The support everyone has shown the Benny Gold line has been incredible! These pictures came in from a customer who not only supports the line by rocking the shirts but also with a Benny Gold inspired tattoo! I’m sorry, I lost your message with your name. Please get in contact with me so I can give you credit. The support from everyone has been inspiring and keeps me motivated to keep it going – thank you!

Please keep adding your pics to the Gold Support Group on flickr. I give out random gear for the best pics.

Pile Co. in Japan has been helping the Benny Gold brand grow in the Japanese market for a few years now. They helped widen our Japan distro to 25 retail stores in Japan. Thank you! They also recently opened up their flagship store called Delicious. Congrats guys! I look forward to continuing to build together in the upcoming years!

I love how they used our Stay Gold Glider Candles as hanging displays — the shadow it throws is great!

The latest episode of hypebeast.tv caught up with me to talk about the growth of the Benny Gold brand and the transition from a home office into our brand new retailer/design studio.

I am honored to have a profile and appreciate all the support hypebeast has shown me over the years! Thank you!

Here is the first full look of the new Diamonds Embroidered New Era which is part of our Spring Collection for 2010. The cap is featured in three colorways, each boasting a wealth of great detailing while still maintaining wearable tones. Available soon through Benny Gold retailers.

We have been fortunate that our seasonal New Era offering has always been well sought after. This season is no exception – the sneak peak we released has been getting a lot of interest.

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked is about my design process. I decided to give you a quick look at the way I go about designing a shirt graphic. There are many ways to achieve the final design, this is just the way that works best for me.

1. It starts with inspiration. I have always listened to a lot of reggae music and I love the artwork that adorns classic dancehall covers. For the Stay Gold Rudie design I decided to base it on Jamaican rude boy culture. I flipped the popular saying “Cool Off Rudie” or “Rudie Can’t Fail”, from the Clash and Derrick Morgan to “Stay Gold Rudie” to fit the brand.

2. Once I have the inspiration I sit down and write a list of key words that relate to the concept. A list really help me put my ideas into a solid form. I circle, highlight and pull out the words that relate the best and help push the concept.

3. After I have a bunch of keywords that I like I start sketching the ideas into visuals. I use tracing paper because you can layer the design and it allows you to work on the individual parts separately until you get it just right.

4. Once I have a sketch that I am happy with I pull out the light table and ink the design. I try to ink the design as clean as possible with a fine tip marker. The cleaner the design is inked the less cleanup will be needed in the computer.

5. The computer is the last step of the process. I use it for cleaning up the artwork and getting it ready for print. I want everything I produce to have a hand crafted feeling to it. I want you to be able to see that I personally touched each piece and it wasn’t just a found image or clip art. Pushing and pulling at the points in illustrator till you have it right. The hand drawn type always takes the most time because it has to flow perfectly.

Printed, shipped and finally available in our online shop here as well as Benny Gold retailers. Rudie can’t fail!

* This is of course a shortened version of my design process, but hopefully it helps you figure out what works best for you

“I’ve got to keep on pushing I can’t stop now Move up a little higher Some way, somehow” — Curtis Mayfield

No matter what life throws at you got to keep pushing through it. Skateboard inspired graphic of flat spotted wheel with broken bearings is a constant reminder to keep going regardless of where you are at in life. John from Boston knows this and sent in a picture of his tattooed pushing leg along with another picture of an undisclosed individual.

Not into tattooing it on you and want a reminder that is less permanent? We still have a few shirts with the same graphic available in our shop here.

Keep on pushing!

Carhartt Europe asked me to design a few shirts for them. They released the shirts as part of their artist series along with designer Eric Elms. I am not only honored to be part of the series, but excited to have them released next to a designer that I highly respect.

The new issue of UNDR RPBLC MGZN just dropped. Photographer Jerry Buttles has a series of artist portraits featured in the issue. I am honored to be included with other San Francisco icons: Mike Giant and Jeremy Fish. This might be the last portrait shot of me in my current home office as I am moving the studio into a beautiful new retail space in the Mission district of SF.