As a child, Brian Cresson would sneak around his mom to hide the outfits he really planned to wear at school in his backpack. Now the 30-year old fashion designer is about to launch his newest clothing line with a show in March.
Cresson will present his newest label Free Ego on March 7 and 8 at his first fashion show. The show is titled “Free Ego Presents Struggle: An original clothing brand launch, performance, fashion show and reception.”
The line, Struggle, will feature dark images screen printed onto women’s- and unisex-style shirts, including tank tops, T-shirts and baseball-style tees.
The collection for the show will feature four initial designs with different shirt and color combinations. One of the images on the shirts is a smiley face with the words, “Make you cry,” framing the image.
“It’s just a little bit dark but kind of funny too,” Cresson said. “(It’s) definitely riding on this new style of fashion that’s starting to become more prevalent. I want to expand that here.”
Cresson said his fascination with fashion began as a child. His parents had split when he was younger. While his mother had strict rules on what to wear, his dad was more open to different clothing choices. Cresson’s interest in fashion peaked at his dad’s house.
“It was very important for me to have a specific look,” Cresson said. “I would sneak clothing with me to school in my backpack and change before I went into school. Then, (I would) change before I went (to my mom’s house).”
From those times, he said fashion was always on his mind. However, Cresson said his continued exploration of fashion was not purely as rebellion against his mother, but out of genuine curiosity.
Cresson says a lot of his inspiration for his line comes from different labels emerging out of Los Angeles. Some of his favorite brands are Unif and Kill City Clothing.
Cresson’s show is coincidentally the same weekend as Art Detour, Phoenix’s annual art celebration. Cresson said he wasn’t sure whether this would increase or decrease the number of attendees to his show, though he is definitely hoping the celebration will be beneficial to him.
“I’ll be overlapping with (Art Detour), so hopefully I’ll have a lot of unique foot traffic,” Cresson said.
More than anything, Cresson wants his show to be an experience, he said. To do that, he is beginning the evening with a reception. It will be followed by a theatrical performance and end with his fashion show.
Right now, Cresson is focusing on making the vision happen and organizing details like models for the show.
“It’s a matter of putting everything together for the show in the next month,” he said.
Cresson is currently working out of 11th Monk3y Industries, a production workshop for small businesses located on Grand Avenue. Ruben Gonzales owns 11th Monk3y Industries and also shares his space with Monica Robles, owner of The Lab Pop-up Gallery.
Gonzales and Robles are helping Cresson with his show.
Gonzales, who sells his own apparel with 11th Monk3y, teaches screen printing. He allowed Cresson to use his machines to produce the clothing line. The two have been working with each other for about two months.
Long term, Cresson said he would love to go big and have a large production. While it’s important to keep the price point low and accessible, he said it would be a possibility to expand into higher-end fashion.
To promote the show, Robles is assisting Cresson by creating and posting fliers and advertising.
As of now, Cresson is using social media and his Instagram following for promotion. Robles said working with Cresson has been a great experience and the two have developed a friendship.
Robles said Cresson is type of artist she wants in her gallery.
“He’s been pushing himself to promote himself,” she said. “Being in arts, it’s kind of hard to get out there and promote yourself. He’s been taking that initiative.”
Gonzales said he hoped Cresson will work with 11th Monk3y more in the future.
“I like what he’s done and I like his brand. I think it complements 11th Monk3y really well,” Gonzales said. “It’s always nice to have someone else in your space who’s energetic and has a passion for what they want to do.”
Contact the reporter at Taylor.Seely@asu.edu
