Spruce: Abstract MentalityWriten By: Marit Vangrow
Photos Courtesy of: http://www.sprucementality.com/ “Spruce clothing, moved by the things and people around it, utilizes attire as an outlet to express the artistic, music oriented, skate/surf lifestyle pursued by those who wear it.” Spruce was established in 2012 by Cole Friedman and Andrew Boukather. Both seventeen year olds attend Corona del Mar High School. All of the designs seen on Spruce shirts are designed by Friedman, while Boukather handles the business side of the company. *MV: How long have you and Cole Friedman known each other? **AB: Since we were five; we went to preschool together. MV: Why did you and Cole decide to start your own clothing company? AB: Well me and Cole Friedman wanted to make a clothing company because of Cole’s art. We really wanted to showcase his art on the back of people’s shirts. I was always really into skateboarding and surfing and that whole scene and Cole’s really into the art scene. We decided to collaborate and make our own type of clothing brand because we didn’t really find what we wanted to wear in stores. MV: Why Spruce? AB: We just really wanted a name and somehow we came up with Spruce. We just wanted it to be kinda like how you spruce up and look nice and clean. We wanted it to be a clean-cut, high quality brand. So on New Year’s Day 2012, we came up with Spruce. MV: What are your goals for the company? AB: Cole and I just want to grow the company as much as we can. We wanna see Cole’s artwork on as many peoples’ backs as possible—that would be the raddest thing. That’s really the main goal, you know, to get people to like Spruce. We just want to create clothing that people like and show the world our brand. MV: Do you and Cole plan on continuing Spruce even after high school? AB: Yeah, I mean, I love it and I know Cole loves it, so hopefully we do keep it up because it makes both of us happy. MV: When is Spruce’s next line coming out? AB: Most likely the beginning of March. MV: Is it difficult to balance Spruce with sports, school, and other activities? AB: There are days where it is, but we really just try to find time for Spruce whenever we can in the day. Our free time is usually just Spruce time because its not really seen as work, it’s more of a fun thing. We enjoy it so we obviously make time for it. Sometimes Spruce gets in the way of school because we obviously enjoy Spruce more, but it all works out. MV: What is the most enjoyable part of Spruce for you guys? AB: Probably just seeing it all come together when we have a line done and we see the shirts. Or just hanging out with everybody and going for new Spruce ideas, that’s pretty cool. *MV is Marit Vangrow, interviewer. **AB is Andrew Boukather, member of the Spuce Team. |