About Us

101 Apparel derives inspiration from a global palette of sonic vibrations - from afro beat to disco, Brazilian samba, bossa nova and tropicalia, to the vast universe of electronic music, hip-hop, funk, soul, reggae, jazz and beyond. The reverent appreciation of not only these sounds, but also the artists and their craft are the driving forces behind the 101 aesthetic. A quick view of the 101 Apparel portfolio confirms, for veterans and novices alike, that the knowledge displayed regarding music, culture and design is both vast and deep. Always seeking a new way forward, we never rest on our achievements.

Music and design have a long history of cross-referencing conceptual ideas into artistic forms and 101 Apparel pays homage to that design history every step of the way. Gaining insight and inspiration from the renowned works of visionary designers such as Alexander Girard, Milton Glaser, Reid Miles and Ray Eames, 101 Apparel is where sound and vision converge into one seamless package. After years of absorbing the music and design aesthetics of anything from old, dusty, Latin funk 45s, to European soundtracks or early 12-inch dance classics, these diverse influences undoubtedly create something, vital, unique and enduring.  

In the spirit of this aesthetic, 101 Apparel has collaborated with a choice selection of DJs, artists and producers to fuse the music and designs into a unique artistic document. The 101 Apparel Artists Series features a custom shirt, designed in conjunction with the artist, along with an exclusive mix CD of hand curated cuts. To further expand the reach of these sounds, every apparel piece in the line includes a custom hang tag featuring a unique access code to download one of these special mixes. Current collaborations include producers and DJs such as Nightmares On Wax, Kon & Amir, Quantic, Dam-Funk, Tony Allen & Rich Medina, Chico Mann, Jeedo aka Waajeed, Spinna, Lefto, Marc Mac, Rich Medina, Sofrito, Danny Krivit, Lefto & Kutmah, Kenny Dope, Osunlade, Jrocc and Onra. 101 Apparel is honored to support these great talents and many others, so stay tuned for more special projects on the horizon.

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