Worth Fighting For: the Rise, the Raze, & the New Age of Glamour Kills
It started when the firemen kicked the door in. At least that’s how the conversation started. It’s a Friday afternoon, after lunch but before happy hour. I have a glass of sparkling lemonade and Mark Capicotto (Marky), the founder and owner of Glamour Kills Clothing, has plans for the rebirth of his brand spread out in front of him. And that’s a very good thing.
Since GK first strutted onto the scene in 2004/2005 it has become a symbol, representing the look of pop-punk but also, unexpectedly, the sound of alt-rock. The brand’s growth is a twin for the successes of several of our most loved bands, from All Time Low to The Wonder Years. But two years ago, just short of a decade later, the journey derailed. Today, Glamour Kills has fought its way back. That’s where the firemen—figuratively—come in.
Read the full story of Glamour Kills, as told by Mark Capicotto:
There's no guide map for getting through life and the road less traveled is far less of an adventure than the road that has yet to be discovered. Everyone's path is different. Trust your gut. Scare yourself. Write your own story and create your own future. There's no cheat sheet or shortcut or secret to having it all figured out. There is only passion and those brave enough to live for it.
I know I'm a tad bias and this is just a random thought... But Fucked Up and The Wonder Years are respectively the 2 most important bands that the punk genre has spawned in the past decade.... Easily. Stylistically I'm not comparing the two but as far as creating something real without gimmicks and music trends. Just honest music from honest folks. Real musicianship. Real lyrics. That's the only recipe that should ever matter for a bands success. In a time in a dying industry that for too long has solely relied on selling albums by name association and clever marketing, and also now a time where anyone with a laptop can write and record their own record… We as "consumers" or I should say fans :) want real. That's why these bands are catching and growing. I think these bands are what WE as fans have been dying for, for a very very long time. I can only speak for myself of course but these bands can ignite that spark every time you hear their album or see a show. You know that spark.... Your first show. That summer when you first heard "that album". That time you drove 4 hours in the snow to see your favorite band just to sing, mosh, dance til you couldn't breathe any more. In short. I thank them for reminding me why I love this scene, this genre, or what have you.... In all its forms. Why I dedicated the better half of my short 26 years here on printing band Merch, photocopying hundreds of demo inserts, flyer designs for every VFW hall that my friends have played and later starting up GK. These bands remind me every day why I do what I do and more importantly why I love to do it. End rant. You can all unfollow me now. I wouldn't hold it against you. Twitter hijacker extraordinaire I am.
POZ 100 Words Or Less Podcast: Mark Capicotto (Glamour Kills)
Have you checked out the 100 Words Or Less Podcast with host Ray Harkins on PropertyOfZack yet? If not, this is the time to start. In this week's episode, Ray speaks with our friend Mark Capicotto, who you may know as the founder of Glamour Kills, one of our favorite companies. Ray and Marky talk about the beginnings of his business, his introduction to independent music, and why he stares at shirts in public.
Shallow Water Brings On Glamour Kills Founder For New Charity Shirt
Where are you from?
Im from a small town in upstate NY called New Windsor. I currently reside in NYC.
How long have you been designing?
I have been doing art pretty much my whole life but I really got into design when I was 13. All of my friends were starting bands and I started out Designing demo tapes, cds, merch and flyers for them. Around this time I had also met one of the most influential teachers I have ever had, it was my Visual Communications class teacher Jeff Gebhart who taught me the groundwork I needed to begin becoming a “real” designer. So yeah 13 years Ive been designing….. Shit I’m old.
What connection did you feel with your charity?
I wanted to do something for a charity where I knew the proceeds would directly make an impact. The Kristin Brooks Hope Center (1-800-Suicide) has call centers set up all over the country and the lines are open year round 24 hours a day. I myself (many don’t know) suffer and have suffered from Panic Disorder and Depression. It felt right to pick this charity and help aid a company that is doing a wonderful thing for people who need to just talk to someone that won’t judge them and just knowing that people can have that kind of help by picking up the phone is pretty fucking awesome. The money donated will go to the people who sit there day in and out answering calls and keeping this program running.
Tell us about the design? How did it come to be? What inspired it?
Well I wanted to pick a famous historical figure who has been documented to have suffered from Mental Health problems. So I picked Abe Lincoln arguably one of the most important presidents we ever had. Obviously I added my style all over the design too. A lot of folks with Depression/Anxiety feel stuck and feel like it won’t get better. But it does and it can. Trust me. Working hard and taking positive steps to increase your mental well being is easier said then done. But once you start its like a snow ball affect and nothing can stop you. You can become president of the united states, own a clothing company, play guitar in a band and tour the world, anything. I wanted to do a shirt that inspires that.
How would you describe your style of design work?
Positive. I feel like any person in any sort of position that can influence others (on any scale) has a moral responsibility to provoke positive messages and feelings. I try to do that with all my designs (GK or personal art). But as far as my artistic style goes its no holds barred. I don’t try to keep a set style and always trying to learn new styles and techniques. But I really dig mixed media stuff working with Photographs, Paints and Pens and then bringing it all to digital and tweaking from there.
What do you do outside of art?
Aside from living at the Glamour Kills offices and design? *Crickets* I suppose I enjoy going to the beach, collecting vinyl, and eating food. Food is pretty good.
