Josh Podoll: Art-Driven Tees Lead to Full Sportswear Collection
San Francisco–based abstract painter Josh Podoll made his art functional with the launch of his self-named T-shirt line in 2004. The embroidered and hand-screen-painted T-shirts in organic cotton were such a hit at Fred Segal, Atrium in New York and AB Fits in San Francisco that he expanded the line to include men’s and women’s sportswear, which is scheduled to ship for Spring 2006.
For his custom collection of T-shirts, Podoll employs a range of techniques, such as embroidery, hand painting and appliqueacute;s of vintage fabric, while the equestrian-inspired madras plaid jackets and twill trousers of Josh Podoll Collection focus more on fit and silhouette.
“There is a lot of stuff that is roughed up in the market, and I was looking for something a little bit more clean,” said Podoll, who co-designs the line with his wife, Lauren. “The shapes are classic but with a really nice cut.”
Details on basic items such as zippered-flap pockets on the men’s and women’s jackets in Italian linen and a subtle stripe on women’s cropped Delave pants keep the designs out of the ordinary. Wholesale price points are $30–$40 for organic cotton T-shirts and $150 for a jacket.
Podoll slips in an artsy edge through styling and with screen prints on woven collared shirts that are modeled after one-of-a kind designs he painted in the past. A screen print also pops up on a women’s wrap skirt with straps that mimic sweat-shirt sleeves tied around the waist.
“There is a sort of fun punk and rock ’n’ roll arty edge to the T-shirt designs,” Podoll said. “I wanted to bring a counterpoint to those [T-shirt] designs with the cut-and-sew. You can wear a T-shirt with riding pants.”
The designer––who still works as an artist, showing at galleries in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles—plans to build the collection slowly. He takes inspiration for next season from Mick Jagger circa the 1960s and the shapes of 1960s and ’70s minimalist art.
For more information, call the Proper Fools Showroom, suite 320, in the Cooper Design Space at (213) 689-7730.
—Rhea Cortado
