Kellen Peterson is the brainchild behind the up and coming brand, Green Hill Clothes. What started as a simple project in 2008 at the Art Institute in Seattle has become a real life dream for Kellen. I got to talk to him recently about his brand, sports, and other things to pick his mind. Dude is real cool and seems like a big kid at heart. Just don’t bring up the OKC Thunder around him. Seriously, Kellen is adding his “Art of Fresh” into streetwear and I can’t wait to see more. Heres a little of what we went over.
MSW> I know that you are very diverse person from your background and your love for different cultures. But what’s the major inspiration behind Green Hill Clothes?
KP> The major inspiration behind the GHC is my love of clothing and fashion. I have a large collection of graphic shirts from my childhood to now. I am always interested in clothing that stands out above the rest and will grab attention. I knew I was interested in fashion when I won my school’s contest to design the logo for the uniform we all had to wear when I was in 6th grade.
MSW> Who are you targeting your brand towards?
KP> We are targeting our brand to anyone who wants to wear fresh clothing at the moment. When trends and fads change and go through their stages, our style will reflect and create the trends and fads of the moment. The demographics of the people we target have an interest in street wear and are teenagers to late 30′s. Everyone is invited to live a Green Hill style and experience the art of fresh!
MSW> What are some the plans for the future as success builds for Green Hill Clothes?
KP> We have many plans for the future that I have actually written down on a checklist. First thing is that we want to have more products produced and designed by us like shoes, jeans, hats, watches, jackets, etc. We also plan on throwing events, getting fans involved. I am also a huge supporter of charities and helping out others, so I plan to help out charities with a good cause.
I want to start a clothing line for kids called “Midori”, (The Japanese word for Green. http://greenhillclothes.com/midori). I also want to begin another line branching off of the GHC by the name of “Golden Ginza”, (http://greenhillclothes.com/goldenginza) featuring a high end, high quality feel.
The largest goal that is on my list at the time is to have Green Hill shops opened in select cities around the world starting with Seattle. That’s my current list for the moment but won’t end there.
MSW> How are things in school now that you have a growing clothing company under your wings?
KP> Having a clothing line and going to school at the same time is a great experience because many classes I take, involve having to do collaborative projects with fellow graphic design students and students in a different fields like photographers. This allows me to network with people that want to be part of the clothing line experience. Many of my projects I work on are related to the GHC and that gives me opportunity to receive critique from classmates and teachers.
MSW> I’m sure nowadays with GHC you’re staying quite busy. Tell me about any events or sponsorships that Green Hill Clothes has or will be taking part of?
KP> The most recent project I have worked on was to design a shirt for a non profit organization, Hopefirst, and a bike company, Kona Bike, on an project called, Bikes to Africa, that will help out girls in Gambia. (http://thegreenhill.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/bikes-to-africa-campaign/)
With musicians, my first major collaboration will be with an up and coming artist by the name of GMK. We worked on a photo shoot last month: http://gmkbrilliantreality.com/2010/04/green-hill-clothes-x-gmk-photoshoot/) and we are currently in the works of a GHC x GMK series of shirts to be sold during GMK’s concert tour. Other musicians we are in the works with are Jugga Hill, Dj Suspence of the Saturday Knights and Two Story Zori. A mixtape by the GHC by the name of G-Sounds will come out soon featuring these and many more artists.
SALUTE