Chances are if you don’t already own the script Ohio shirt from Homage yourself, you know somebody that does. The shirt has become a beacon for fellow Ohioans, showing off state pride to school loyalty – and that’s just the way Founder Ryan Vesler intended.
Vesler’s life has largely been a pursuit of passions. From majoring in Spanish at Ohio University because it was simply something he wanted to learn about (versus thinking of it as a career path), or selling vintage clothing on Ebay (which would be a pre-courser to Homage) after discovering a love for vintage t-shirts, he’s always done his own thing.
“When people tell me ‘No’ I generally want to prove them wrong, because I get an idea in my head and I stick to it,” Vesler says.
Vesler’s vintage-inspired t-shirt and apparel company Homage morphed out of his younger days of selling vintage clothing. He realized to have a sustainable business, he’d have to throw some new clothes in the mix. Homage started small, doing pop-ups in other Short North storefronts and perusing festivals, but has now grown to a prominent Short North brick-and-mortar (with another at Easton), a recently-opened Cincinnati location, and an in-the-works Cleveland venture.
The t-shirt market is a crowded one, so during the Podcast Vesler discusses what makes Homage different and how they’ve built their nearly instantly-recognizable-in-Columbus brand. He discusses how every t-shirt starts with ‘Why?’
“IÂ always prefer to start with the ‘Why?’ behind things and I think that guides the design, the creative process,” he says.
Finally, hear what’s in store for Homage as the company evolves (hint: it involves a line of basics).
https://soundcloud.com/columbus-chamber/cbuzz-episode-05-ryan-vesler-homage
The Columbus Chamber and CD102.5 have partnered to bring the first business-themed podcast to Columbus. During cbuzz, host and local comedian Dan Swartwout will speak with local business owners and entrepreneurs and allow them to tell their story and highlight their organization, while further inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit that is buzzing in the city.
Want to hear more? Visit columbus.org/resources/podcasts for new podcasts every other week.
To subscribe to cbuzz on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to cbuzz on Sound Cloud, click here.
