Capsule Interview Series: No Mas

PSFK: Why did you start designing?

Chris Isenberg: It happened by accident. I saw a photo of Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, wearing a t-shirt that I wanted. I made for myself and friends, and then so many people asked me where they could buy one that I realized there was a market for what I had made. I also quickly realized I had ideas for a lot of other pieces. Up until that point, I had worked as a journalist, and what was interesting to me then and now about clothing was that a garment could tell a story. I like the fact that the objects I make with No Mas have something fundamental in common with the things I write. It all comes from the same place.

How did you get involved with Capsule?

Daniel from Barking Irons introduced me to the Brand Pimps. Daniel’s ideas and clothes are amazing and he has been a good friend and an advisor to me about the ways of the clothing business.

What’s the inspiration/idea/theme behind this season?

Our current motto is: “The Thrill of Victory and the Ecstasy of Defeat”. We have an artist series by Mickey Duzyj that’s all about sporting disaster and tragedy from poker player Stu Ungar who overdosed on cocaine to the bullfighter Manolete who died in the ring. And then in our “The Pantheon by No Mas” collection we are mining the past directly and recreating graphics related to some of our athletic heroes like boxers Rubin Hurricane Carter and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and Seattle Slew the triple-crown winning race horse.

What would you be doing if you weren’t designing?

I split my time between designing and writing and making art. So if I wasn’t designing I would spend more time writing and maybe some more time at the beach.

What do you usually turn to for inspiration?

I like to look at sports artifacts: photographs, tickets, uniforms, t-shirts, books. I especially like illustrations and hand lettering. I find a lot of things I can work with in old auction catalogs.

What other designers/artists (of any kind) do you admire and why?

I am a huge fan of James Blagden and Mickey Duzyj and, artists and illustrators who I have had the pleasure to collaborate with. I also really like the paintings of David Rathman and Charles Miller who both have done beautiful work about boxing in the last year.

links: jamesblagden.com, mickeyduzyj.com, Charles Miller (www.jewishboxers.com)

What film/television has been inspiring you lately?

I really dig “The Wire”. I only started watching it last year, so I am way behind, which is good because I can get it on DVD and watch a bunch of episodes at once. That show is extremely well written and well constructed. It has great dialogue and I like the way it’s paced. They give you some credit for having an attention span.

What kind of music would you say “fits” your brand, if any?

“Don’t Get Weary Joe Frazier” by I-Roy. It’s about George Foreman beating up Joe Frazier in Jamaica. Also Dave Larzelere who is the online editor of No Mas is also an incredible musician. He wrote wrote song called “Ali Frazier” and another, very beautiful ballad about Bobby Chacon. This is music that comes from the same place that our writing or clothing come from so it definitely “fits” the brand.

What was the last show you went to?

I saw my friend’s band “The Woodland Creatures” at Black Betty in Brooklyn last week. The last show I payed for was Gang of Four at Irving Plaza, and it was worth it.

If you could go back in time five years and give yourself some advice, what would it be?

You have more inside you than you know how to use right now. Be patient and keep working hard.