PRODUCT OF THE DAY/INSPIRATION- DC VARSITY TEE

My cousin had a dope custom Georgia Bulldogs jacket.I wanted it so bad. So when I went to SF Pier 39 to buy it, I asked for it but the salesman must of thought I said "Georgetown" instead of "Georgia." I liked it so much that I bought it instead of Georgia. After buying it, I figured out what the Hoyas were all about. By then that they just won the national championship and Patrick Ewing was one of the best college players (shout out to Gene Smith/UNDRCRWN sales agency superstar. He was on the championship team) heading into the NBA draft. So since then I supported the Hoyas.
When Allen Iverson got there, I just liked the fact that he was in jail before the season and was an All-American quarterback. Plus his crossover was crazy. Teaming up with one of my favorite/least known players Victor Page they had one of the illest backcourts ever.
Buy the t-shirt here.


- DOC CIRCA 1988

MY NEW LOGO

LIVING PROOF SPEAKER SERIES

Last week I was invited to the Harlem Boys and Girls Club, "Living Proof Series" to speak to kids about my career.
Also speaking was Nike EKIN, Will Eberhart. Wow, what a story. I found out that Will was working with AND1 before I was there, went to school in the Bay and now at Nike as an EKIN. Small world.

Looking back it's pretty crazy that I left the Bay Area 10 years ago and have been able to see and do as much as I have so far (key words, "so far") I'm glad I get an opportunity to explain to kids that there are more opportunities in the basketball industry then just playing.

Thanks to Manny and all the kids that showed up. Next time I think I want to have a 3 point shoot out with all the kids for t-shirts. Only thing is that there might not be many shirts given away.

SNEAKER FREAKER INTERVIEWS ME.

Look for the second delivery of Mos Def coming soon.

Read the interview here.

MOS DEF COLLECTION BY DUSTIN CANALIN FOR UNDRCRWN 1.O DROPS TODAY

Quick note. We had this version of Brooklyn We Go Hard for almost 3 weeks. We slept.


So the story goes like this. Mos Def was spotted multiple times wearing UNDRCRWN product in our first year. Eventually he finds us at the Magic show in Las Vegas in February of 2008. We exchanged props and went our separate ways. A few weeks later he was driving through Philly (home of UNDRCRWN Headquarters). He hit us up. To make a long story short, he and I talked about design and the next thing you know he was in Philly for a week and we had already presented a collection and worked out a deal with adidas for a shoe (The shoe was later cancelled. Not sure why. Mos really wants the shoe to happen as do retailers...We'll see).

Fast forward to August 2009, I had already become Mos Def's official design team. I've created t-shirts, graphics and other materials for his Watermelon Syndicate tour, Rock the Bells and other shows. He always performs with a rug that we created for him as a personal gift.

We debuted the entire collection in Vegas at the August Magic. We had a huge party. Outside of Mistah Fab killing the cipher, the show was a complete success. Click here to see the legendary moment. Asher Roth, Mos Def & Beanie Siegal.



The inspiration behind the line is from the Dead Prez RBG (Revolutionary but Gangsta) Album. Mos drew on napkins and small pieces of paper little symbols that represented his life and who he is. I took those symbols and incorporated them into the Mos Def version of the RBG print.



There will be 2 releases of his product. Tees first and then the Cut & Sew Collection in early April.




Purchase the collection here.

or at karmaloop.com

or undrcrwn.com

FIGHTING CHICKEN

Inspired by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. UNDRCRWN brings you our version of the St. Patty's day T-shirt.

AVAILABLE AT UNDRCRWN.com


Official Press Release:
There’s more to St. Patrick’s Day than Green Guiness and corned beef hash.
March 17th will soon be upon us and to commemorate this years festivities (aka an excuse to start drinking at 9am)- UNDRCRWN is releasing A St. Patty’s inspired Tee based on the inafmous UNDRCRWN mascot- Roscoe the Chicken.
Available for purchase at undrcrwn.com

INSPIRATION OR NOT?

As a designer you always run up against imitation. Is it the greatest form of flattery?
What is flattery? Props? Adda-boy!'s? Hi5's? Last time I checked, my rent can't be paid with any of those. Although I realize that there is a fine line between originality and plagiarism, but when an idea is not expanded, pushed further or just blatantly ripped off I think that someone should say something.

I do realize that I was inspired by certain things that they may say I ripped off. But in this case the way it was flipped and made into our own creation is undeniable.

I am in no way talking shit but more proposing an offer. These huge companies that have millions of dollars and are trying to "get IT" or "figure IT out" should go to the source. I understand Canal St. but not these big brands. They have too much money and resources. I have a lot of friends that run & design for both sides of the coin. In the big corporate side and the small independent brands. There is too much credibility everywhere to allow these things to happen.

So LRG, Brand Jordan please go to the source. my email address is dustin@undrcrwn.com

Believe me if you think UNDRCRWN is a threat to Jordan Brand or LRG, please... I can only dream. It's not that serious.
My portfolio can be viewed here.

ENCORE COLLECTION

Just wanted to show everyone a collection that is long overdue. We've had tons of requests for older t-shirts that people wanted us to bring back. This summer we will be launching the ENCORE COLLECTION that will consist of some of our classics, as well as some new tees that represent the vintage heritage aesthetic. All ENCORE tees will be printed on a premium t-shirt. See below for the official press release.







OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Combining the brand’s incomparable authenticity with a basketball nostalgia UNDRCRWN is set to release the inagural Encore Collection In Summer 2009

The Encore Collection takes on an "old versus new" approach that will be embedded throughout the entire apparel line. Within the new collection- The brand will re-release some of their most iconic models and infuse new pillars of style into some of their most timeless designs. Re-released classics include: Dyansty, UNDRCRWN Theory and Play Ball T-Shirts.

The aim of the Encore Collection is to pay homage to UNDRCRWN's roots in sport heritage. Dustin Canalin, UNDRCRWN Creative Director, explains "Our brand appeals to a diverse audience. From basketball fans to fashionistas - this new collection will offer a fresh take on nostalgic basketball apparel with a unique mix of humor, style and sport."

PrODUCT OF THE DAY- VARSITY SWEATER

This is one of my favorite pieces that has been released under the UNDRCRWN brand.
Product Description: 100% acrylic sweater jacket. Lined in butter soft satin. Felt appliques on the back. Embroidered bottom left hem and sleeve. This sweater jacket was inspired by the "Happy Days". All original materials and fit make this piece a true vintage throwback.

Already worn by Asher Roth and the might Mos Def.




Buy it here.

Shoni Schimmel... You're welcome!

UNDRCRWN's own Bryon Sheng called me last year sometime and told me that he was driving out to the middle of Oregon to an native american reservation in Pendelton (yes hipsters, the Pendelton where they make some amazing wool shirts) to watch a 15 year old girl play basketball. Bryon coaches the Oregon Reign, a perennial girls AAU basketball team in Portland. They're the truth.

So he calls me on the way back and was trying to explain that this girl was throwing balls off girls heads, hitting 35ft. 3 pointers on the fast break, making girls fall down and at the end of the game having some ridiculous stalie like 40 -12-15. Sounded like an exaggeration or some sort of urban legend.

Fast forward a year and she's in the top 5 for all Junior recruits coming out of Highschool. She is filming a documentary on the story and a ton of press.

So I haven't had the proper footage to truly explain that Bryon wasn't exaggerating... until now.
Check the footage. You're welcome!

Player Spotlight: Franklin's Shoni Schimmel

JASON RICHARDSON LOGO

So... I was asked to design a new logo for Jason Richardson of the Pheonix Suns and of the greatest dunkers ever.
I designed a couple of options that he had a hard time choosing between. He eventually chose one and then posted it on his twitter page earlier today to announce it to the world.
But...
In todays world of instant gratification, people were excited to see the new logo and began commenting/critiquing, judging the logo via twitter comments.

So J-Rich decided he wanted to have a contest to see what the fans liked most. He posted 2 of my options and a few others that were submitted a while back.


So go check out J-Rich's twitter page and vote for your favorite (which better be mine.)
vote here

VOTE FOR OPTION 1
I also did OPTION 5

PRODUCT OF THE DAY- THE BOMB TEE

I'm not sure when I came up with this shirt. Might of been the economy talks 6 months back. Boy were we right.
From the brand on the verge of blowuptuation (that's not my word, It's Jamie Foxx.)

BUY IT HERE!

UNDRCRWN SPRING 2009 DEL. 1

Spring 2009 Lookbook is out. All products are available at UNDRCRWN retailers now.

You can find this and many other products online at undrcrwn.com or  Karmaloop .

20% OFF

Since I like you, I'm offering a discount off of UNDRCRWN dot com. Simply enter the code "SPRING" at checkout and receive 20% off. New stuff will be popping up every day. So check in often.

We also switched up the look of the site. We'll be updating things more often so that you can know what's going on in the world of UNDRCRWN.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

ASHER ROTH

Our partnership makes sense in so many ways.

BARKLEY APOLOGY

Last night Charles Barkley appeared on TNT after a few weeks off. 

I'm a huge fan of him and his on air persona... So I decided not to release this tee.

But I thought it was funny enough to show. 

Respond to this post if you think we should make it. If I get 50 responses we'll make them especially for you.

From AP

The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Charles Barkley usually doesn't pull any punches. And that is also true in the way he's handling his latest embarrassment: his arrest for drunken driving.

The Leeds, Ala. native and ex-Auburn basketball standout says he will "never get behind the wheel" when he's drunk and is encouraging other people to do the same.

Barley made the comments on his return to work, work in this case being the NBA telecasts on TNT. He says he "embarrassed everybody" in his life and he is sorry about that. And he says he learned during his situation that he has a lot of friends and that there are a lot of good people in the world.

Another apology just for fun.

LIL PENNY

So lately as I'm out just chillin' I've been bumping in to a lot of old friends throughout the industry. Other designers, owners of companies, writers, dj's, artists, etc. etc. But the one person that is also making his rounds as well is one of my childhood favorites. Well maybe not childhood but teen hood. Lil Penny has been wild'n. Must not be messing with Tyra any more. 

Check him out at Santos last friday with the good dude Rich Medina (look for more to come with UNDRCRWN and Rich) and Q-tip. He was also spotted in Harlem buying an Obama Tee. And somehow he mangaged to get into NIKE ID to customize something. Can't wait to see those. Not sure how he got those tickets to the Knicks vs. Kobe. 

I'm sure I'll bump into him soon.