Stitched Together

Imagine looking down the street and seeing someone wearing a long, wide-leg, grey-dusted pair of sweatpants with a pair of green-turf Birkenstocks. Now, while you might imagine this would be on the streets of Manhattan, this sight may be seen on the sidewalks of Tallahassee. With its college campuses and local arts scene, Tallahassee boasts a burgeoning fashion scene that rivals those of high-end fashion cities.

Josiah Turner and Adrian Holt, owners of Swank (SWNK-X9) and Tallwood Clothing, respectively, are contributing to the tapestry of Tallahassee’s growing fashion scene.

Tallwood Clothing

Envision crossing the calm street styles of brands like Loewe and Blumarine with the aesthetic of the swamps and Everglades that can be found throughout Florida. That is the best way to describe local-based brand Tallwood Clothing, from their takes on classic shirt silhouettes to new takes on iconic staples like turf-covered Birkenstocks or shotgun barrel-shelled denim, aged and washed to perfection. The brand was conceived five years ago from the founder’s college days at FSU while waiting on premier brand clothing drops; now, local fashion heads wait for drops from Tallwood Clothing’s collections. Adrian Holt, one of the owners and creatives behind the brand, discusses how he’s traversed through the development of his brand.

“It’s just about figuring out your swag—what works, what doesn’t work. As soon as you can articulate those things, you can find yourself a niche, like a sort of unique spot that only you occupy,” he says.

The best way to describe this niche is as a grassroots way of creating new and different fashion pieces unlike anything seen in the city. This brand’s unique approach to craftsmanship further contributes to Tallahassee’s reputation as a diamond in the rough when it comes to Florida fashion.

Photo by Widad

“I think there’s a genuine connection between Tallwood and many other brands in the city. I’m thinking of SWNK-X9. I’m thinking of ChoppaGang. Through its parties or social media, the city brings together many different heads that are creating something beautiful,” Holt says.

Tallwood showcases the essence of Florida through a young, fashionable lens that can only be created and found within the city of Tallahassee.

These two brands make up a small portion of the larger landscape of Tallahassee streetwear and fashion. From student brands to local vendors and artisan shops to freelance designers, the fabric of Tallahassee’s fashion scene continues to develop, creating an eclectic vibe that is unique to the city.

SWNK-X9

Josiah Turner originally came to Florida A&M University as a football scholar. However, as life took its turn, it led him to become the designer and creator of clothing brand SWNK-X9. The brand has cultivated a unique image with ringer shirts bearing messages that resonate with the brand vision, custom studded denim pieces, raver-styled sweatpants, and asymmetrical button-downs that subvert the expectations of conventional clothing.

Turner’s journey, beginning during his undergraduate career at FAMU, has been a showcase of growth and change.

“Mostly, it’s just grown with time and taste,” Turner says. “Consistently putting out work is a task, but it’s also the only way to see change, so I’m grateful to have started a good portion of it here in this city.”

Courtesy of SWNK-X9

Being a brand that has developed its identity outside of traditional fashion, SWNK-X9 has created its own niche within the Capital City. Starting with screen printing and eventually making original clothing, the brand has experienced more growth every year.

“Fulfilling all orders by hand, [doing] dye work, and now being fulfilled with our own pattern works and outsourced manufacturing for volume issues, I still feel like I’m just starting, just staying continuously motivated,” Turner said.

Clothing items range between $50 and $100 for their current collection, with more drops coming for the spring and summer season. SWNK-X9, a Tallahassee brand that continues to innovate, is available online and at various pop-ups community-wide.