Be Your Own Cool, Cool Life Livin

After about six months of scheduling conflicts, I finally got a chance to sit down and talk with Mr. Cool Life Livin, Nick Reynolds.

Quim: Give the readers a little background on yourself.

NR: I am a senior/soon to be graduate at CMU.  I’m majoring in Entrepreneurship and minoring in Advertisement.  I’ve always been a simplistic type of guy when it came to fashion.  I never really liked to stand out.  I would a have never guessed in a million years that I would be in the fashion industry.

Quim: What is the drive & inspiration behind C.L.L?  What does C.L.L. stand for?  What does it mean?

NR: Cool Life Livin is what you make it.  Whats cool to you may not be cool to me, but who am I to judge you and who are you to judge me.  C.L.L. started as a simple slogan that I would say with friends.  One day for a final exam in a printing class here on campus I decided to screen print the slogan on a few old T-shirts because I thought it would be cool.  Long story short, people loved it and that’s when I knew I had something going for me.  As the brand began to grow, so did the meaning behind it.  Morphing from a brand to a Movement.  A movement that everyone can live by.  “Be Your Own Cool” simple, yet powerful.

Quim: What separates C.L.L. from other clothing companies, and what separates you from other designers?

NR: A lot of brands try to separate people by forming cliques.  That’s why I jokingly say to friends that Cool Life Livin is ‘Anti-Ed Hardy’.  That’s not a low blow to Ed Hardy its just the way I feel.  Throughout my 22 years of life, I have come to meet a lot of interesting people.  I’ve realized that everyone is different in their own way.  Many people are mistreated because they’re different, and my question is “What’s wrong with being different?”  I was cool with everyone in high school, from the jocks to the “nerds”.  I would be posted with the “Cool kids” in hallway one minute, and the next minute you can catch me in AP Art drawing up some weird design.  We were all born originals, why die a copy?

Suicide and bullying are a huge issue throughout the U.S. almost everyone as been affected in some sort of way. People always talk about the problem but never really seem to do much about it. That’s where I come in. We are a dynamic clothing company that will help in contributing in the success of a new culture movement. To inspire people to be themselves by offering a unique style of clothing that is a combination of art and fashion. We plan on sponsoring and developing charities that align with our movement such as Anti-Bullying and Suicide awareness.

Quim: What separates C.L.L. from other clothing companies?

NR: Remember when I said our clothing was a combination of art and fashion.  Well I like to think that we stay ahead of our competitors when it comes to designs.  A lot of our competitors put clip art or a corny slogan that has no meaning on their gear.  I’m not trying to be rude, but it is what it is.  Us on the other hand, all of our design are hand drawn by me personally and I’m serious about my art.

Quim: What was your last big project for C.L.L.?  What’s the next big thing to look out for?

NR: Our last big project was the CMU vs. MSU shirt designs, which featured an arrow piercing a spartan helmet.  Even though CMU didn’t win, it still got the point across.

The latest thing to check out is the Cool Life Livin Street Team called the “Wise Men”. The “Wise Men” are all about the feeling of unity.  We plan on spreading that feeling with a simple smile and conversation.  Our mission is to motivate people to be themselves and that everyone is cool in his and her own way.  We are a team of artists, photographers, writers, promoters, and creative thinkers.  Artists determine the culture of a population and together we can be the change we wish to see.  You will definitely see a lot from the “Wise men” this year.

I really want to thank Nick Reynolds for sitting and talking to me.  He runs a great company, and is one of the premiere student-run businesses around Central Michigan University’s campus.  Additionally having a major in common, as well as both working for the Kruue college endorsement label has really given us a chance to talk, network, and brainstorm future ideas.

Cool Life Livin sells a wide variety of men’s and women’s t-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, and more.  Be sure to check out their website (including the online store).  And stay up to date with C.L.L.’s projects by liking the Facebook page and following the Twitter.

“We were all born originals, why die a copy?” – Nick Reynolds.