Today we’d like to introduce you to Bird Club. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Wanting to make clothing that was always “Fly”, the name Bird Club came about. Since then, our motto has always been “stay fly”. In 2006 the first Bird Club idea came to life on a t-shirt. Originally, 11 shirts were produced for friends to wear and flood the famed event “Sneaker Pimps”. Eleven “one color” shirts were all the budget could accommodate after quickly learning about the costs of screen printing (per) color and set up fees. The acronym K.R.E.A.M was laid as a chest print on the shirts. We used the nostalgic “DARE” shirt font to give it a recognizable look. Under it read, “Kicks Rule Everything Around Me” in the same color. After the positive response from random attendees, the decision was made to brainstorm and produce more shirts. Registering a booth at every local sneaker event that came through Miami helped build the name locally. Our Miami-themed sneaker tees captured the locals’ hearts. As every show passed, more recognition was developed, grabbing the attention of more locals. The social platform “Myspace” came along which helped the brand connect with a broader audience, celebrities, musicians, and athletes while also appearing in several films. Years later along with the tremendous support of my wife/travel partner, Bird Club tagged along with the traveling sneaker convention called SneakerCon.
With over 20,000 attendees a day the brand started getting recognized by sneakerheads from cities all over the U.S. as Miami’s Sneaker Tees brand. It was fun to hear people come to the booth and say, “Y’all Bird Club? From Miami right?” As the demand grew so did the chain of supply. We started venturing to create a more rounded line of clothing to enhance our portfolio. Bird Club now offers a broader range of sneaker apparel and streetwear other than just t-shirts. Bomber Jackets, joggers, hats, basketball shorts, and socks are just a few of the items we offer our clientele. Our printing has broadened as well adding more elaborate methods such as cut and sewn, sublimation, and DTG. Bird Club Sneaker Tees prides itself and continues to lead the sneaker matching market by providing the best sneaker-themed options to match your kicks the right way. No matter the circumstance Bird Club will always represent Miami all day every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Never a smooth road. Many lessons and bumps have been experienced throughout the way. For starters, screen printing charges were an eye-opener on my first attempt. My first design was elaborate and full of color. Not knowing that each color requires a screen and each screen is a charge, that design was quoted at almost one thousand dollars. So the adjustment was quickly made and learned. Profit margins were a struggle at the beginning while trying to find the sensible production cost for profit. While traveling for shows, there have been occasions where luggages full of inventory were lost or delayed, leaving me without the planned items to showcase. Luckily my wife traveled with me and her support and calmness helped me not freak out. Dealing with overseas manufacturers were once a struggle, finding the right quality and timeframes. The Covid pandemic also delayed a lot of shipments, therefore causing release day delays. All in all, every setback has been a blessing in disguise as the frustrations have led to education and smarter moves for the long run.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bird Club strives in bringing designs that the Powerhouse corporations do not think of with designs to match the colors and themes of the selected footwear. Growing up as a Micheal Jordan fan, and NBA fan, a sneaker lover, and a sports fan in general, the nostalgic creations of that era have been instilled in me and have definitely given Bird Club the edge in creating for the present generation. Browsing some of our products will definitely bring back some memories.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love working with others, especially Miami locals. I love bringing more exposure to the city. I’ve worked with many rap/hip hop artists both local and worldwide. I’ve designed for other clothing brands and sneaker brands so I’m not hard to get in touch with. You can go to the site and email me or get my attention on IG. You don’t have to buy from me to support, a simple follow is appreciated.
Contact Info:
- Email: Birdcluborders@aol.com
- Website: www.birdclubclothing.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdclub06
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AirJordanShirts
- Twitter: @birdclubclothin
Image Credits
Photos by Bird Club
