CityView Magazine

68 | July/August 2015 Tyler Hair & Old South Apparel Who: Old South Apparel got its start in September 2013 when I noticed every- thing in my closet looked the same. Aer owning a small clothing line in high school, River Boys & River Girls, I knew I could create unique designs to provide options for my then college-aged friends and adults. e concept of how to wear Old South products is simple… with a pair of jeans and boots! What: I am inspired with design ideas when driving down back roads, being in the swamp, fishing on the river bank and just being around nature. It is easy to be inspired with my simple country life around Eastover. Once I have the ideas, I consult my sketch designers in South Carolina and Georgia. Where: To me, Southern style means the lifestyle of the South. Our slogan for Old South is "Southern Apparel for the Southern Way of Life." at is what the brand is all about, from sitting on the porch learning from grandpa, to riding down the back roads with your girl beside you. Southern style is every bit of it. Southern style differs from other parts of the country because I feel Southerners are proud of their heritage. We are proud of where we came from and family traditions we hold near and dear to our hearts. Not to mention there's nothing like experiencing good ol' southern hospitality. Everything around me inspires me, how can you not love being from the South? I once traveled to Maryland and realized anywhere that didn't serve sweet tea wasn't for me! When: Currently, we are designing dress shirts and plan to expand our leather line this Fall 2015. Some of my favorite items that Old South Apparel carries are in our leather line. All of our leather products are 100% Made in America which excites me. We just don't see much of that anymore. Why: e thing I love most about Old South Apparel would have to be meeting people from the community when I sponsor events and getting to know my custom- ers. Every aspect of Old South reflects that I want the customer to feel I know them personally. It is important to me that I hand select each retail partner based on how they connect with the values of our company and the traditions of the south. CV a variety of colors. It is a vertical com- pany that offers shirts exactly matching the colorful threads that run through the trousers. Aristo creates an alterna- tive for a Friday night outfit without wearing a coat. What is the best way to style/display your clothing? Displays should be im- pactful with the intention of stopping you in your footsteps. ey should make you evaluate what you might en- joy wearing in the display. Additional merchandising may suggest the neck- wear and even socks that might tie in with a particular shirt and jacket. What is your design process like? I don't design. I go to international cloth- ing markets and purchase my mer- chandise. I marry a shirt from a shirt manufacturer to a pant from a pant manufacturer to shoes from a shoe manufacturer to offer at my store. I cre- ate at the marketplace. What does southern style mean to you? Southern style is best represented by what you're seeing in downtown Charleston or Savannah or on the colle- giate fraternityl scene. It's not just in the south today. It has transcended nation- wide and has become one of the hottest looks around. My bestseller of the sea- son has been seersucker, which appeals not only to the youth, but to the classic stylists as well. I see attorneys, doctors and other professionals wearing seer- sucker and the college gents. Our best- selling seersucker suit this season was a pink and blue combination. It was a sell out! What inspires you? I'm inspired by the youth, television and music personali- ties, but, mostly, by the vendor displays at the clothing shows I attend. What do you love most about your brand? I love the fact that we have sur- vived and adapted for almost 100 years. We've clothed men of all sizes both near and far. People travel to my store, buy clothes and return home having spent oentimes four or more hours on the road. I'm proud that people are that loyal to us. It's our old school, personal service with fresh ideas that makes us unique. Old South Apparel www.oldsouthapparel.com *Special thank you to Tim Jackson of Signature Properties, City Center Gallery & Books & Anstead's Tobacco Company

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