By Harrison Mayesh
Assistant Circulation Editor & Staff Writer
Freshmen Darby McDonald and Margot Griggs patch together their passion for design and fashion as they create a new fashion company and clothing line.
The two have been creating unique designs on denim jackets, shorts, skirts and jeans for their peers to purchase since they started their small clothing business called DM Denim in December 2016.
“Usually, other designers make their clothing in bulk, so everything is exactly the same, but each thing we make is unique,” McDonald said. “Each piece that we design is custom-made, which sets us apart from most other designers and clothing companies.”
Photos: Click here to see some of McDonalds and Griggs clothing
The two start the process with a rough idea of a design that they want to create and then produce a sketch. From there, the idea is sketched onto an article of denim clothing that they purchase. Next, the duo paints the sketch with acrylic paints directly on the piece they are creating. They often take suggestions from their customers to make the pieces more unique to each individual customer.
“We originally thought about using the money from our sales to purchase more painting supplies, but Darby and I have recently been discussing donating a portion of our profits to a shelter for battered women, called 1736 House,” Griggs said.
Click here to see some of the hottest trends this season
Griggs had been painting her own clothes prior to starting DM Denim. Her love for the show Project Runway inspired her to create her business and explore the world of fashion along with the help of McDonald, as well as her own, artistic abilities, Griggs said.
“The idea of this business comes from when I first saw Margot wearing this really cool white crewneck that she designed herself,” McDonald said. “It was inspired by Keith Haring, and I was obsessed with it. So one day I asked her if she wanted to come over to my house and help me paint some of my clothes, and the idea popped into my head to create this business.”
Click here to see DM Denim’s Instagram
Since the formation of DM Denim, McDonald and Griggs have sold a few items. They are currently working on expanding their company and increasing their sales by using social media platforms such as their company Instagram, @dmdenim, and their personal Snapchat accounts.
The two say that they both see fashion as an outlet for their self-expression for both themselves and their customers. This plays a role in their company due to the duo allowing customers to request specific designs on the items that they purchase.
Additionally, they aim to create individual stories through every piece that they personalize. Their creative outlet is almost exclusively fashion, and they tend to spend a majority of their time creating looks for each individual customer to make a fashion statement.
“For me, fashion is a way of making a statement to express yourself,” Griggs said. “I can really show who I am through the clothes that I have the freedom to wear.”
For DM Denim, they aim to create affordable fashion. Shorts are the cheapest item and are sold for $20, and jackets are the most expensive items, selling for $35.
“We hope to sell as much as we can as soon as we stop being as busy with our lives,” Griggs said. “We also hope to make our products well-known to help raise as much as we can for the battered women’s shelter.”
Video: Look at some of the pieces that the DM Denim team are creating
The students currently do not have any solid plans for the future of their company but plan to continue working hard on it, Griggs said. They have both been preoccupied with various endeavors, so the second they start becoming free, they aim to continue their creative endeavours.
“I am excited to see where this company takes us,” Griggs said. “There are so many directions that we could end up going, and I can’t wait to see what we end up doing.”
The items are sold for $20 to $35 to customers who contact the company.
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