Recent economic shifts within the surfing industry have slowly shifted consumer tastes in clothing & design away from the mainstream big-box labels, and more towards supporting the independent artists and clothing designers. It seems that an increasingly large number of shoppers and consumers have come to the conclusion that the lone business person or artisan is where most of our energies as “fashionistas” should go … as far as support and financial preferences are concerned.

In the spirit of this new found attitude towards the fashion industry – no offence to mega-corporations like Roxy and Quiksilver – we at iJS would like to introduce some of our favorite fashion and clothing peeps in the surf industry … starting today with BirdSwell.

The love child of designer Julie-Ann Burkhart, BirdSwell is a surf inspired apparel collection out of Massachusetts, featuring wearable art dedicated to the surfing lifestyle.
The clothing featured on BirdSwell’s website pre-shrunk soft tees that feature original designs by Julie-Ann’s alter ego J-Bird, as explained by the website:

All designs are original creations by artist and surfer, Julie-Ann Burkhart (J-Bird). A bird is included in the design because it represents J-Bird, a bird’s free spirit, and because birds are part of the surfing and ocean experience.

Art and surfing are integral parts of J-Bird’s lifestyle and has shaped who she is today. The ocean makes her feel connected to nature and when she is in the water, there are no worries or stress. It is a natural and healthy release that she craves to the point that she has even become a winter New England surfer (frigid water and weather!)

The artwork featured on the shirts is what we love about BirdSwell.com’s clothing, mixing beautifully elegant and feminine lines with simple and familiar surf lines reminiscent of ocean waves.Additionally, the designs explode onto the shirts becoming part of the form as well as the funstion of the design … avoiding the centered and all too square featured on most surf fashion clothes designed to showcase brand name rather than design.

The fledgling surf clothing/apparel company is set to officially launch her incredibly original designs upon the surf world and fashion world on April 13, 2010 in Boston Massachusetts … so show her some love and check out the website, the designs, AND if you’re anywhere near the area go to the BirdSwell launch party!

Aloha and congratulation to Julie-Ann at BirdSwell, and we wish we could travel to Boston for your launch!

More fabulous designs from BirdSwell.com:

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