Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Van Zandt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thanks for speaking with me! So, Van Zandt Apparel came about because I was tired of buying and wearing clothing that didn’t hold up, keep me comfortable or perform during activities both on land and in the water. I was after products that would move with me, not hold me back whether I was on land or sea and were built to last no matter what the activity!
Of course, developing products that were going to be versatile, comfortable and durable all in one was the big challenge. Fortunately, Austin and Orange County both have a huge community of insanely talented people, so I was able to source the right combo of premium fabrics, talk with expert pattern designers and seamstresses and even liaise with UT students and veteran dressmakers all in one place over a 3.5 year period.
Then, after over 50+ samples and rigorous testing with top-tier athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and a few friends from all walks I life, I was finally able to create the first line of boardshorts, called the Venture line.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Wow… where to begin? The apparel industry is an absolute beast. There are lots of variables and subtleties you must deal with on a daily basis that require a lot of attention if you want to create a quality tailored product from scratch that’s going to withstand extreme land and sea activities in comfort along with superior fabric.
For example, I had to hunt down and test a bunch of different materials and fabrics. Then I had to find a pattern designer that shared my vision for what the final product should look and feel like (difficult to say the least!). I also had to make sure that everything I created aligned with my overall goal and was ultimately tailored to my ideal customer while taking into account the fact that I wanted to work with good people.
But this is all part of the game. The real challenges that arose during the process totally blindsided me. I lost my brother in a car accident and my head fabric cutter and original pattern designer to covid. It was all quite brutal and looking back it was probably the hardest period of my life.
The only light at the end of the tunnel was my 12-year-old daughter along with my business partner who both inspired me to press on and turn the pain into something positive and productive. I made a commitment during this time to persevere and also show my daughter that hard work, a good attitude and a passion for what you’re doing can lead to great things.
Throw in the fact that I was traveling and working all through covid, still trying to meet with fabric cutters, seamstresses and patternmakers while overseeing quality control and also trying to keep my team motivated and you can see how the journey has been anything but smooth. However, there is a silver lining.
As cliche as it sounds, Van Zandt Apparel has become more than just a clothing brand along the way. It’s a part of me and to see the final product has not only made sense of everything that’s happened but it’s also given me purpose during some really tricky times.
I’m proud that I didn’t compromise and send manufacturing overseas, choosing to design, build and complete everything in the US instead. I’m also proud of what my team has accomplished (we’ve never had an item sent back!) and eternally grateful to the people of Austin for supporting me along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Yes, we’re 100% committed to being an independent, Austin-based brand that stays true to both the quality of our products and the people we make them for.
What’s next?
Good question! At the moment we’re just finishing off a new line of men’s ultra-lightweight active shorts that will be launching in July of 2022. We’re also happy to announce that our women’s activewear line is now in production (after 1.5 years of design and testing!).
So far the feedback on both these collections has been excellent, with a wide cross-section of female athletes and personal trainers giving us two thumbs way up for the fits, comfort, fabric and sizing.
So, super stoked about that and really confident that we can continue creating apparel here in the US that people will love and love to wear. The future really has no limits and we’re even going into streetwear in addition to our already popular outer gear.
It’s all about innovation through exploration!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@vanzandtapparel.com
- Instagram: @vanzandtmade
- Facebook: vanzandtapparel
