pops!

• DARTMOUTH REGATTA 2012 TEE BY POPS •

The man behind the name Pops is Oli, my best friend. Olipop. Maybe I'm biased, but I think he comes up with the best ideas ever in that brain of his. I could waffle on for ages about why you should all agree with me, but how about I just let him speak for himself...

• HEY. How are you today?

Hey, it's grey and rainy, so I'm just swell!

• Tell us about Total Jerk.

Total Jerk is a clothing brand/design collective that I am part of. We are going to be re-launching soon with a bunch of brand new stuff, there's a lot going on behind the scenes at the moment and it's all top secret. Our designs have matured slightly though, and I hope people will be pleasantly surprised when they see what we've been up to....if not we'll just kill them.

• How did you come about pops?

Total Jerk is something that I take seriously, everything has to be on brand and ultimately everything is a group decision. Whereas 'Pops' is my personal outlet, I can do whatever I like with it, there are no rules and it's just a lot of fun. It's work I create with no ulterior motive. it's honest.

• Where do all these ideas come from?

I dunno, I believe that everyone has these thoughts and ideas but mostly people don't know how or just don't care enough to do anything with them. People just need to look at things a little different...like hotdogs; lying around all wrapped up in that bready duvet and covered in delicious mustardy moisturiser, some foods just seem lazy.

• Do you like strawberries?

No I really don't, this is always under debate in my household. I believe that what people like is the mounds of sugar and lashings of cream that accompany strawberries...you look at them all bulging and red and they look delicious, just like king louis' bananas do in jungle book. Then you take a bite and you're disappointed at the kind of weird planty taste they have and those horrid little seeds that get stuck in your teeth. Don't get me wrong on the bananas though, I love them, but they pale in comparison to the taste I expect after seeing an orangutan wolfing them down.

• What exciting things have you got coming up?

I'm just sorting out some jewellery, I've got some new tee designs coming up too, which are going to be aimed more at women. I'm actually doing a design for a roller derby team at the moment and that's coming along nicely, and will be on offer soon! Most of my drawings are coloured and finished on the computer, but the more I draw the more I want to use different mediums, so I am going to do some painted original pieces. I think it's about time I put my money where my mouth is and stop relying on a computer for a final piece, so keep your eyes peeled for them!

• How does your ideal world look?

That's a big question. I think...overall, nakeder.

• How about a beer?

Oh you're still calling it beer? everyone else is calling it semen of the gods.

• 3 rules you live your life by.

Rules are hard, let's just go with some 'ideas'...

I think everyone should create their own traditions.

Just forget your enemies and keep your friends close.

When you don't think you can do something, just fucking do it.

• Wanna go swimming?

sure! as long as it's in the sea, but not too deep, so I don't have to think about all the beasties beneath me.

• What makes you grin from ear to ear?

the smell of bleach, broken chairs, missing teeth, graveyards, crying children, burnt out cars, thunder and lighting, creeping shadows and anything frightening.

• What makes you frown?

Mainly just people being ok with and celebrating mediocrity. I think we forget sometimes that we all have an expiration date, I might not be able to move enough to climb a fucking mountain when I'm 80, christ I might not even make it to 40, it's not morbid to think these things, its realistic. I'm not saying 'live for the day' I'm just saying 'stop being the living dead'.

• What's the future for TJ & pops?

I want everything bigger and better, forever. I don't think there will ever be a point when I go 'yeah, that's it, we're done' I never want to be complacent. I'll keep going 'til I'm dead and even then I'll email my designs back from the grave.

See more of this silly man on tumblr, facebook and bigcartel!