each print has the right color combinations, brand balance, and print quality to complement our luxuriously soft bamboo-viscose fabrics.
We sat down with Kent to open up the world of Cariloha Graphic tees through his eyes.
Question: Where does your inspiration come from when designing/creating?
Answer: My inspiration comes from many different places. I observe and study everything from people to places and, most of all, nature. The outdoors and beautiful places have given me much inspiration over the years.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration comes from other artists’ artwork. I could study the works of French Impressionists or John Singer Sargent for days. I’ve also been blessed to work with some amazing people in the Cariloha art department who are always inspiring.
Question: What kinds of printed shirt designs do you like best these days?
Answer: I’m pretty simple when it comes to design. As long as it matches the mood and style of the brand, then I’m happy. It should make me feel or think about something, too. When it’s trying to be too much, I’m disinterested. Simple is best.
Question: What do you like most about bamboo shirts?
Answer: I love the softness and the quality. We go the extra mile with our products. I’ve been working with T-shirts since 1990. I love the Heathered texture on our Cariloha T-shirts. It gives the shirt color a touch of style and sophistication.
Question: What’s your go-to Cariloha product?
Answer: My go-to bamboo product is our shirts. I wear them constantly. You’d think working with them so much would make me apathetic toward them, but I love them even more. My wife is quite particular about her pillows, but she’s found the ones she loves through Cariloha. She has two different Cariloha pillow styles that she uses every night.
Question: What do wish customers knew about the softness and sustainability of our graphic tees?
Answer: Like I mentioned previously, we go the extra mile to ensure Cariloha shirts are high quality, ultra-soft, and comfortable. I’m grateful and proud to work for a company that also cares about the environment and people. Resources and time are given to organizations and foundations to improve the environment and people’s lives all over the world.
Question: Why do you design the way you do?
Answer: My design style is probably influenced the most by my background and education. I studied art at Utah State University. After I graduated, I started creating artwork and graphics for T-shirts by hand.
It wasn’t for several years when I started using a computer in my process. It’s been a wonderful tool, but much of the success I’ve had is due to my initial training and expertise in creating artwork by hand.
Every image and color separation is created with black ink. After decades of creating artwork digitally, I hope there’s still some of that “hands-on created look” to my graphic tee designs.
When Kent isn’t working on his art, you can find him spending time with his family, playing guitar, or traveling.
What would you like to learn about next from Cariloha’s Behind the Seams series? Let us know in the comments.