5 Things I Like About Lawrence & Larimer Clothing + Supply Co.
The Kind & Funny Brand Shop had our own website redesign earlier this year, which included a brand photo shoot to kick things off. With the proliferation of stock photography, authentic brand photos stand out, and it is something that we do with many of our clients.
For our own shoot, Kelly’s instructions to me were that my wardrobe should be colorful. I also wanted to feel confident by wearing things that I actually wear and choosing things with some sort of meaning, like “I got this hat on vacation in Hawaii” or “I got this blazer at a yard sale in Kelly’s grandmother’s neighborhood” or “This is a Celtics jacket like the one I had when I was a kid.”
One t-shirt was a no brainer choice—my orange “Beat All Odds” tee from Lawrence & Larimer Clothing + Supply Co., a shop on Colfax Ave. in Denver.
Here are 5 reasons I like Lawrence & Larimer:
1. The slogan “Beat All Odds”
I have now kind of adopted this slogan as an internal mantra when I need a little confidence boost, and I wear this t-shirt when I need a bigger one. John of Lawrence & Larimer (who is so freaking friendly btw) has a background in boxing, and I feel like this phrase is the embodiment of the moment in a Creed or Rocky movie when the bell rings to kick off the training montage.
I was pumped when I saw a version of this t-shirt being worn by someone on the Denver Nuggets’ bench during their NBA championship run last year, and when I asked John he told me lots of the Nuggets have Lawrence & Larimer gear. I get it, because the phrase “Beat All Odds” was perfect for that team.
2. Their “About” page
Kelly is a big believer that things like brand pillars and mission statements, when done thoughtfully, can give a business a solid framework that makes future decisions easier. If you know who your business is at its core, then the marketing copy flows better, new opportunities have a clearer evaluation framework, and you can more clearly articulate what matters to you.
In order to do that, though, you do really need to get to the core of the business and figure out how to express that in a way that is accurate and aspirational at the same time. I think Lawrence & Larimer is a great example of a brand doing this well:
LAWRENCE AND LARIMER IS A CREATIVE BRAND FROM DENVER, CO., WHO PLACES A STRONG FOCUS ON PRODUCING HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS CREATIVES CAN LIVE IN WHILE BUILDING A LIFESTYLE THAT FEELS GOOD, IS FULL OF LOVE AND CAN BE ENJOYED; ALL THE WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY.
FROM CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES AND HOME GOODS, WE'RE A STAPLE BRAND UNIQUELY OUR OWN AND INSPIRED BY THE WORLD.
- LAWRENCE & LARIMER CLOTHING + SUPPLY CO.
I also love the business timeline on the page too. It all works together quite well in creating a cohesive brand feel.
3. The “Inspiration” page
Kelly is also a huge fan of inspiration boards for everything from brands to house projects to her own art, and over time I’ve come to appreciate them myself. I think it is so cool and instructive that Lawrence & Larimer puts their inspiration on display at www.lawrenceandlarimer.com/inspiration.
I think an underrated way to become better at any type of art or practice is to copy someone who you admire, whether it’s shooting a jump shot and saying “Jordan!” or copying a comic book panel you like. Curation is very cool, but taking the next step to turn that curation into your own expression is magical, and I think this page is a blueprint for doing just that.
4. DJ Dopewave
John’s son is Britton-Grae, Denver celebrity minor DJ Dopewave. I first saw DJ Dopewave during an online gala for the MCA Denver, and while he must have been only about 8 years old at the time, he wasn’t only interesting for the novelty of his youth—he felt like a precocious musician who I could learn from. I thought his taste in what he was playing was impeccable, I thought the way he visibly enjoyed the music made it more fun for the audience, and I felt the same kind of energy that I felt when I’d see a local band in Boston who had real talent. I’ve seen DJ Dopewave a few times since then, and he keeps growing as a musician, and that is awesome.
5. The clothes
I guess I should talk a little about the actual business, too. Lawrence & Larimer has cool, comfortable clothes with collections that rotate frequently so stopping by the store or checking online can always yield a few new surprises. The graphics range from funny to inspirational to deeply meaningful. Pieces are clearly created vs. manufactured, with lots of one-of-ones that are screen-printed on site or hand-sewn. I like their stuff, what more can I say!
Discovering self-expression via clothing has been a long journey for me, though luckily one aided by the fact that my wife is an expert. While I haven’t taken to it quite as naturally as my father-in-law …
… I do think I’m learning. Did I ever think there would be a clothing store that I would stop into regularly to browse? No, no I did not. But now there is, and I am really happy that place is Lawrence & Larimer Clothing + Supply Co.
What is your favorite store? Want to talk branding? I’m at jed@kindandfunny.com.