Streetwear Spotlight: E.R.O.S. Airo Valley

[Stephan Bobb]

Streetwear Spotlight: E.R.O.S. Airo Valley

Article written by: Asmara Wreksono
Posted on: July 15, 2011

College is usually where it all started because that’s the place to experiment on love, life and also business. At SoJones.com, we receive many success stories from young entrepreneurs who started their clothing line business as a class project. But there are only few that holds on to what it started as. This time we came across E.R.O.S. Airo Valley and chatted a bit with John Mac, the brain behind the brand. Let’s get to know this new streetwear line better.

Introduce yourself and describe how your brand was started?
Hey whats up! I’m John Mac, owner and president of (E.R.O.S.) Airo Valley. Established in the fall of 2009 as a simple class project, the brand instantly exploded across the south with our first release. The shirts expressed messages of hope, determination, and hard work through unique designs. With college friends Jonathan Lewis, Wellington August, and Robyn Paige help the vision for the company took off..which has brought us to today with the company in the hands of myself and Robyn continuing to grow,explore, and express everyday experiences through our brand.

Describe this season’s theme for your line. Include any sources of inspiration (examples: 80′s punk, muses like Amber Rose, 70′s disco bands, Kanye, etc) 
Our 2011 Spring/Summer line is motivated by classical summer vacations and voyages! The best thing about a summer vaction is that you never know what to expect. They are full of oppurtunity, adventures, and fun that you must embrace. This is our message that we send across and express through “E.R.O.S. Summer Voyage”!

Any product placements on celebs to keep an eye out for (examples: publicity photos, magazines, movies, music videos etc)
Celebrities Big Sean, Teryy Kennedy, LiL Chuckee, The Cool Kids, Actor Evan Ross, Kirk Franklin and many more upcoming stars(Viewable through our site). Also artist Dee-1 will be rocking on of our button down in his MTV music video premier with Mannie Fresh for “The One That got Away”

What has been a surprise fashion hit over the last year? (a particular piece, a look or even another brand) 
The Wiz Khalifa hair patch. I personally thought it was cool for him to do it, but now it seems like everywhere I turn there’s another patch. I’ll just say it’s not for everybody.

What current fashion trend would you like to see thrown overboard? 
Shirts that have designs with wayyy too much stuff going. Sometimes less can be more.

What is/was one of your most prized fashion pieces, past or present?
My most prized fashion piece would have to be the very first shirt that Airo Valley produced because it’s a constant reminder to me on how far I have come.

TuPac or Biggie?
Tupac, there’s a million reasons why. But I’ll just leave it at b/c he sought,expressed, & explored the reality and truth of life through his music. Summed up in his famous verse from “Changes” “I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself, “Is life worth living or should I blast myself?”

Check out more E.R.O.S. Airo Valley awesomeness over at the brand’s website:www.eroscloset.com. Get updated about the brand’s newest collection on Facebook and stalk them on Twitter too!

For more E.R.O.S. Airo Valley sneak peek, check our gallery below.