When I first noticed Ian & Marko in the fashion social circles I was drawn to the mood that they had created on Instagram. If you check out their page (and I do recommend you check out their page) you will find a sense of activity, adventure, playfulness, creativity, and a palatable youthful Americana spirit. This comes from their mission as a company to embody those standards and to change the way that the American dream may be perceived. This spirit is delegated and embodied by those grabbing up their tee shirts. Besides being a great fitting T-Shirt Ian & Marko strive to encourage their customers to redefine the “American Dream” ideal, to explore the world, hone a personal craft, and build a community that seeks adventure.
In order to better understand the company I interviewed the two founders Ian Anderson & Marko Peros:
What is your mission by creating a new perspective American dream?
Marko, “Ian and I believe that the new American Dream isn’t just settling down at a white picket fenced house. Society has etched in our minds for years that we need to climb the corporate ladder, have a few kids, and simply settle down. Our American dream encompasses a mentality that is unbound by society’s conventions. Our mission is to bring inspiration to the free-spirited journeyer’s around the world. To freely exploring the world and gaining new perspectives from both local and foreign cultures.”
What separates a Bova Tee from other long sleeve tees?
Ian, “I could never find a t-shirt that fit well. Typical t-shirt sleeves were usually too baggy, the neck was too loose, or the body width was too wide. Today’s t-shirt trend represents a very ill fitting beach vineyard look and we wanted to create a t-shirt that you can be taken seriously in. It is surprising that there aren’t any tees on the market that fit well, since a t-shirt is a man’s classic staple in my wardrobe.” Marko, “So Ian and I set out to create a better fitting men’s t-shirt, labeled the Bova Tee, named after the emblem. The Bova Tee is better fitting in three aspects: tapered sleeves, tighter neck, and tailored fit in the body area.”
(I’ll chime in here about the fit! When I chatted with the guys about my size I was torn between a Medium and a Large as I am a taller small waisted guy. After they lead me to the Large I got it in and thought wow there is no way this is my size, it has to be too big. As the guys advised me I washed it and VOILA! almost instantly I had a great fitting long sleeve tee. The arm holes were perfectly slim, the neck didn’t float on my collar-bone, and the chest is the perfect amount of tight. Well done to Ian & Marko for nailing the fit!)
How did the two of you meet and what led you both to fashion?
Marko, “Ian and I met while attending the same college at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. We both had a passion for clothing and traveling the world. We quickly noticed that there wasn’t a clothing company that encompassed the same values, style,and adventurous mentality that could represent us. Ian and I believed that large clothing corporations were brainwashing individuals into conforming to a certain mold that displayed the American Dream in an outdated context. Therefore, we set out to create Ian Marko.”
What are small ways that you believe everyone can experience adventure?
Marko “When we say adventure or journey, we aren’t talking about going out into the wilderness and climbing mountains like The North Face or Patagonia portrays. We are talking about traveling to an urban area and becoming integrated into the culture. Whether it is through music festivals, food, and exploring local areas, any small experience can become the adventure of a lifetime.”
I can’t say that I am instantly aware of a climate change within the American people when throwing on my Ian & Marko tee, but I can say that it is cool to see a community interested in pushing people to pursue what they excel in. Maybe it’s not your life goal to end up married, with two kids, a golden retriever and a white picket fence. Ian & Marko would say, that’s fine, go after the journey of a lifetime, after all you only have one.
Check out their T-shirts here and find out more about their company!
Website: Ian & Marko
Instagram: @shopianmarko