Columbus is a proud city and with football season nearly upon us, we are presented a perfect opportunity to adorn ourselves in the things we love most. A few things that come to mind besides scarlet and gray are…

• Tommy’s Pizza
• Adriatico’s Pizza
• Varsity Club
• Mama’s Pasta & Brew

Right?

Lucky for us, Homage, Columbus’ favorite and softest clothing brand, knows us all too well.

Mark, the Marketing Manager from Homage, gave us some insight on this specific Cbus line:

“The inspiration for each Columbus-centric shirt that we do feels different because each one has its own story. I’d say the common thread (pun intended!) that runs through all of our city pride apparel is that the story behind each tee is meaningful to the people in Columbus.

Whether the stories are about sacred Columbus institutions like Script Ohio or the Newport, or upstart franchises like the CBJ or Land Grant, our goal is the same: connect people to these stories in a way that inspires people while giving folks a sense of pride about the community they call home.

The storytelling aspect of our brand is a simultaneously simple yet nuanced approach to apparel that keeps our team energized and really grounds our brand in the minds of our customer.”

Had a chance to check them out yet? Use code 614 for 25% off online at Homage.com and in Homage retail locations.

** 25% off offer applies items on HOMAGE.com with code “614” and at HOMAGE retail locations. Must present coupon at time of purchase to receive offer. Offer valid Friday, September 8 , 2017 through Sunday, October 1, 2017. Not valid with any other offers, discounts, or promotions.**

The Tar Pit Club has emerged from the ashes of the Siberian Traps–form which they draw inspiration–and will be seeing the light of day at Gallery Hop this weekend.

What the hell is The Tar Pit Club, a roadside crew? 

Nope. The Tar Pit Club is a startup apparel company run by a local guy–Travis Case.

“The brand started as a result of my need for a creative outlet combined with a desire to give back,” said Case, alumnus of the Electrical & Computer Engineering bachelor’s program at Ohio State University. 

Vol. 1 of the collection has been in queue for about a year and a half. Five percent of all purchases goes to “people who need it more than they do.”

As far as Vol. 2, Case has some ideas.

“I really want to do a nice pair of house slippers…you have no idea how hard it is to find a manufacturer for quality house slippers.”

He wants to pimp out local artists, skateboarders, and e-sport teams in Tar Pit attire for sponsorship.

“I’ve been involved with the fighting game community for a long time and am in charge of a local group called Columbus Fighting Games — people meet up weekly at the campus Donatos to play all sorts of fighting-based video games,” explained Case.

Instead of putting out a call for models to market his close, he kept it close to home.

“The senior model on our Instagram is my 87-year-old grandfather…though I’m not sure he even remembers doing that photoshoot at this point,” he said.

His former professor Hooshang Hemami also got his 15 minutes of social media fame.

Here’s a look at the gentlemen repping Vol. 1 of the Tar Pit brand (grandfather with cigar, Hemami with skateboard):

Get a beautiful, handmade accessory while also patronizing a local business; that’s a win win. With QuiQuattro, your purchases also go towards educating and empowering women. Nihan Ardor is the owner of QuiQuattro, a shop that hand looms, pours, knits, and stitches soaps, jewelry, and Pestemal towels (all available online).

Here’s a little about QuiQuattro from Ardor:

What inspired you to start your LLC?

QuiQuattro: I am originally from Turkey and I graduated from an art academy. I go back to my homeland quite often and keep in touch with my designer friends who still live there. I see their beautiful artisanal work and their struggle to survive within an industrial environment. The idea of QuiQuattro emerged when I brought gifts to my friends here in United States and realized how much they loved the designs and the creativity. Instantly, I thought I can help my designer friends by creating an opportunity to sell their products. I formed my company with the goal of giving them the recognition they deserve by selling their many creations.

What is your most popular product? 

QuiQuattro: Our best-selling product is our multipurpose hand-loomed towels called “Pestemal”. They come in different patterns and lively colors; they can be used as a traditional towel, as a beach towel, a scarf, or a sarong, cover-up, and many more.

Are all your employees female? Are they all artisans or at least creative? 

QuiQuatro: Yes all of them are female. They either have degrees in design or have been working as apprentice designers.

Where do your raw materials come from? 

QuiQuattro: For now they are all sourced from Turkey. I am in touch with some other designers from Argentina and France as well for future products.

Why is your business model (fair trade, and fair wages) so important in today’s society? 

QuiQuattro: I believe that women and men should be paid equally, but this is not the case today in third world countries, where, conditions unfortunately seem to favor men.  I would like to empower women and also give them the opportunity to become self-sufficient. Consequently, we also give 10% of our yearly earnings to help educate women abroad.