Kiserny

410 5th ave.Brooklyn, NY 11215
phone: 718.986.5722

http://www.kiserny.com/

P.Rico- So Kiser...how did you come up with the line?

Kiser started in 2004 when the graphic design firm I was working for went nder. I decided to "do my own thing" which at the time consisted of designing websites for people, logos and random shirts as well. One day in the summer of 2004 me and one of my boys decided to take some shirts out to a popular artist/street vendor spot on Prince St. (Soho NYC.) The shirts I designed sold quick on the streets and kept reinvesting the money into the business. Maryam from Union saw us one day while she was walking down the streets and picked up the line. Then I met some cool cats (Andy Stromberg and Harvey Osgood) who decided to throw some money behind these ideas. The rest as they say is history.

P.Rico-What is your background?fashion?art?

I am a graphic designer, got my BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. I didn’t know anything about fashion when I first started and really just wanted to create dope art on t-shirts. Since then I’ve learned allot and been real fortunate to meet some real down to earth people in the industry who have been willing to give me advice and contacts. I still feel like I don’t know shit about fashion but I like to think I’m a quick learner.

How did i feel to see Kanye West wearing your design on MTV..I know it was good for business.
But..Do you think you lost props from your fans and your "Underground street Cred" ?

Shout out to my dude DJ A-Trak for hooking that whole thing up. To be honest the Kanye thing has been amazing for business and as far as street cred is concerned I’m not so sure that I have any still. But if I do I think Kanye could only have helped since he is a bit of a fashion icon.

P.Rico-Where do you stand, How do u see yourself, as a Businessman/entrepreneur/Artist?

I like to see myself as an artist but the more you're involved in business the more you have to become business savvy. I’m learning alot about business and I guess the key is to have the right balance. Alot of successful businessmen can take wack ideas and make them sell. Alot of famous artists or creative people don’t make a dime or become famous until their dead. The goal is to be as creative as possible while making as much money as possible.

P.Rico-Who and what is Kiser?

Kiser as an individual is someone who grew up all over the world and has been exposed to so many cultures, so as an artist/fashion designer/graphic designer I want to create work that transcends stereotypes and brings something fresh to the table. I hate walking down the street and seeing people dressed completely as stereotypes whatever they may be. My goal with the line is to constantly create great work that is not based on stereotypes.

P.Rico-Most streewear/Brands wait until they blow up to drop a womens line. What made you drop yours right away?

I think womens streetwear is wack because brands basically toss the same graphics on womens baby tees. What I have learned so far is that women are more into the style of shirt than they are into the graphic. With guys you toss a graphic on anything and if the graphic is fresh they will wear it. Women are more sophisticated and they want more unique styles of shirts. I try to bring that to the whole game and I also create alot of my graphics specifically with women in mind. I started with womens stuff right away because I want to the line to be more universal. I don't want it to just be for a certain kind of person that goes to all the streetwear parties and hangs out in the lower east side. I want the line to be for people who appreciate creativity and women definitely appreciate creativity when it comes to fashion. Also you know I'm trying to get some groupie love too.......