600 Block shop home to rare apparel
Written by Victoria Salazar, Mar 28, 2012, 0 Comments
Only three stores in the world sell Basquiat Couture and 1 of 1 Customs from the 600 Block is one of them.
1 of 1 Customs is known for customizing anything you ask them to, from hats to shoes and even turtle shells. Geary Taylor, also known as Rasta, has been painting his entire life until one day someone asked him to paint shoes. He now owns 1 of 1 Customs and hand-paints on almost every material given to him.
Almost one year ago, Rasta got word of a clothing line inspired by one of his favorite artists growing up.
“I met his sisters through Daddy Kool Records who saw an ad and emailed them and I got an email back,” Rasta said.
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an artist most famous in New York whose paintings sold for around $15 million. When Basquiat was first starting out, he would associate himself with famous people so he could be seen as famous as well.
“He used to paint in Armino clothes,” Rasta said. “He also had childlike scribbles but he was very educated.”
After his untimely death at the age of 27 in 1981, his sisters decided to release a clothing line featuring their brother’s art, calling it Basquiat Couture.
Once Rasta got the license to sell Basquiat Couture, he made One Love Gallery, which is located at the front part of Rhino Studios in the 600 Block.
“I already had the front part of Rhino Studios for local artists to have another place to show their work,” Rasta said. “It’s One Love Gallery because it fit the vibe of the store and St. Pete.”
The clothing line has only been selling for about eight months but it has done so well that Rasta sold out and is on his second shipment. Some hats are sold but the clothing line has mainly stuck with shirts and dresses. Basquiat was one of Rasta’s favorite artists growing up, but that is not the only reason he decided to sell the Basquiat Couture line.
“The city needed to be educated, he was one of America’s top artists and he had an underground feel,” Rasta said. “Most people who buy the shirts are already educated and a lot of compliments and conversations come up when the shirts are worn.”
Only two locations in the U.S. and only one outside of the U.S. sell the Basquiat Couture line. Chicago and Japan are also retail locations that sell the Basquiat Couture. The men’s boutiques in Chicago and Japan are high end that sell the merchandise for almost double One Love Gallery’s prices.
“It’s sold here from somewhere between $40 and $70, but $90 at the other stores,” Rasta said.
Reebok tried to release a Basquiat clothing line but Basquiat’s sisters and father did not authorize it and it did not do well. Both Chicago and St. Petersburg are restricted on which merchandise they can sell.
“The U.S. only has rights to certain images,” Rasta said.
Rasta keeps a close relationship with Basquiat’s sisters and tries to help design for them.
“I actually didn’t even know it was his real sisters when they contacted me to start the clothing store,” Rasta said.
[box_dark]659 Central Ave.
St.Petersburg FL, 3370
http://www.1of1customs.com[/box_dark]
