John Blasioli: Menswear Designer with a Conscience

Blasioli made his own clothes in college while studying environmental science so he wouldn't have to support companies that use sweatshops.. which is, uh, most of them: J.Crew, H&M, Urban Outfitters and Top Shop are some obvious names. He aims to keep prices low enough to compete with these popular, trendy stores--a tough ambition if you're looking to make a living.



This shirt is made with bamboo fabric and feels like a soft, hefty linen. He expects it to sell for just over a hundred bucks, which is a pretty sweet deal even if it's a bit spendy for your average twentysomething year-old like me. His pieces will last longer than most sweatshop threads, and his sophisticated aesthetic subverts fickle trends. These are garments you'll want to wear for years and years. Right now, you can find his clothes at Frances May in Portland. His website johnblasioli.com should be up soon!



Here's John wearing a lightweight coat he made.



Did I mention that he's super nice? He is.