This school year, the coolest fashion trends could be found walking the halls of Claver Castle thanks to our new merchandise created by Bobby Fuse, a BWS parent and talented designer. We touched base with him to learn more about his background in design and where he draws his inspiration from, particularly when it came to this year’s merch! See a full transcript of the interview below:
1. Where did you draw inspiration from to create the 2021/2022 BWS merchandise?
I wanted to pay homage to Bed Stuy while still making something universal and fresh for the school. I’m also a fan of Kyle Blue of Everything Type Company’s re-design of the BWS logo and I felt that it would look great on apparel in large scale. The distressed logo hoodie was inspired by the social distance stencils on the sidewalk surrounding the school. The use of “Spread Love”(it’s the Brooklyn way) on the t-shirts is a nod to the unofficial slogan of Brooklyn.
2. How did you get into design?
It was something that came out my love for all things cool and well made – art, music, style, etc. I actually wanted my focus to be illustration and I learned how to apply that understanding to graphic design and production.
3. Any exciting upcoming projects or ideas?
There’s lots of new things on the horizon with Spike’s Joint where I work as creative director. I’m also working on several new artist prints and other top secret projects.
4. Do you have a personal favorite from the BWS collection (beanie, sweatshirt, long sleeve, t-shirt)?
Hmmmm. The hoodie is certainly my favorite.
We have Bobby Fuse and Ms. Griffin, our rising 7th grade teacher, to thank for bringing these unique designs to life. Coincidentally, the 2021/2022 6th grade class was just beginning their Business Math ‘block’ when the merchandise was delivered on our doorstep at Claver Castle – perfect timing! They designed marketing materials, used enthusiastic sales tactics to lure customers in, and kept inventory. The students did a fantastic job and soon most classes and administrative offices were a sea of black, teal, and terracotta beanies, hoodies, and shirts.
If you or someone you know would like to get your hands on the latest BWS merchandise, please fill out this quick and easy form!
A warm thank you goes out to Bobby Fuse for participating in the above interview. Make sure to check out his designs via his website, FuseGreen.
