Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Coslett.
Hi Jordan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Studio Innovatus was born from my love for vintage clothing and the disappointing lack of retro-inspired menswear for fashion enthusiasts. My favorite personal pieces were discovered by digging through thrift stores in Austin and abroad – these garments have heavily influenced our brand identity. I’m attracted to mid-century styles largely lost to a bygone era. Think Studio 54 or Don Draper visits Palm Springs – just the right amount of flamboyance and whimsy but with a refined coolness the 60s and 70s are synonymous with. I’ve been in Austin for four years and am familiar with the city’s endless dualities; not quite the South or the Southwest, a burgeoning metropolis that sometimes feels more like a small town. A city once known for its eccentricity but becoming increasingly a community of conformists. These dualities have rubbed off on my approach to Studio Innovatus as a brand. I don’t want us to be one thing, bound to a particular identity. Our designs aren’t old or new, but a meld of those retro pieces I’m so inspired by and modern touches that consumers are looking for. I want our pieces – the Jersey Boy Shirt, for example – to look just as natural on a cowboy as on a surfer. I’ve built the brand over the last several years, working full-time as an architectural designer. I plan to build a complete collection with the Jersey Boy Shirt serving as a north star for its styling.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Having no prior experience in the fashion industry, I’ve encountered a few roadblocks. Working with a company overseas to help develop my first few garments has taken much longer than anticipated, but I’m super excited by the final product!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Studio Innovatus is an apparel lifestyle brand based in Austin, TX. Our pieces are inspired by vintage menswear styles of the 50s-70s that have been carefully reconsidered and renewed for the contemporary tastemaker. A little Southern California and a little West Texas, we blend an effortlessly cool coastal attitude with the rugged individualism romanticized by Hollywood Western classics. The flagship piece of our collection is the Jersey Boy Shirt. Our interpretation of the classic camp shirt features an exaggerated 70s collar, contrasting hand-stitched details, and pearl snap closures. Suitable for any gender, the Jersey Boy Shirt is just retro enough without being ostentatious. Composed of 100% linen and crafted in Bali, Indonesia, the Jersey Boy comes in four colorways.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I began building the foundation for Studio Innovatus during the height of Covid. If I learned anything, it’s to stop making excuses and do what you want with your life. I love architecture and being a designer, but clothing and fashion scratch an itch that architecture doesn’t. The pandemic pushed me to tackle the goal of starting this business. It might have never happened if I hadn’t done it then!
Contact Info:
- Website: studioinnovatus.com
- Instagram: studio.innovatus
Image Credits
Shell Bilyew Royster
