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Gillis and Patterson debuted WDRFA—or “We Don’t Run From Adversity”—on Saturday at PRINTtEXT, welcoming friends, family, and a slew of new fans to see their latest work. You may know Mike G. from his famous “Kanye West For President 2020” hats, Patterson from his former store Kreme Twenty-Four, or the nephew/uncle pair from last year’s collection, DSOA, which stood for both the “Divided States of America” and “Don’t Stop Over Achieving”.
The collection of expertly crafted streetwear will be sold on their website, but they both feel strongly about letting people get a chance to touch, see, and feel their creations—hence, this weekend’s pop-up, with the hope for more in the future. Pieces range from knit caps to structured jackets and sweatshirts emblazoned with the collection’s positive message. Many are adorned with a nod to family or friends who have persevered, like the rose patch on a particularly chic jacket that symbolizes grandmother Rosemary.
While they take inspiration from everything, the two originally hail from East Chicago, and definitely love to draw on the vibe of their hometown and “how it moves.” They hope that their work can continue to bring people together to create a real culture and conversation.
Give the crowd on Saturday, we’d say they’re well on their way.
Keep up with all the WDRFA happenings by following @wheresmikeg on Instagram.
