Five Hamilton fashion designers you need to know about
Max Francis, creator of True Hamiltonian, is one of the originals
FALL IS UPON US, which means it’s time to refresh or change up what’s in our closets.
Minimalist or street style — casual clothing styled with current fashion trends — is a key trend this season. Let’s look at five local brands producing stylish casual wear and showing pride for #HamOnt.
Calvin Hesson
THIS HUMBLE 31-year-old Hamiltonian is a full-time construction worker who works 10-hour shifts and then comes home to work on his line of apparel. He sees himself as an artist first and a designer second.
“I’m better at taking things and trying to make them better, change things the way I want, or reuse them in a different way,” says Hesson.
He began producing T-shirts last year, focusing on design and quality. His brand, Hamilton Hooligan, is the result of careful contemplation, he says.
“When I designed our logo, I had the city in mind. It’s a tough city. It’s built on steel and hard work. But it’s also a forward thinking city. So I went with something that had a tough look to it, but also a little futuristic.”
He liked the alliteration of the words together and the fact that they both have eight letters. “Hamilton Hooligan” is also his way of paying homage to his home.
“The last few years, our city has gone through some much needed changes. I wanted to make something that was a little bit counterculture, but all in good fun.”
Hesson credits his wife, Vanessa, with being his creative muse and keeping him on track.
“I have a habit of getting carried away with things, and she kind of reins me back in. I try to make stuff that I think she’ll like. And she’s not afraid to be honest if she doesn’t.
“So now it’s become more of a collaborative effort. I show her an idea I’m thinking of. She’ll tweak it, or give her thoughts on colour selection, style of shirt to put it on, etc.”
Hesson stocks shirts for men, women and kids along with hats and hoodies, even baby onesies. He takes pride in keeping his operation local, which includes the shop that does the print work on all of his products.
To purchase Hamilton Hooligan products, direct-message Hesson on Instagram.
Oliver Knutton
OLIVER KNUTTON, 40, grew up in Edmonton in a FrancoAlbertan family but has been living in Hamilton for more than 20 years.
He opened his shop, O’s Clothes, at 150 James St. N. five years ago when he saw a niche that needed filling for high quality, mid-priced casual wear.
His clothing and accessories for men and women are sourced from innovative brands, including his own line of T-shirts. He decided to design his own line because he wanted comfy, high quality and stylish looking tees that he could wear and sell to further develop his brand. He thought it would be cool to have a literal interpretation of the hashtag “#HamOnt,” so he asked his artist friend Kyle Stewart to help with the illustration.
Another version of his tees has “J’aime Hamilton” printed across the chest — reflecting his love for this city, with a nod to his French heritage. He tapped his designer friend Rebecca Duyzer (she also has her own clothing line: Riplicca Clothing Company) to come up with a creative way to illustrate it.
Both signature designs are available on T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and totes sold at the shop or online at osclothes.ca.
Max Francis
MAX FRANCIS is originally from Fort Lauderdale but has been a True Hamiltonian for more than 30 years.
He worked for an engineering firm for 13 years and, like most of the other designers featured here, couldn’t find T-shirts that communicated what he wanted or fit comfortably and so decided to create his own.
The slogan that started it all, “Hamilton is Home,” was a reaction to overhearing someone on the GO train into Toronto slamming the Hammer. Styles that came later include “T H 905” with crossed hammers, and a vintage line with retro-style lettering.
Francis says he has put a lot of time and research into “finding the perfect cut of fabric and texture of material” for his shirts. He handprints and cuts each one himself, working out of Centre(3) Gallery on James North. (Centre (3) is an artist run centre, open to any artist who wants to create and promote their art.)
Francis loves Hamilton and football so naturally, when the Ticats agreed to a co-branded T-shirt, he was ecstatic. Those shirts bear the team’s logo and his Hamilton is Home message.
It was important that his brand be as inclusive as possible, by offering onesies for newborns, unisex tees, and hoodies in sizes up to 5XL in a variety of colours and languages (Croatian, French, German, Polish, etc.).
To Francis, being a true Hamiltonian is “understanding where you are and never forgetting where you come from. Mostly it means being proud of your city, one rich in history and yet still embracing change and growth.”
There are two True Hamiltonian stores: 186 Ottawa St. N. and 249 King St. E. You can also shop online at truehamiltonian.ca. Centre(3) is also a retail partner and one of Francis’s “most cherished causes.”
Melissa Parent
Parent, the owner and curator of Hammer Style Clothing, was born and bred in Hamilton and loves her city.
Her collaboration with local artists and vendors has resulted in a line of upcycled T-shirts that she sells online and by appointment through her home-based, thrifted and vintage clothing store.
“Everything I do is upcycled from preloved, quality clothing,” says Parent, who is 36 and also juggles a day job. “I am a big advocate for reusing and repurposing, as I believe our impact on the environment is one of our biggest responsibilities.”
She creates “100 per cent unique pieces” through Hammer Style Clothing and a new collaboration: Hammer and the Twist, with Zee Fletcher of Twisted Vintage by Zee. The newer effort offers “upcycled denim pieces with locally sourced patches — both vintage, and from Hamilton artists.
“I screen print all of my shirts myself at Centre(3) Gallery on James Street North, on locally sourced, preloved shirts.”
Parent says her shop began with a focus on women’s clothing, but has “evolved into a line of unisex shirts of all styles and sizes, with new designs coming out shortly.”
She’s done lots of styling, too: her online content, customers’ outfits and for her Hammer Style Fashion Show last February featuring five local designers.
She also hosts a “Hammer Style Pop-up” on the third Saturday of each month at Evergreen Community Store Front with 15 to 20 vendors.
Parent describes her own style as “part hippie, part rock ’n’ roll, and always wearable comfort. (No stilettos for this girl!)”
Her shirts are available through Instagram, Facebook and her home based shop or at Centre(3) Gallery (173 James St. N.). Hammer and the Twist pieces are available through Instagram.
“When I designed our logo, I had the city in mind.” CALVIN HESSON
CHEMICAL ENGINEER Melany Afara was born and raised in Niagara Falls and has been living in Stoney Creek for just over a year.
The self-described “lover of coffee and everything Disney” indulges her passion for crafting and designing in the evenings, saying that it allows her to express her creative side.
What evolved into her Etsy page, TinyTrendsbyMA, began while she was on her second maternity leave and had a tough time finding cute, quality play clothes for her two young sons. She designed her own and after friends and family members went ga-ga over them, she decided to turn her efforts into a business.
TinyTrendsbyMA offers casual wear for babies and toddlers such as bummie shorts, tanks shorts, rompers, leggings and slim fit joggers and cardigans.
Afara uses French terry and stretch jersey fabrics for her creations, crafting each piece with love, care and consideration for their practical use.