Most students hit the refresh button when they go from high school to college, but four Binghamton sophomores had some unfinished business.
Walter Mason, Jordan Curry, David Coard and John Chery, who attended high school on Long Island together, founded a clothing brand and retail website called Semiclothing.com.
“The idea came about when we were all just hanging out, having a good time in the basement of my house. It was around August 2011. We wanted to see it through … which is what the acronym ‘semi’ was all about,” said Chery, majoring in philosophy, politics and law. The “semi” in “Semiclothing” stands for “strong effort makes individuals.”
“It was important for us to continue the effort,” said Mason, an economics major.
Semiclothing was recently invited to be a featured underground brand on the popular website Karmaloop.com. Coard and Churry cited Supreme, Obey and Kereemo as their major design inspirations. The Semiclothing brand features a recurring logo of a grinning face that they call the “semi-face,” found on their hats and shirts.
“Everything needs a face,” Chery said.
The website features $40 crewnecks, $25 graphic tees, $30 long sleeve tees and $15 beanies, all with different logos. The designs range from the signature semi-face to a bear holding a heart in his paw. The clothing has a young, DIY feel with a skater edge. The shirts are great for making a statement about individualism and supporting student fashion.
The Mason, Curry, Coard and Chery design the graphics themselves. The students then send their designs to a manufacturing plant, which ships the clothing over to them right here in Binghamton. The students then ship out the clothing to consumers around four or five times per month. They’ve received as much as 10-item orders.
Binghamton University students receive free shipping on all merchandise by using the promo code “BING” at the checkout. Curry, an accounting major, designed the site. According to Mason, the spring line will be available later in May or in early June and will feature tank tops and short-sleeved shirts.
It’s exciting to see BU students creating clothing for themselves, and sites like Semiclothing showcase the innovation of students on campus. Semiclothing brings together the spirit of Binghamton and the spirit of start-up fashion. These students prove that following through on a mission and standing by your ideas is always in style.