Denver Vendor Spotlight: Tribe Vibe Apparel
What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
The fact that every single shirt is hand-painted and essentially unique in its own way is something that really helps my work through Tribe Vibe stand out. When people see Tribe Vibe Apparel they often ask me questions that seem to come from genuine curiosity, and that is how I know I landed on something different and unique. With hand-painted shirts there is a texture and vibrancy that pops in a way that you can’t find with screen printing. Also, I really believe that when paint is delivered from hand to any type of canvas, an energy travels with it. This energy and rawness is the main reason I love art and with that I made the promise that every article of Tribe Vibe clothing will be individually hand-painted.
What sort of things inspire you? Where do you look for inspiration?
Nature is home to me. It is the place I feel the most comfortable and the most at ease. I pull a lot of my inspiration from the natural world around us. Oftentimes I have to remove myself from the city and take a productive hiatus up in the mountains or somewhere surrounded by nature in order to find the inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation that I need to continue moving forward. As you can see with Tribe Vibe, the designs and message behind my company is centered around connecting with nature and to each other, this worldly tribe we are all a part of. With that being said, I am also very much so an intellectual and I pull a lot of my inspiration and ideas from great thinkers that have walked this Earth. Two of the most influential people in my life are Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process is quite a roller coaster ride, which is probably similar to most people! When it comes to creation, I usually start the process up in my mind. I am a thinker by default and I certainly can spend a lot of time up in a very heady space. In order to really dive into the creative juice, however, it is essential for me to bring whatever is brewing up in the mind down into the heart. That is where the magic happens. When I overthink the process, which I can easily do, I have a much more difficult time with the fluidity of creation. At some point, I have to allow myself to drop in to the heart, let go of the mind, and just feel it out. I try and look at it like I am not in control of the process, and the more I try and control it intellectually, the more in my own way I get.
What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I don’t know if this was necessarily a tip, but it came from a mentor of mine who has helped me immensely in my creative growth. He pointed something out to me that genuinely struck me as a personal truth. When I decided to start my own business and essentially start painting on shirts as a way to reach a larger audience in a more efficient way, he mentioned to me that it is clear that my art is about delivering a message out to the world. He has encouraged me to keep painting on canvas, which I do, but affirmed that Tribe Vibe would help me to reach a larger audience and that is exactly what it is doing.
Where can we learn more about you?
You can learn more about Tribe Vibe Apparel at www.tribevibeapparel.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/tribevibeapparel
Instagram - www.instagram.com/tribevibeapparel
Twitter - www.twitter.com/_tribevibe_
Also if you are interested in exploring more about me as a fine artist you can find my portfolio at www.artbyalexavarano.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/artbyalexavarano
Instagram - www.instagram.com/alexavarano_art