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Backpage Press (BP) started with one design,
a $200 press, and $150 in t-shirts/supplies. The store went live on December 27, 2007. Being a fan and participant of street art and apparel, Cory realized many of his peers' ventures had unique themes and characters. Brands seemed to targeting specific sports and city fan bases; while Cory loved their approaches and artwork, he had other design ideas spanning a wide variety of interests. Not wanting to limit his possibilities, and sticking to his against-the-grain roots, Cory ignored methods of conformity and decided to make his clothing brand personal.
Real Personal
Artistic freedom, not having a specific market, and only focusing on subjects
of pure passion were the core ideals of BP. Understanding that a lack of
passion towards the subject can cause art to suffer,
philosophy was that "Your art should look like you mean it."
Since many of the designs would be so personal, writing would also be important. There was a need to explain how and why each design was conceived, giving customers an intimate glimpse into the meaning of each piece. The thought process was once people understand a shirt's significance, hopefully they'll feel more comfortable wearing it and sharing in the design's personal story.
Unorthodox Approach
To continue the unorthodox business approach and maintain complete quality control, Cory decided all designs would be hand-printed, in-house rather than shipped to outside screen-printing shops. The creation of an all-encompassing print and design art studio has resulted in complete freedom and unprecedented control over the final product. Since BP handles 100% of its craft in-house, the setup and lack of middleman costs has enabled Cory to print anything that lives inside his head.
Less is More
Being a fan and former employee of punk rock, it was important for Cory to incorporate the simplicity of the music genre's monotone t-shirt designs and logos into the work at BP. Bringing the "less is more" factor back—BP focuses on sleek, simple, mature, and wearable designs.
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Owner & Artist of Backpage Press (BP)
Cory Seymour
"I take great pride in my independence; from the early inception of a design to the final packaging, every product touches my hands.
BP's strong foundation comes from the many supporters desire for that product. BP supporters, new and old, are the lifeblood of this brand and truly an influential factor of every design brewing in my head."
