Try This On

Picking Up Speed

After a long hot minute, things are finally picking up speed. Back to School is almost upon us, and amidst the sweltering this summer, we've been able to organize our troops and sharpen our weapons. I guess the good news is, sales are starting to pick up, the word is getting out, and we're building momentum as campuses are once again ready to bustle. New designs are in the works, but we're pleased to say our current ones are being well-received and are generating a lot of enthusiasm (with an exclamation point) - there it is!

We're getting ready to hit some clubs as well, and our team is getting ready to do some amazing cross-promotional work featuring an artist we're going to keep our hats on for now - you don't know him yet, but we promise we'll provide you the opportunity to do so soon enough.

As people start to realize our clothing line is about knowing who you are and believing in yourself, it becomes this undeniable thing that stirs deep inside of you, and those around us. Around here, we constantly refer to it as "The Feeling of Streaking Without Being Naked."

We want to take a moment to thank the front-line trend-setters, those "lucky few" who have that eye for spotting things that are unique and of high quality. We're pretty cocksure they will be the first of many, and we've got a lot of patience.

Be sure to check back in the next few days as we start to give you some real life glimpses of people wearing our shirts in the "Sightings" section. Or "gallery." Whatever.

Enjoy your weekends, people, and

"Enjoy the Ride"

GLinks

Cocksure Clothing Co., USA

Try This On: Reading the Signs, and Measuring Success

It's funny how things come back around sometimes -- things you'd never expect. Pondering the tagline "How Do You Measure?" about a week ago now, I was suprised by a sight I never expected to see again. I should add that this coincides with the launch of our clothing line, Cocksure Clothing Co., USA. You no doubt wonder what it's all about, hence your reading this post, and to me, this serves as a pretty good example of the deeper meaning of this prominent tagline, and a facet of the philosophy behind this clothing line in general.

I came across something that takes me (not too far) back to my formative teenage years, and memories of my recently-enough deceased father...my Dad, who gave me at least half the skills I now have (and thanks and love to my Mom for the other half). Usually when someone is gone and we long to touch memories of them, we're usually hoping for a good recognizance of associated emotions that strike the right chord. I recently received more reality than that.

Pictured here is The Car that I first learned to drive at age 15, and drove quite a lot once I turned 16 and 17.

Yeah, pretty sweet, huh? No, we weren't rich, or spoiled, at all. In fact, we grew up poor, and when the chance for my parents to buy this car from a neighborhood mechanic came around, they were fortunate enough to be reaching a pinnacle in their careers that allowed them to afford such a luxury. The irony of it is, this car costs today very close to what they paid for it back then, and plenty of time has elapsed where that should probably not be the case. We're probably talking not-even-a-$5,000 car back then. Turn your head back and forth real quick, and you may think, "Hey...Isn't that Magnum P.I.?"

But when I say this is The Car, I'm not talking a similar vehicle, approximate year, or anything like that. I mean, same VIN # / The Car! Kapuutth! Don't make me laugh, 'cause I'm not even kidding. (I'm talking the "same-scratches-on-the-bared-metal-clutch-and-gas-pedals-I-know-because-I-put-them-there" brand of I'm-not-even-kidding that only comes from telling the absolute truth.) I haven't even put eyes on this memory since it was sold resulting from frequent electrical system complications and a drop top that is a real beast to fasten (read, "literal...buttons") when a summer storm is fast upon you. It's very funny this car should appear, in a yard, for sale, within a relatively small mile or kilometer radius from my dwelling. Not only that, it was placed along a frequent route of mine, just at a turning point where I would sweep it in with the arc of my gaze just to make sure I was safely turning homeward.

What you have to know about this sporty car in a family of four (including my younger brother), is that it was all about The Teams. It's all about the Teams, and it's all about The Missons. Who's going where? Who's with whom? Is it Mom and bro? Is it Dad and me? Do I get to to drive? Is it Mom and Dad? Where they going? What we gotta do?

You know. The Teams. The Missions. The Car. Of all the cars we had, and we had many, many unique and cheap ones...I'm talking Gremlins and Pugeots, okay, mixed in with the Dodges and Fords and Chevys...yeah, we had about everything once, it seems. Well, let's say more like, every category. 

But out of all of those, this was, again, The Car, you know? So why would this, of all cars, be revealed now? Why would it show for sale again right before the launch time, aside, of course, from the shotty electrical system?

I can't help but think notice that my father had a lot to do with this, if you stop to consider all the cause-and-effects that transpired over the years in order to bring that car that my Dad taught me to drive in to a specific point on the road in the present, right at the launch of what is surely the boldest yet most serious t-shirt company of all time, aka "The Feeling of Streaking Without Being Naked." You should know the car pictured above, a 1980 Triumph TR7 convertible, is not even the car in which I took my driving test. No, that was a Dodge E350 Cargo Van, a true mastadon, by comparison, but that's my Dad's sense of humor for you...the ol' rope-a-dope, heheheh...that guy. He did promise me he would make me prepared, though, and he did not lie. Among many other things, pay attention to details, and read the signs.

So, "How Do You Measure Success?"

I dunno. How do you?

Happy Father's Day to all fathers, past, present and future -- and especially to my Dad, may God keep you.

Pondering the Feeling

We were pondering the significance of our unique tagline, "The Feeling of Streaking Without Being Naked." We feel everyone should understand that's the feeling you have whenever you recognize and believe in your own abilities. It's the elation, and for some, blind terror, of streaking...just without having to be naked. But like that. You get it now. It's a shame if we don't hang onto that feeling within us.

Upgrade for the Launch

Just wanted to let everyone know that the red and white "Enjoy the Ride" and "How Do You Measure?" shirts are going to be red and silver instead. As well, there will be pink and silver versions of the same t-shirts as well! Be sure to check them out early next week, or click on the Shop link to get an idea.

Try This On...Clothes That Demand Action

I was pondering our tag line "Clothes That Demand Action," and when I think of action movies, I often like to consider Spider-Man/ Evil Dead/ Drag Me To Hell director, Sam Raimi, and his everyman of choice, actor Bruce Campbell, who currently appears as dependable sidekick "Sam" on USA's "Burn Notice," (whose Season 3, Episode 1 just premiered last week). 

I love Campbell's past turns in "Hercules," "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.," but no doubt the most Campbell hilarity can be found between the last two "Evil Dead" movies, "Evil Dead 2" and "Evil Dead: The Army of Darkness."

It is from "The Army of Darkness" that this entry of "Try This On" is born.

For the indoctrinated:  recall the character of Ash, from outfitting himself at the fictional K-Mart rendition ("Shop smart...shop S-Mart...YOU GOT THAT?!!!") to the sweet tender mackings upon the fair maiden love interest to whom he has compared to a primate raised in a barn (he was thrown back in time to what appears to be the Middle Ages -- and uses a chemistry book from the back of his car that also made the trip back through time to concoct gunpowder, and pretty much quips at every opportunity about their lack of scientific advances).

Recall how they tenderly share the blanket she brought him for the night, how they share the blanket, touching fingers, slowly embracing to the point where he dips her back and cradles her gently. While their faces are close, Campbell delivers a classic line with all the serious camp that only a true B movie actor can deliver:

"Gimme some sugar, Baby."

I was thinking of that line as I pondered this unique Cocksure Clothing Company tagline.

"Gimme some action, Baby."

Try that on. Mmmm....feels goooood.

The Importance of Being Cocksure

 We need to dispel some of the thoughts you're no doubt already having about this brand you can trust, reinforce some others, as well as set you on the right path in general regarding these products.

What does "being cocksure" mean? Strictly, it means being "completely sure." Here at Cocksure Clothing Co., USA™, we recognize that everyone needs to grasp and understand the essence of this feeling. Aside from what you’re already no doubt thinking about the word “cock” (a male bird) did you know that it also means “chief” or “leader”, and that "cocky" means "cheerfully assertive?"

How many times in your life have you heard that inner voice, the one that told you it was necessary to blaze your own trail in order to reach your destination, or to cut against the grain in order to accomplish your goal, or to adjust your point-of-view in order to see something for what it truly was?

Some of us wish we listened to this voice more, thinking of times and opportunities past when this guidance would have served us well in hindsight. Some of us know this light is within us and struggle to let it shine, but all too often feel smothered by daily routines, circumstance, as well as the general atmosphere we have solidified for ourselves based upon the choices we have made. And then there are others who seem to live by this voice, as though whispered to by an angel, or accessed as easily as a tune on an "iPod." Most of us, though, probably wake up to some sense of ourselves and our purpose at some point in our lives, and try to navigate ourselves in the appropriate direction, accordingly. We also probably measure our lives by those rare moments of brilliance we seem to create, inspire, or are fortunate enough to witness, or take part in.

That’s what Being Cocksure is: knowing who you are and believing in yourself, then using that power to do something positive, whether or not it seems to be the easy or popular choice. For our purposes, it’s about letting you project that inner spirit through one of our shirts -- what may in your mind become “The World’s Greatest T-Shirt,” as well as “The First, Last and Only T-shirt You’ll Ever Want to Wear.”


Why do we call it "A Brand You Can Trust"? Well, because aside from God Himself -- or whatever other positive entity you choose believe in -- like say, The Force, if you're a Jedi, like my father before me (See? We make jokes, we make shirts, we make you think.) -- the only other "brand you can trust" in is yourself.

At times, we all feel our uniqueness gets overlooked, but these shirts will let you reflect these elements with everyone who passes by and glances in your direction. We feel our logo, “The Cocksure Rooster”™ perfectly captures the spirit you carry inside you each and every day. Just be prepared to get used to the attention, Chief.