Interview with Akomplice

  • by Adam
  • on March 1, 2010
  • Comments Off

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Mike & Patrick McCarney from Akomplice are two of the most creative designers that I know. Half of the time their designs are a bit inappropriate, but that never bothers me, because they are also hilarious. The other half of the time, their designs are thought provoking and political.

I can’t give away any of their upcoming shirts right now, because they don’t want a cease and desist letter, but the guys from Akomplice were open to an exclusive ruleofnext interview.

1. I feel like you guys have presented a large spectrum of American culture in your designs. Some of it very thought provoking, some of it just really funny, from Tyrone Biggums to Global Warming. Is there anything that is off limits for you?

There really isn’t much we are scared to touch on. The only thing I would say that is off limits for us is putting stuff out that we feel will make a negative impact on the world. Or just straight legal trouble. We try and steer clear of that unless its just to hot not to put out.

2. With celebrities dropping left and right. I feel like that you guys should have a lot of subject matter. Is there an Alexander McQueen tee in the making? Or, is that too soon?

This is probably embarrassing, but I don’t know who Alexander Mcqueen is. So I guess NEXT just gave me some homework.

After the jump is the full interview. Make sure to check it out these guys know what they are talking about.

3. A good amount of you tees have sneaker references in them. What are some of your favorite sneakers? And Why?

As I grow older it just keeps changing. Right know I am feeling Gravis they make very clean comfortable shoes, and I feel in the scene they are very underrated. I always like to find the ill ish that hasn’t been found by the masses yet. The Diamond in the ruff. I also am feelin what Vans has been doing, and then last Jordans!

4. There are a lot of young kids here in Cleveland that want to start their own clothing companies. Do you have any advice for them? What’s the most difficult part to creating a successful clothing brand?

Wow. I would say watch your expenses. I see you can win in two ways, and a lot of companies are a mix. Either super fire product or amazing marketing. I have seen the ugliest hype brands that I can’t understand how people could ever buy into the garbage. And then I have seen fresh product that people just love make it. The best is to be super strong in each area. Success for a new brand these days is a lot harder with the bad economy because shops don’t wanna take any risks. So my best advice for anyone in the arts and entertainment industries is to bring something new to the table, something that is missing out there. Also have someone good at math on the team. Its not how much you make. Its how much you make compared to how much you spend.

5. Do you think it is best to design clothing drunk, high, or sober?

There’s no right way. Everybody thinks since a lot of our items are thought provoking that we design high all the time, but actually most the time we are 100% sober. When we blaze trees we rather be off a computer.

6. Your designs have a lot of political/social messages. Would either one of you ever run for public office?

Huh, never been asked that in an interview. I actually have thought about that my fair share. The thing is I feel like they would pull up a lot of our rowdy shirts and try to paint me as a radical or just previous question I said I blaze trees. So I don’t know if it would work. In the future maybe all that won’t matter, and it will just be about strong quality people that make this world a better and more just place to live.

7. Who do you think is going to win the NBA Championship this year?

Its going to be the Cavs and the Nuggets will go to game 7 and the best team will win! That’s my political side coming out there.