I will not be attending this February in 2024 but let’s revisit my experience creating 105 unique t-shirts for a fashion trade show in Las Vegas, and I'm here to spill the tea on the entire process.
Let's dive in!
First things first.
My name is Francois, I am the Creative Director of Hypnotik Bay Area.
That is H-Y-P-N-O-T-I-K BAY AREA.
I am the artist and producer of my clothing, we are based in Marin County in California in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We start off the process counting how many shirts I am going to be making that is 105 total.
Next we will go to the local market to pick up our items.
I literally filled three carts with t-shirts and supplies.
And as you can guess, the cashier was filled with joy to ring me up.
Let’s do some math, we have 15 shirts per design, so 7 designs total so that makes 105.
We have tie-dye shirts, and reverse tie-dye shirts
You know what tie-dye means… A lot of ******* bottles.
You know what bleach means… I need a mask.
How do I achieve these patterns? I bleach and then dye the shirts to get some cool polka dot effects. Bleach, dye, repeat. Bleach, dye, repeat.
Since I focus on direct-to-garment printing for my shirts and other apparel. We are going to spray them down with a solution to bind the print to the clothing.
I then heat press to release the excess moisture.
On to printing. We are going to print 15 of each, so let’s do that.
DONE!
After that exhausting process, we are going to press all of them to seal the design in the shirt.
Now, let's talk post-production.
Once the shirts were ready, it was time to add those final touches that make them pop!
I decided to spend some money and have them taken to the local laundromat in Sausalito. They did a great job. Nice and starchy.
Quality checks were a must! I wanted to make sure each shirt met the high standards I set for my brand. Even if I have to make more.
And finally, the packaging – because presentation matters!
Did i have to wrap them all in tissue paper? No. But I’m cool like that.
And there you have it, folks – from concept to creation, 105 t-shirts ready to send off to my clients. It's been a wild ride, and I can't wait to see the reactions!
Thanks for joining me on this adventure! Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of Hypnotik Bay Area. Until next time!
]]>Man I got up hella early! I made the journey from Marin County near San Francisco so it was roughly an hour and a half to get there. The event took place from 1 PM to 5 PM so a little shorter than last year.
Here is my tower of greatness, hopefully OSHA certified. We got a bunch of containers with all our different sizes for shirts, hoodies, and crew necks. I a master of the bungee chords, or at least I think so, got the chairs hooked up on the sides, and our separate wagon as well. Was it difficult to bring everything in? You could say that. I did meet some kind folks that aided in me bringing everything in so shout out to ya’ll.
I made it through security, but the tower was two containers too tall so I had to break it down a bit, which resulted in a few extra trips through the corridor. Okay maybe more than a few.
First things first, check out our booth!
The breakdown is always an interesting journey, we’re setting up the racks and the table and the overall presentation. Very important.
We went all out with our latest streetwear collection, showcasing our designs and exclusive drops. 🔥
From bold graphics to unique patterns, we had something for everyone.
We had a whopping 295 shirts on our rack, along with 40 crew necks and hoodies. We don’t play no games around here. If you’re in plus size range man do I have a collection for you.
In case you weren’t already familiar, my name is Francois. I’m the Creative Director of Hypnotik Bay Area, I design and manufacture all of our collections by hand made here in Marin County.
I create the artwork.
I print all the garments. I also tie-dye and bleach them as well.
No two shirts are the same. There is always a little bit of variation with our garments, which always adds that exclusive touch.
You can always feel confident that your shirt is handmade and one of a kind. Produced locally as well.
If you wanna check out the limited collection we sell in person, check out the limited edition section on our website www.hypnotikbayarea.com. Our newest addition to the collection are mugs.
Meeting all of you in person was the highlight! Sharing stories, getting feedback, and connecting with fellow fashion lovers - that's what it's all about. 💬
Your energy and passion for streetwear and sneakers were contagious.
The Stockton Kings Arena served as the perfect backdrop for this fashion expo. The vibes were high, the creativity was flowing, and we were right at home in the heart of it all.
Big shoutout to everyone who stopped by, copped some gear, and vibed with us. Your support means the world, and we couldn't do this without you.
And of course, major props to the Stockton Kings Arena for hosting such an epic event. We're already counting down the days until the next one!
If you haven't already, hit that follow button, stay tuned for exclusive drops, and join the Hypnotik family. Until next time.
]]>Alright, we've arrived at the pop-up spot! It's time to install all the bells and whistles. I’ve been having issues with my rack recently so I bought a rubber mallet to hammer this guy down. It works for the most part. We do all sizes from Youth Extra Small to 3 XL. A customer stopped by asking for a 4 or 5X, and I mentioned we will go up to any size. Inquiries are always available on my website.
Now that the booth is set up, let's dive into the goodies! 🛍️ From handmade crafts to unique finds, we've got it all. I am the artist behind the artwork, and I am the manufacturer as well. I print each and every one of the shirts and sweatshirts, I also do all the bleach and tie dye. Which one would you grab first? Comment below and let me know!
Meeting amazing people and chatting about my passion is the best part! 🤝 Whether it's handing out free stickers or getting to know the customers, every interaction is special. Sharing stories about San Francisco and the Bay Area is always fun and interesting to learn about. A literal history lesson, with every shirt sold. Gotta love my vendors also. There were over 200 at this event and we went down the street for ages. All super talented, never forget to support small businesses. Wink, Wink. #PopUpVibes
I was folding a shirt and noticed through my peripherals this young gentleman nearby rocking my tie dye crew neck.
I especially love when customers will pass by literally wearing what they bought yesterday. That gets me stoked every time. I’ve been doing BOGO sales for the last year, and two is most certainly better than one. #MarketMagic
And that's a wrap on this pop-up market adventure! 🎉 Thanks for joining me behind the scenes. If you enjoyed this journey, give it a like, share, and don't forget to follow for more pop-up magic! Until next time! ✌️
]]>At Hypnotik Bay Area, our handmade clothing and apparel company, we specialize in producing unique and high-quality clothing that can be customized to fit any event's needs.
We assess our customers’ needs and produce mock-ups that detail the specifications and ideas that highlight your individuality.
Submit your ideas and we will flesh out and render your designs, whether coming from another designer, or we can simply make one from scratch.
With the finalized designs, we begin production. We say no to mass-produced clothing and take a more hands-on approach, with each piece of clothing being individually crafted by hand. No two pieces are exactly alike, adding to the uniqueness and authenticity of your personal brand. Be prepared to walk into your trade show or event feeling great and looking fantastic. We know you take a lot of time to prepare. Let us take care of the aesthetics.
We can also package the pieces in custom boxes or bags, adding another layer of branding to the overall experience.
Finally, we make sure that the clothing is delivered on time and in pristine condition, ready for the event. And because we understand that events can be hectic, we offer fast flexible shipping options to ensure that the clothing arrives when and where it's needed. Need 10 shirts the night before? No sweat. We made it happen. We can provide a reference.
Overall, Hypnotik is is committed to producing custom clothing that not only looks great but also captures the essence of the event it represents. So whether it's a corporate conference you travel for or you are doing a pop-up event, let us help make your event truly unforgettable so you can land your goals and aspirations.
]]>I took my gear and hauled it to Golden Gate Park to upcycle and customize the festival gear of some really awesome folks.
A little difficult since I did not have a wagon at the time, but somehow I made it!
I never officially worked outside in the sun with my irons and whatnot, so this was truly a unique experience. Putting patches on fanny packs, tote bags, sneakers, hats, etc. Drawing artwork on pretty much everything was awesome as well, I had the lovely accompaniment of some local artists to aid with everything, and provide amazing customer service.
I made a custom menu of designs and co-branded with BACARDÍ some of my t-shirt designs you all know and love.
Putting the BACARDÍ logo on my artwork was truly a surreal experience.
Loved to see the smiling faces of so many attendees of the festival. It was super cool to see everyone's reactions to the final products, and their newly found upcycled festival gear.
We hope to do something like this again sometime!
Upcycling materials and festival gear is a great idea, and goes a long way. We can all repurpose our products and make even old items brand new.
What do you think? Send me a message on social.
Until next time!
François
]]>Very fun experience designing custom beer koozies and custom bridal sashes.
I am creating a video to put on social and Youtube coming soon.
Rose gold vinyl lettering on white satin sashes created a very classy look.
Each bachelorette had their own logo decals included on the front and back.
Seeing it come to life was so much fun, and it was great to watch clips from the actual experience when they went out for nightlife.
]]>Kids, Teens, and Adults have all jumped on the bandwagon and are publishing digital assets and making a fortune from it.
Very interesting concept overall. I enter a digital contract where I know for a fact that I am the owner of a Non-Fungible Token through the Blockchain.
It's not so much about physical items anymore, but things that I can earn bragging rights about owning.
This is essentially like trading cards, however there is a clear and concise record of who owns something. We no longer need certificates of authenticity. It also cannot be faked. We can't simply take a screenshot of something and claim that this digital image is ours. Lots of potential here.
The concept of digital clothing is something else all together. Sooner or later people will be buying digital clothing assets. Not necessarily to wear, but simply to possess and display on their digital walls in the future. Streetwear occupies an interesting niche in this space. That is why Hypnotik Bay Area has setup some tokens on OpenSea. Check out francoishypnotik's profile. We are starting with an Amazon Rainforest campaign. We will be placing our Amazon Rainforest collection with some fun tokens that you can place an offer on. Check out some leopards, toucans, and tree frogs.
Let's get on this wave and see where this digital revolution will take us!
https://opensea.io/assets?search[query]=francoishypnotik
What do ya'll think? Send me a message on social with any thoughts!
Best,
François
]]>We revamped our facilities this year in order to deliver the finest in quality to our customers.
We started doing custom orders for companies and start-ups for corporate events.
These are fun and really expands our range as a clothing company in producing quality apparel and merchandising to meet the needs of our clients.
What do you guys think? DM me on social with any thoughts.
Until next time!
François
]]>Very lovely experience overall, I look forward to releasing this soon by the end of the year.
I have a part II in mind. That will be for a future post.
What do you guys think? DM me on social with any thoughts.
Until next time!
François
]]>And that is a GREAT question!
The phenomenon that is streetwear catalyzed from the Hip Hop (NYC) to Surf (LA) pretty fast.
These days it is up there and is etching its way into a midpoint between general streetwear and high fashion. How can something as innocuous as a t-shirt catapult you into true style and fitting into the urban ecosystem in today's culture? Another great question. According to some, a t-shirt can simply represent a broader idea or story that fits into urban culture. In a way it is not a t-shirt (Bobby Hundreds was right).
Here at Hypnotik, we embrace the slogan Beyond Streetwear. We aim to go beyond conventional standards and reaching new heights with our custom, handmade, and exclusive collections.
What do you guys think? DM me on social with any thoughts.
Until next time!
François
]]>I was particularly taken with Huf SF. Benny Gold is by far one of my favorite designers. Back in the day, I used to draw the Huf logo (the one with the crazy linework) whenever I had a pencil or a marker in my hand. My friend always used to say, "Dude, you're like obsessed with Huf" I was like, "Whatever, it's fun to draw." I remember when I used to rock the red "Build, destroy, rebuild" tee during my junior year. A lot of people approached me asking for the significance. I guess I can allude that meaning to the creative process and coming up with ideas. I make something, it doesn't land for some reason, and I hop back to the drawing board in order to come up with something that works instead.
Ya'll remember that shirt?
What are your thoughts? Send me a message on social.
Until next time!
François
]]>Recently I challenged myself to tackle more architecture-based designs. I started this interesting process where I write down ideas on a piece of paper and pull them out of a hat randomly and illustrate them once I draw the piece of paper with the idea on it.
I loved layering the Sakura trees on top of the temple, with the background's pink and white gradient.
What do ya'll think? Send me a message with your thoughts on social.
Until next time!
François
]]>I hope you all love the vibrant designs included in our Spring 2021 collection.
The red and blue snakes along with the flowers on the trees in the background really pop off in a cool way complimenting the hawk in the front.
I aim to improve the quality and presentation of our brand everyday.
If you have any comments, feel free to send me a message! I always appreciate feedback on anything that I post now and in the future.
François
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Recently we revamped our facilities to include custom items.
Do we have great products? Absolutely. Can we take it further? Of course.
We are going to include custom painted shoes to our inventory of kicks.
What's more, is that we will begin taking custom orders in order to fulfill your needs of having the finest shoes that ever touched your feet.
We will also start customizing shirts to include screen printed/handpainted varieties to our mix of items.
Lot's of exciting things to come!
]]>Zeus, Poseidon, and Athena have officially entered the Bay.
Zeus -- God of the Sky/King of the Gods.
Poseidon -- God of the Ocean, Earthquakes, and Horses.
Athena -- Goddess of Wisdom and War.
My question in designing this collection was what would happen if these beings would enter the bay? How would they take over?
Would Poseidon infiltrate Fisherman's Wharf?
Would Zeus tower over the pyramid building in the clouds creating thunderstorms?
Would Athena take over the local Universities (Fun Fact: You can find her at UC Berkeley in Doe Library)
Check out our new tees, tanks, and hoodies. Available now in the Hypnotik store.
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