ARVIN GOODS

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BLOTTO
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Founded in June 2019, Arvin Goods is a Seattle-based apparel accessories company with an uncommon core value. They foster and lead impact reduction by making low-impact basics that never compromise on performance, comfort, quality, or ethics. Arvin Goods is the only brand using discarded fabric scraps to create the softest, best-fitting, most responsibly made apparel and accessories. – Arvingoods.com 

In January of 2022, Dustin Weingardner and Harry Fricker asked if I would like to collaborate my artwork and design with Arvin Goods, which I gladly accepted. We started by looking at what made sense using my style of painted art across a variety of wearable goods, and how the photography aspect of my work would be applicable. 

I began by drawing up twenty-four unique sock designs, then narrowing down the sketches to twelve finalists, landed on three production pieces. We moved onto the t-shirts and hoodie design, beginning with a week's long art session where I painted over a hundred Arvin flag stencils in various bright colors. Harry Fricker took the stencils, vectorized one hundred four originals, and began arranging the flags across the tees and hoodie, sending mock-ups back and forth until we were satisfied. In addition to the stencil art, the design was further personalized by adding my trusted daytime snowboarding photography camera settings, which adorn each piece – ISO250 / f6.3 / 1600. 

Once production was completed, we began the product launch plan, finding a perfectly suited location in Salt Lake City, Utah, Fice Gallery. Dustin and I sat down with Fice Co-Founder Corey Bullough and set the date, expectations, and production schedule. Next up was printing thirteen action snowboarding images at 4 x 5.5’, on Hahnemule Photo Matte 210 gsm Paper at LeZot Camera in Burlington (Vermont). Print master Jason Robinson did a remarkable job taking the high-resolution files and creating bold, bright, and beautiful large format prints. Each photo was captured at Woodward Park City Resort, a mainstay of snowboard activity and one of my primary shooting locations. These images would ultimately tie-in the camera settings included on the product. 

Arriving a week in advance of the party date, we mapped the gallery space, then began installing the prints to coexist with the retail element, including the use of the original stencil paintings. Our goal was mixing a product launch and photo presentation inside a retail space with that of a gallery vibe. The interior of the century old Fice building allowed the large prints to occupy the spacious walls above the clothing racks while the stencil art was backset on the brightly lit sneaker shelves. The entire process was efficient and fun, as the Fice team has a decade plus experience showcasing artists and photographers in this space. Their knowledge of production schedules and event management is second to none, which is why their name is synonymous with art and culture in Salt Lake City. 

Opening night expectations were met as soon as the doors swung open and the music turned up, as an array of great people packed the house the entire evening until closing. It was such a treat hanging out with the good people of SLC! Friends, families, kids, parents, fellow photographers and filmers, Ali and Edlund on the turntables, all of it! Photo exhibits mean bringing people together to talk about art and photography, while catching up with longtime friends and making new ones.  

I’d like to thank Dustin and Harry for their trust in my work, Fice Gallery for hosting the party, Carla/Lauren/Tomas for the production photography, everybody that pulled up to the event, and all of you for supporting my newest collaboration. —Blotto

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