TALK BRANDS #9: THE COLOUR COLLECTIVE

We're nearing the end of our collective, but this week's a big one. If you have only just tuned in, you have a lot of catching up to do! The Talk Brands collective aims to help promote and appreciate some of the home grown brands we have here in the UK, as well as giving some advice to any budding brand owners out there. This week we're getting to know Levi, 23, of The Colour Collective, based in Telford, Shropshire. I'm a big fan of this brand, and I have my eye on a few pieces I'll be looking to pick up soon! Here goes...



Where did The Colour Collective all begin and what made you want to run your own brand?
The Colour Collective was born from a trademark clash with our original name - Monroe Apparel, turns out the company grew to a point that The Estate Of Marilyn Monroe became uncomfortable and decided to appose us and our trademark, we took this as a blessing as everything we were creating at that present time was breathing new air into the Monroe brand and pretty much reinventing itself, a new name was next on the list of things to do so we didn't see it as a problem as such!


The Roots of The Colour Collective being Monroe Store was created back in 2009 as an idea to get my art out and seen by the public and what better way than to have it printed on clothes, through this i learnt a whole bunch about the production, materials and techniques used through out fashion which brought me to be more interested in that whole side of things, the whole buzz of having someone wear and appreciate something that 100% came from my brain is what fuelled me to run the brand to this day!



How would you describe The Colour Collective?
Clothing for the colourful the illustrated and the real minds , a product for those that don't buy into something just because it's fed to them , those that can appreciate a product and the thought thats gone into it along with the culture that surrounds it themselves , there is nothing worse than a hollow concept, for example bad sublimation prints with those white marks to me thats just an excuse for a quick buck!
I myself already know what The Colour Collective will become but through a consumers eyes i would say it's something that's very slowly but steadily taking a great shape.

What is your favourite piece from your collection?
For me the Noodle Bar Vest!



If you could sum up your brand in 3 words, what would they be?
Illustrated
Colourful
Original

What for you has been the highlight of running The Colour Collective to date?
Personally for me shooting our lookbook out in Florida was amazing...
The support we have had has been amazing and all the great feedback from all the real heads has been great and all those who appreciate great things i love you

What do you do outside The Colour Collective?
In my spare time my hobbies consist of playing tekken tag 2, photography, art, and producing music... https://soundcloud.com/v-e-g-a-2 shameless plug ;)



What is your favourite clothing brand, other than your own?
lazy oaf most definitely they hold it down for the UK

Favourite brand of footwear?
I've never had a favourite brand for footwear but most of my trainers are Nike or Vans

Who would you most like to do a collaboration with and why?
Thats tough... between Parra , Lazy Oaf & Nike... 
would have to be Lazy Oaf that would be too nice!
i think our styles would sit nicely together and i'm all about the illustration!
solely because they are UK too and a big personal influence to myself



What can we expect to see from The Colour Collective in the future?
in my head i'd love to bridge the gap between high fashion and illustrated brands, its a hard achieved goal judging by what we are amongst now, with this id love to produce button up shirts, shorts, sun dresses and a whole bunch more but with my spin on it, i won't say too much more i'll leave that for when it happens!

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about running your own brand?
No better feeling than seeing somewhere wearing/feeling good in your gear its almost like you drew a piece on them right there and then, thats what i love about it, kinda like the same feeling a graff artist has when he rolls past something he threw up last night for the first time.



What advice would you give to someone who may want to start their own brand?
Don't do it if your hearts not in it

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you Talk Casuals it has been a pleasure lets do it again some time!



Make sure you pick something up from The Colour Collective before I do and it's all gone! Follow them on Instagram for regular updates @thecolourcollective and on Instagram and if you haven't already, head over and like their Facebook PageMake sure you like our Talk Casuals facebook page while you're there! And don't forget to have a listen to some of Levi's music too!

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