“Do crazy things while you can,” said Shea, as he leaned over the mound of psychedelic fabrics on his dorm room coffee table. Nodding in agreement, Tom added, “we don’t want to give advice; there’s no template or formula.” For Shea Paytas and Tom Athan, style has no boundaries.
Shea and Tom are the creative masterminds behind Dudz, a line of comfortable, stylish and crazy pants for college girls and guys.
Working out of their dorm room, the TCNJ sophomores manage everything from production to marketing. Each customer is given a personalized product. From fabric design to pocket placement, every customer meets with the creators of Dudz for a personal consultation to customize their pants.
Shea and Toms’ concept is not as methodical as it seems. The guys want people to have more fun with style. “Whether people like them or not, they always notice them,” said Tom. And that’s exactly the point.
Beyond developing a unique alternative to overdone denim, Shea and Tom are working to close gender gaps in fashion. No matter who you are, you can throw on a pair of Dudz and walk campus in confidence. That is one of the things the guys love most about their company.
“Dudz pertain to a few people in a lot of groups – people from artsy people to skaters to Frisbee players to frat guys who are willing to try it,” said Tom. People who wear Dudz are “primarily young people being united by something crazy and fun,” said Shea.
The concept behind Dudz began as early as Shea and Tom’s friendship their freshman year at TCNJ. In the year since, Shea has taught Tom how to sew.
The guys scavenge thrift shops for vintage fabrics, searching specifically for bold and bright patterns. Amazingly, the team has managed to create a studio in their dorm room, complete with a couch and a sewing table. The guys’ carefree sense of style and innovation is apparent in the way they utilize the space and in the border of vintage license plates surrounding the room. Their studio is just as cool as their Dudz.
When it comes to choosing a favorite design or favorite aspect of the company, the guys have a hard time deciding.
“Whenever I make a new pair of Dudz, that becomes my favorite,” said Shea. “Also, seeing people in something you made is really cool.”
Experiencing an upward trend in sales in just a few months, the guys look forward to an exciting year ahead. Shea and Toms’ message is clear. Have fun with fashion, and life, while you’re young.
Follow Dudz on social media:
Website: http://dudz.co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dudzco
Instagram: @dudz_co