Who says you can’t be a college student and an entrepreneur at the same time? This is the case for two U students, who have funneled their inventive talent and entrepreneurial spirit into creating the non-profit clothing collective, Evok.
Started by entrepreneur major Colby Russo, and design engineer major David Brooks, Evok reaches out to audiences on an national and international level. Evok gives back to the community while promoting sustainable and fashionable clothing.
“I want to revolutionize the fashion industry, inspiring other companies to take on [Evok’s] business model,” said Russo whose company launched in June 2015. He works alongside business partner and co-founder David Brooks, who independently owns the non-profit organization Revolution United.
The idea for the company, and its goal to profit the community, came from Russo’s experience growing up in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
“We had a strong sense of community,” said Russo. “It became a part of who I am.”
Presenting a line of chic toned clothing products, Evok also puts out banners, buttons, and stickers. It gives a third of its proceeds to local community organizations, like Senator Bernie Sanders’s campaign rally in March.
In his sophomore year at Rowland Hall High School, Russo visited Silicon Valley where he got to meet with entrepreneurs like the founder of Kiva, Matt Flannery.
“After that trip I had a feeling of euphoria,” Russo said. “This is what I wanted to do.”
It was when Russo met Brooks that the company came together. They met through Sean Crossland, director of Salt Lake Community College’s Thayne Center. Russo said it was “fate to start the company,” as both of them had a passion for fashion.
Initial funding for the company came from a Get Seeded Pitch Event at the U, where Russo was able to successfully pitch his idea for the clothing line. While Brooks had already started Revolution United, Russo was made the CEO for Evok so the two companies didn’t clash.
“It’s a combination of all of us, we come up with the best ideas collectively,” said Brooks. From there, Russo and Brooks recruited Sienna Scheid to design their products and Riley Nevins as an artist. After that point, Brooks said, the “company emerged… [We] were facilitating ideas to come alive.”
Scheid had already worked for Brooks on Revolution United when Brooks approached her to work on Evok.
“Bringing me on as designer was a mutual decision. I was interested, and David offered it up,” said Scheid in an email. She has been a designer since high school, and creating art her whole life, but Evok provided her with more opportunity.
“Since working for Evok I’ve picked up more side jobs from connections made,” said Scheid. While working with the company has been tough with both work and school, she enjoys the environment the company has provided for her, and she plans to stay with it in the future.
“I’ve loved working with Colby and David. I’m right at home, totally in my element. I like fashion and style, as well as the altruistic drive and the sleek and refreshing branding. It’s been pretty easy, actually,” Scheid said. “David and Colby are really open to my artistic interpretation and totally willing to give me positive feedback. I feel lots of freedom, and as any designer will tell you, that makes this a very likable job.”
While Riley Nevins says he’s “simply just an artist who occasionally helps out,” he hadn’t designed for a company until he was approached by Russo.
“Art is my main hobby, and I love helping people out who need drawings, art, or ideas,” Nevins said in an email.
Nevins loves the idea that Evok approaches local artists for help with the company.
“By utilizing local artists, not only does Evok let artists share their work, but also there is a community created,” Nevins said, adding that it’s a respected company because it puts money back into the community.
In the future, Russo and Brooks hope to see this company go worldwide, with both its business outline as well as its products.
“[We want] it to appeal to all different kinds of people,” said Brooks.
For those who are interested visit Evok’s website at www.evoke.clothing.com. For those interested in creating art for the company, or who want to reach out to support a local organization, contact Colby Russo through his email [email protected].