For some teenagers, it’s a hassle to simply find clean clothes. Jon Wormser ’12, on the other hand, is starting his own fashion company.
Wormser feels that his up-and-coming fashion line titled “SwagURtail Apparel” is similar to companies like Vineyard Vines.
“It’s different styles of clothing with the same company logo,” Wormser said.
Wormser came up with the idea to start a fashion line during his silkscreening class with art teacher Angela Simpson.
“I drew a bulldog face as a design for a t-shirt. I thought about it for a little and realized it would look sick embroidered on a t-shirt like the Polo Ralph Lauren logo,” Wormser said. “So I came home and asked my mom if she could pay for this website to embroider the design. Two weeks later my first t-shirt came in the mail.”
According to Simpson, embroidery “uses thread stitched heavily on fabric to create a design, and tends to be more textural [than silkscreening].”
After Wormser’s first shirt was warmly received by his family, he started making more types of clothing. Since then, Wormser has come up with several new designs, including a girl’s shirt with a sunglasses logo on it and a hat with the bulldog logo.
The bulldog hat, which Wormser expects to be available in six weeks, is just one of his upcoming plans.
“My hopes would be for [the store] Karmaloop to start selling the shirts on their website. I’d also like other retail stores to sell them. I need to get the company out there and get more well known,” Wormser said.
Simpson feels that Wormser’s ambitions are exceptional for a student.
“A handful of students have produced t-shirt designs for sale or as gifts, but not at the scale and with the medium (embroidery) that Jon intends. I am impressed with his ambition,” Simpson said. “I am so glad that his exposure to an art class inspired him to pursue a personal interest.”
Though Wormser has big plans, he wants people to understand that the company is only just starting.
“It’s really only a couple styles. It’s just a t-shirt company so far. After this summer, there will be a lot more to see,” Wormser said.
