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Explore410BC is one of the most remarkable and admirable independent clothing companies out there. They have not been active long but already have a strong following, growing brand image, first class ethics. Add timeless designs and a great design style and you have yourself a clothing company on the up! We spoke to Victoria, one of the core team and also their main designer about the company, her experiences and just why 410BC is a must wear clothing label!
"Save Me From Technology"
TH: When did you launch 410BC?
V: We officially launched 410bc.com in September of 2007. We started making our shirts and selling them to people offline at the beginning of 2007 though, around February or March.
TH: How many people are in the office?
V: There are five of us and the work is pretty evenly distributed. It’s definitely a collaborative effort, especially in terms of making decisions about each line. Rachel and Nicole (who own the company) do more of the legal and financial stuff though. We give them all the boring work haha.
TH: You release clothes in limited quantities, what is the main goal with this approach?
V: We really want our customers to know that they are buying something unique, which is why we don’t want to mass-produce our products.
"Space Shapes"
TH: You aim to produce clothing that is safe from passing trends and can stand the test of time, how do you achieve this?
V: We try to design clothing that is fresh, but classic at the same time. Especially within our Spring 2009 line, we focused on creating designs with simple lines and no more than three colors. We never want to adhere to one trend, especially because we want all types of people to be able to appreciate and wear our clothes.
TH: Why was it so important for you to be ethical, donate proceeds to good causes and be sweatshop free?
V: We want our customers to feel good about the company they are supporting. I know for me and for many people I know, it is difficult to find clothing that is ethical and stylish at the same time. We want you to know that we’re not just out to make money. We want to create a product and in turn a company, that gives back and stands for something positive. Though the choice to only use sweatshop free tees and donate to orgs may not be the most profitable decision, we feel that it is important for customers to not only like our clothes, but also feel good about what our company and clothing stands for.
"Unicorn"
TH: What cultures and subcultures influence the brand the most?
V: We have so many different types of people that contribute to the brand, with such unique backgrounds. I don’t think I can accurately say which cultures or subcultures influence us the most. Since we are made up of such a wide range of diverse people, it’s hard for me because I know I’ll leave something out. I can name some of the subcultures I know influence different people I work with, but just know that it’s definitely far from a complete representation – indie, punk, hip hop, skate culture, and the art world in general.
TH: Please explain the name 410 BC and its significance?
V: 410 BC stands for the year that Democracy was restored in Athens. The Athenians were at war, but they managed to restore their own institutions. Even though it seemed impossible, they put an end to the regime of the Five Thousand. 410 BC is a reminder to fight for what you believe in.
TH: What are your long-term goals for this brand?
V: We hope to continue to grow and expand to include new products. Most importantly, we want to just keep doing what we love, making clothing, working with new people and meeting our customers and developing long lasting relationships with them.
TH: What has been your lowest and highest point so far?
V: It feels like ever since we started things have just been getting better. I can’t really think of a low point and as of right now, we are all really excited about our new line and where we are right now, but I’d say some of the best moments have been seeing musicians we love wearing our clothes.
TH: You are the designer but also work with other artists and designers, what do they bring to the table?
V: We really love collaborating with other designers so that we always have variety in each line. There are so many talented artists and we are always really excited to see what they’ll come up with.
"Loose Lips Sink Ships"
TH: What is your background that led you to form this clothing brand?
V: I’ve always been interested in art and fashion. I was so glad to get involved in 410 BC and do something I love. I’m inspired by pop art, politics, vintage fashion and the different subcultures I mentioned earlier.
You are a lifestyle brand, how do you involve 410 BC in the lifestyles that you represent, music, art etc?
V: We try to appeal to people who appreciate a variety of art and music. We don’t try to represent one type of lifestyle, but more of a collective consciousness of a specific idea and aesthetic for our generation.
TH: Has it been hard to stick to your guns on ethics, not cutting corners and being genuine and how have you overcome the hard times?
V: Nope, definitely not. It’s so important to us to stand out as a brand with conviction that we refuse to compromise to save a buck or two. Also, Rachel is great with finances. She really has a business mind and knows what she’s doing. Her knowledge of business has really helped, so in terms of the economy and finances right now, we haven’t had any problems that would force us to compromise on anything.
TH: What one piece of advice would you go back in time and give yourself at the start?
V: I think that everything happens for a reason and everyone learns from their mistakes, but I do think it is important to not get in over your head.
