“Hey guys! Do you like my new clothes?” Although many students would automatically assume this question refers to new fashion at the mall, the latest shirts around campus are made by senior Claire Couch. Couch has started making her own T-shirt designs for her new clothing line, Clouch.
Clouch all began with a school project last school year.
“In MAP (Media Arts Program) class, we had to do a project where I had to make a superhero costume, so I put a person’s face on a T-shirt, and everyone said ‘Oh! That’s so cool!’ and suggested I start making shirts, so I started,” Couch said. “Then people began getting more and more interested, so I started selling them.”
Couch sells her homemade T-shirts for $10 to $12 and has sold more than 15 thus far.
“Clouch shirts are very personal,” said senior Michael Zucarrino. “They aren’t just screened. They’re painted, and they have a lot of personality.”
“Being that this is a start-up business focused more on my love to design rather than produce massive profit, I charge the bare minimum to stay afloat,” said Couch. “There’s no better feeling than walking the halls and seeing someone wearing their Clouch original tee.”
In addition, Clouch’s Facebook promotion page is updated with information and photographs. In order to buy or have a special shirt made, anyone can message Couch through her Facebook page ‘Clouch.’
Couch’s first T-shirt design was an image of her younger brother with a drawn-on mustache and beret.
“He had to dress up as a French explorer for a 4th grade explorer report, and one day he says, ‘Claire! Check your email!’ so I open up my email and see this image where his beret actually looks like an afro,” Couch said. “So I emailed it to my sister thinking it looked hilarious and she said to put it on a shirt, so I did!”
Not only does Couch produce shirts, but she also sells hand bags as well as other items.
“I use a stencil, so anything that can be painted on can be made,” said Couch, who resourcefully makes her own stencils.
Couch uses sheet protectors, cuts them open, then puts them on an image and uses an exact-o-knife to to cut out the stencil.
“Making a stencil usually takes around two hours,” Couch said. “Then painting the shirt usually takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.”
After the stencil is finished, Couch paints on the design with fabric paint. With 12 stock designs and more possible designs due to custom orders, Clouch has quickly grown.
Currently, Couch’s main hope for Clouch is to keep producing unique T-shirts that people enjoy wearing.
“I’m just having a lovely time designing and producing orders as they come in,” Couch said. “My goal is not for Clouch to rule the world, but to have fun and see where it leads me.”