Local Tourist, a streetwear brand started at the University of Oklahoma, is becoming an anchor in the streetwear scene. Founder, Eric Fobair has turned selling t-shirts out of his trunk into preferred rapper performance apparel. After 2005, Eric’s last year of college, he moved to Los Angeles, where he held a pop up shop in the DTLA Art Walk. That one day he intended for the pop up shop paved the way for another 22 months of operation! During this time the Local Tourist shop was blessed by appearances by Nipsey Hussle and performances from Overdoz and Riff Raff, and when their events got too big for the retail location, he partnered with Ham on Everything and commenced with throwing parties featuring artists like Casey Veggies, Danny Brown, Joe Moses and more.Most notably Local Tourist has been seen on Jet Life rappers Curren$y (who can be seen wearing LT in video below) and Le$. I asked Fobair to describe his spring and fall collection and this what he had to share:
"ORIGINAL CONTENT was a statement I wanted to make for quite some time, its about the individual who wears it being a genuine person, but also a statement about what Local Tourist is about as well. Fall’s campaign is THE REAL ONES KNOW. That statement is about where the brand is right now, we may not be the biggest as far as national/international exposure, but we are on our way there and right now THE REAL ONES KNOW.”
This speaks volumes for what it takes to start and maintain a viable brand as well as business. Doing things true to yourself such as the things you would want to accomplish and the ideas you want to share and maintaining that integrity to self is very important and I see that Fobair is orthodox with this method. He expressed the inspiration behind ORIGINAL CONTENT as well as the rest of Local Tourist’s designs generally come from life, experiences and the knowledge and wisdom gained through them. Fobair has made it a mission for 2014 to spread positivity through his brand and the designs. With mantras that he includes in his designs such as “GUARD YOUR HEART FEED YOUR MIND ” Eric explains,
“Both aspects protecting your heart and growing mentally are aimed to keep the roots strong and expand one's true inner character. It’s about not settling, striving for the best in personal growth and career…really in whatever one is passionate about.”
, Karmaloop Kazbah and Setup the Upset. You can check out Curren$y, Le$, and Riff Raff rocking with Local Tourist in the videos below.
(This Repost contains changes, brand is name Local Tourist and not Traveling Local. I apologize for the mix up)
(@KakeTheGreat)
