Can a T-Shirt provoke social change? Brooklyn native Michael Cordero is attempting to do just that with 1 SOUL, an independent clothing company and fashion line.
With an eclectic mix of urban hip-hop, pop-rock and 70s soul designs, 1 SOUL touts itself as a “forum for raising consciousness in the community,” as well as being a funky breath of fashionable air. Since February 2004, Cordero and company have been designing and selling their wares and message to local communities. Profits from the clothing line have, in turn, been used to help fund youth development projects and various conscious-raising efforts in New York, San Francisco, Cuba, Vieques, Mexico and Guatemala.
Recent projects include the 2006 “Trust Your Hustle Tour,” which took them to Oaxaca and Guatemala. Their time spent creating social conscious murals and starting a youth blog for students from El Puente Academy in New York City helped in “guiding them in their entrepreneurial and fashion aspirations.”
Who wears 1 SOUL? “We have dressed a lot of artists like Mayda del Valle, Mario, Bobby Valentino, Sean Paul, Nina Sky, and a lot of indie artists, like GAME Rebellion, Soul Dean, Phase 1, Blowout, and Richie Rivera,” says Cordero.
Notable Pieces
The hottest women’s tee is the “Power of Word” shirt, sleeveless and sexy, and long enough to be worn with a cool, hip-hugging belt. Its message is geared toward spoken-word artists: “Your words will change the world.”
In the men’s line, I can’t resist the black, contrasted-collar short-sleeve ringer tee that quotes Sam Cooke, “A Change Gonna Come…”
1 SOUL lives its mission, “…inspiring, educating and stimulating the public…” and creating a wave of “change through culture, spirit, thought and political awareness.” And it does so with a generous helping of style.
You can read more about 1 SOUL, its myriad of causes and projects, and peruse their apparel at 1souldesigns.com. or at myspace.com/1souldesigns
Comments
Posted by: Mikey 1SOUL at June 16, 2007 3:29 PM
Thanks for the feature homie!
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