Ashleigh Botens
eSomethin Staff
Are you getting tired of the modern style of today and looking to have a new exclusive taste in clothing? Do you want new, unique clothes and to help a new small business in the area?
Check out Artsy Apparel, a clothing line owned by Chris Botens, a 2019 alum of PHS.
Before Artsy Apparel, Botens founded a business called 419kicks that he still runs today, a shoe business that he started during COVID with his friend, Ahmed Saleh. Botens buys shoes, mostly Nike, then resell the shoes for profit. Botens also customizes shoes through by hydro dipping, which is when water transfers print onto shoes. After three years of doing 419kicks, Botens wanted to start something new.
“I wanted to have something of my own. Doing shoes is fun but it’s not just my custom item. I wanted something of myself,” Botens said.
An idea came to him, with his dream of having his own clothing line then became a reality. Botens opened “Artsy Apparel” and announced in September of this year.
Botens first started with only one design that he planned out since the idea of Artsy Apparel and wanted to release it first and quickly. Since September has released more designs that are different in their own way.
“In high school I always was into clothes, and always wanted to be nicely dressed even for school” Botens stated.
Botens designs apparel then outsources manufacturing to a company to get the design on the clothes. The clothes are then shipped to Botens to sell.
Even though Botens has had the business up for a couple of months he’s proud that his love for clothing made him able to create his own business. If interested in more information on Artsy Apparel, the socials for the business are listed here: Instagram- @theartsyapparel @419kicks @chrisbotens
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- Photo gallery: PHS art club hosts annual art show on May 9
- The Artsy Apparel is a new local business founded by a PHS grad
- Muslim student association hosts a second multicultural food day this school year featuring all heritage clubs
- Splash! PHS seniors play assassin game to finish the year with a bang
- eSomethin’s Ari Collins wins Munger Award
