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Introducing this week’s Campus Celebrity, alumni, John-Paul Zarba, who started his own clothing company, BlankTank. He hails from Derry, New Hampshire and when he isn’t working on his designs on his house at Young Drive you can find him killing it in the basement of Scorps. His clothing line website ( http://www.itsblanktank.com/ ) features tank tops and sweatshirts for both men and women, and it just offically launched on Thursday! Make sure you check it out because these are going to be the shirts that everyone’s going to be rockin’ on Young Drive day parties.
I asked John-Paul to tell me what made his come up with this idea for a clothing company, how he got the name, and what inspires him. Keep on reading to see what he says!!
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BlankTank was named after two different areas of focus. Throughout my past as an entrepreneur I would work on numerous projects with intentions of fast tracking my success. My mom said one thing to me and it kept making more and more sense, “Focus on one thing. Do it to the best of your ability and move to the next.” Deciding to design a line of clothing with specific intentions of focusing on a particular garment, the name started to unfold. “Tank” was a must for being in the name which led to the second part of the name. Tank tops were the canvas of this line, so second part of our name presented itself. A blank canvas allows me to express my feelings as an artist. I present certain inspirations and that is what defines me as an artist and designer. Unique simplicity is the consistent theme to each and every piece I design. Inspiration can stem from a memory, surrounding people, places or any experience that I have encountered along the way.
BlankTank ironically derived from a simplistic design I had been working on for a prior clothing company of mine ( Humble Chain Company ). As I worked through the design process I immediately found all of my attention focused on the future of these sketches you see on the shirts now. Understanding certain aspects of the fashion industry I knew that the only way to break in was to bring something new to the table, my personality. From my perspective a simplistic approach to any situation allows for truth and emotion to present itself. Applying this concept to the progression of that original sketch produced the main inspiration to this line.
Over the past 5 years I have pursued an education that has presented me with numerous experiences. Graduating with degrees in Civil Engineering and Business I have completed three internships. The first two taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the third in Washington DC. Transitioning from a freshman year mindset into a culture such as the one in Riyadh, KSA, gave me an appreciation as to how much we take for granted on a daily basis. Indulging in a foreign culture such as the Middle East let me open my mind and grow. This perspective carries through into my creative pursuits. Balancing school, BlankTank, a social life and most importantly my family at home has taught me time management skills that will be a key asset in running a business. BlankTank is now a defined business that was launched on Thursday April 11th. The designs that inspired this campaign are accompiend by many more, the art side of the line is a piece of myself called the “Culdisackid.” On Sunday, April 14th seven pieces of my artwork will be placed on display at 264 Newbury street in Boston, MA.
Positioning myself to sustain a line of clothing based on my inspirations, which I know can impact others, is a blessing. This is my favorite part of what I do! Whether I am painting a canvas that is laid down on the basement floor of my apartment or having a photo shoot in Barcelona with strangers I have met in various abroad programs. Waking up everyday to progress myself is worth the stress and sleepless nights. I know I will work hard and continue to “Aspire to Inspire” ( he has this tattoo on the back of his neck).
THE WEBSITE