July 2008 - Oct 2011 - Los Angeles
As one of the brand's first two employees, I worked alongside the founder to help build Caulfield Preparatory from the ground up. My role extended well beyond designing clothes, contributing to graphics, brand identity, production, campaign development, casting, styling, and feeding into the creative direction of each collection.
It was an early lesson in storytelling through a distinct point of view, where product, imagery, and brand all worked together to create something larger than the clothes themselves.
One of the first decisions of my career was choosing between joining an established brand and helping build a new one from the ground up. I chose to build. It became the foundation for much of how I approach creative work today.
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Origin:
Founded in 2009, Caulfield Preparatory was an independent menswear label built around storytelling, character, and Americana. Inspired by the world of Holden Caulfield, each collection expanded an ongoing narrative through clothing, graphics, photography, and product.
GQ’s BESt NEW AMERICAN DESIGNER 2010 NOMINATION
The Story:
Every collection followed the ongoing story of Finnegan Nash Sinclair, a fictional protagonist setting out on a journey of self-discovery after the death of his grandfather. Each collection became another chapter in his journey, leading him to unlikely places, eccentric characters, and quiet discoveries, revealed through clothing, imagery, and a growing archive of objects gathered along the way.
The collections rarely began with fashion. They began with things. A compass. A military button. An Agatha Christie novel. A faded postcard. A piece of nautical ephemera found at a flea market. They weren't references as much as clues, hinting at a larger world just beyond the frame.
CHAPTER 1
Storytellers, Fabulists & Liars
Chapter 1:
LA -> NY
via Automobile
Chapter 1: LA -> NY via Automobile
CHAPTER 2
Hints, Glances & Silences
Chapter 2:
NY -> ???
via Boat
Chapter 2: NY -> ??? via Boat
CHAPTER 3
Espionage, Lies, & Phantoms
Chapter 3:
Secret Island?
via Shipwreck
Chapter 3: Secret Island? via Shipwreck
CHAPTER 4
A Hero Never Smiles
Chapter 4:
Secret Island -> The Swiss Alps
via Sea Plane
Chapter 4: Secret Island -> The Swiss Alps via Sea Plane
CHAPTER 5
The Journey Is the Thing
Chapter 5:
SUI -> AFR
via River Boat, Elephant
Chapter 5: SUI -> AFR via River Boat, Elephant
STOCKED AT
:
BLOOMINGDALES
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BLUE BEE , SANTA BARBARA
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REVOLVE
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ODIN, NY
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AMERICAN RAG , LA
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BLACKBRID, SEATTLE
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AND MORE
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STOCKED AT : BLOOMINGDALES - BLUE BEE , SANTA BARBARA - REVOLVE - ODIN, NY - AMERICAN RAG , LA - BLACKBRID, SEATTLE - AND MORE -
BRAND IDENTITY & LOGO SYSTEMS
Developed in collaboration with founder / creative director , the Caulfield Preparatory identity evolved over several seasons. Drawing inspiration from heritage publishing, Ivy League insignia, and collegiate typography, I helped shape the visual direction of the system, hand-illustrating the original crest and contributing to the development of the supporting marks, which were later refined and finalized by graphic designer Lance Freitag.
