I'll be conducting a series of interviews with people and brands who have influenced me and this project. The first person I interviewed was Kerry Simon, founder of Proletariat.
Proletariat is a radical political clothing line that not only puts out provocative shirts but good design as well. A lot of political t-shirt brands focus on the political message at the expense of the art. Kerry does both.
He's also just a super cool dude. It's been refreshing talking with him and learning about his story. The interview is worth a read.
Interview with Kerry Simon, Founder of Proletariat
Proletariat
How did you get your start and why create a t-shirt line and eventually open a store?
Did you know right away that politically minded or socially conscious shirts would do well? That people would really dig the concept and support you?
Definitely not. I wish I could say I had a plan to do all of this but I didn't...and that was probably a big mistake, but at the same time if you told someone you were going to make a line of politically radical t-shirts, 100% Made in the USA, and planned on paying Harvard Square rent off of them, you would be laughed at by everyone. The good news is not having a plan allowed me to get really creative and tackle some serious issues. I figured worse case scenario would be that I sold nothing but people still had to stop and think for a minute. I was ok with that.
When designing shirts do you lean more towards artistic designs or designs that express a political idea?
My aim was to put out an artistic graphic that said what I wanted to say with as few to zero words as possible. The more I think of it, I'm more of a political cartoonist without cartooning skills. Most of my designs could be done better by other people but most other people don't have these ideas, so I guess that's how I stay relevant. While a lot of my designs can be aligned with the political left, I prefer to not align myself with any political party. My main focus is to point out what I interpret as the ills of society.
What are some of the cultural influences that helped you shape the brand? What influences you today?
I try to make this point every time I get interviewed. I was not always this liberal. I grew up in a conservative town in Texas and was taught right from wrong but would have called myself conservative growing up because that's what you were told to be growing up in Texas in the 90's. It wasn't until my mid-twenties when I moved to Boston that I knew there was a name for my beliefs and that was liberal. I had only met a few people prior to my move to Boston, most of them English-major or theater types who truly knew who they were, and once I moved to Boston I realized there was this whole other school of thought and it was ok to think this way. So Boston really shaped me and thus the brand. At the same time Boston was the first time I experienced financial discomfort. Not the 3rd world kind, but definitely the "I can't afford my own place so I will sleep in my store kind." Also, interacting with kids who didn't come from a perfect family unit, interacting with the city's homeless and mentally ill population, and really trying to understand why I was lucky enough to be born into a middle class family while person B was not. Boston is a magical place where people with PHD's work at liquor stores and your average high-schooler is better informed than most undergrads. Debates are hot and frequent and it's a place that still holds its working class roots. If you've ever seen this scene from Good Will Hunting, this sums it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymsHLkB8u3s
What influences me today is essentially a mix of 24-hour internet news as well as feeling fortunate for what I have. I have always had a need to stick up for other people, especially people without a voice. I hope I never lose that ideal even though it gets me into trouble often.
You started Proletariat during the Bush Years, it's now the second term under Barack Obama. From your perspective how have our politics and culture shifted or changed? How have they not?
You know, the Bush years were very interesting. I know kids have always expressed some sort of disdain for politicians, and I'm sure it's my own youthful ignorance for thinking this, but I feel like the Bush years plus the internet were a great awakening for the youth. There was way more information at our disposal and I found more and more kids under 18 talking a pretty good game about their feelings and thoughts on politics. This grew stronger over the years and obviously we have someone like you now, 10 years later, wanting to create a brand that will hopefully continue carrying this torch. I was wrapped up in Obama's first election just like everyone else and was very excited about all the hope and change he had to bring - but I didn't vote for him on his second term. I decided it was high time I started voting per my beliefs and not the lesser of two evils. So I voted for Jill Stein, Green Party. I knew she wasn't going to win but I hope that in the years to come more people follow suit and put their money where their mouth is.
I like the path the world is taking. There are uprisings and revolts everywhere. The internet is making it easier for us to connect and assemble. I support the actions of Edward Snowden, Anonymous, Occupy, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Michael Hastings, and all the other players who are dedicating their lives to making change. While politics seems to stay business as usual, the people are actively engaging and fighting back and I hope this continues to make a difference in our daily lives. What astounds me is how people attribute a title to actual power. Power should come from respect and respect should not come from fear.
What music were you listening to then? What music are you listening to now?
You know my taste has varied over the years. Always been a huge fan of Pavement and the Beastie Boys. Went through my Saves the Day/Taking Back Sundayphase in the early 2000s. About 2003 Boston was taken over by djs mixing new wave music with bands like the Rapture. Then we all stepped back to Wu-Tang, early Kanye, Talib Kwali, etc. Then my good friends Nate Donmoyer (Shuttle/Passion Pit) & Joe Pepin put me on to electronic music. Nate did a mix tape for Proletariat called "Bring the War Home." It singlehandedly put electronic music into the scene we were in. Justice, Boys Noize, etc. A little later I was listening to a BBC Essential Mix and I heard a random track by a 17 year old kid named Rusko (who obviously got huge) who was making dubstep beats and I played that shit on repeat. Proletariat brought dubstep into the Boston scene and I have a ton of kids who will vouch on that. Then Nate joined Passion Pit and I found myself listening and liking some shit that was a major change from what I was used to.
I put up Etan's mix for the first time ever on YouTube for you & your readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FekfOZhcjbw
As of now I have fallen back on some old loves. Neil Young, The Proletariat, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Modern Lovers. That's probably due to parenthood and not going out to bars or clubs as much as I used to. I would also like to give a nod to Spose & Vanna who have been down with Proletariat since day one. Good people, great musicians.
