I met Elliott maybe 4 or 5 years ago when he had first started what is now "The Naptown Collective". He was just doing a little grip tape art then, and I would have never thought that it would grow into what it is now. With his premiere of "The Manifesto" right around the corner at Rhett, I got a hold of Elliot and asked him a few questions about the past, present, and future of "The Naptown Collective.
Where are you from?
Im from Noblesville, IN, like the country part by Lapel
When did you start doing "The Naptown Collective", and what were your intentions behind it?
I started "The Naptown Collective" out of high school going into college. Mainly because I wanted to explore other mediums that I wasn't familiar with. These being; photography, screen printing, and really whatever medium I could manipulate that I didn't already know. I didn't really intend for it to turn into a company, but after trial and error things started coming together and before I knew it I was focusing more on Naptown than any other part of my life.
You recently spent some time in New York, what was that like?
Yeah I recently got an opportunity through my college to transfer to an art school in Brooklyn for a semester. The living expenses weren't covered so i invited my friend Logan Hamm to some split rent and skate in the city for a couple months. I'd highly recommend to anyone to go skate NYC, its the Mecca in my opinion. I know that there are a million cities with spots, but the culture that surrounds it is unbeatable, the spots are everywhere, and besides insane rent, everything else isn't that crazy.
How important is it to you that you make everything yourself?
I think making things by hand is crucial and really synonymous with every person everywhere. I mean obviously I'm not going to rule out using machines because even then a human directs them. For example, I hand design, print, and advertise everything I make but I still use equipment like computers, printers, ovens. I think as long as you have your hand in it that's all that really matters.
Does anyone help you with it?
I do have people who help, I'm lucky enough to live with all of my close friends and they're down to put in work for some free gear and the love. Respect.
You have your first video coming out, how did that come about?
Our first video and magazine entitled "The Manifesto" just came out May 2nd but we will be premiering it this coming weekend May 9th at Rhett Skateshop in Bloomington, Indiana. Logan and I decided on the first week we arrived in Brooklyn that it was time to really focus our energy and work on something. I would shoot the 35mm photos for the magazine, curate it, and shoot the Super 8mm for the video, while Logan would take care of all the VX footy and oversee the editing process of the whole video.
How long did you work on it?
Although we decided on this 10 months ago we have footage and photos stemming long before that. Logan and I both like to just make a lot and filter through after the fact, its not as much about putting it out there as it is enjoying the process of it being created.
Do you plan on making another video any time soon?
I'd love to make another video, but who knows what the future holds just yet, hopefully more traveling first.
What do you hope for the future of "The Naptown Collective"?
As for "Naptown", we have a pop-up shop planned for downtown Cincinnati in July, but wait to hear more details about that. You can probably catch us lurking around at spots getting all the angles. I have some exciting releases planned for the next 6 months, but were gonna take it day by day.
Interview by Nick Holub