With its quirky pun, Sixfourteen captures the hearts and souls of Columbus residents in their line of urban streetwear. Credit Award from Tony Garber
With its quirky pun, Sixfourteen captures the hearts and souls of Columbus residents in their line of urban streetwear.
Sixfourteen, a reference to the Columbus area code 614, is a local lifestyle clothing brand founded by Columbus resident Tony Garber in 2017. The clothing brand strives to provide Ohio residents with premium, sustainable clothing and accessories inspired by their own community, Garber said. .
The brand’s mission, said Garber, has always been to bring people together, even through something as simple as a T-shirt.
“We want to represent a city that makes us who we are,” said Garber. “We are actively working with designers and illustrators here in Columbus on all of our next releases. Each section must have its own story. ”
In November 2019, Garber said he brought life-long friend Abel Solomon, fifth year in marketing, as co-owner to help run the business and accelerate a “worldwide takeover.”
“Tony and I have been friends for quite a while now. He originally came up with the idea, I saw him and I fell in love with him, “said Solomon. “I told him I wanted to be involved and we got to work. We went ahead, got some designs and did our first launch, and now we’re working on another one. “
Garber said he never wore clothes that led to a lot of conversation. He said the reaction he got was the best.
“It’s the pun on the logo that makes us really cool,” said Garber. “I think wearing it, walking around, making people comment and paying attention to it is a special feeling.”
The community response to Sixfourteen since launch has been tremendous, say Garber and Solomon. They say their business is growing every day as they strive to work exclusively with local artists on new designs and are actively planning photo and video shoots for their website and social media accounts.
“This is everyone’s project,” said Garber. “All of our friends and family have contributed so far and our community has given us some great ideas.”
While Sixfourteen also designs clothes for other cities in Ohio, Solomon says Columbus is the center of what they do, because that’s where Garber and Solomon come from.
“We’re trying to make a community brand,” Solomon said. “We feel that Columbus is an underrated city. The name isn’t really on the map, but it should be because there are so many opportunities and great things going on here. “
Garber says that Columbus is unique in that it is an educated and hardworking city full of entrepreneurs and creatives who make him grateful to be a part of it.
Sixfourteen wants to give back to the community in any way they can as a small local e-commerce business, said Garber. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed their business, but they have been active with the brand from a distance, he said.
Last fall, Sixfourteen sponsored “Social Distance 5K” to raise money for the Columbus charity. Garber said they also participated in the pop-up “Voices” in Goodale Park, where they raised money to help fight social injustice and police brutality in Columbus.
“Once we can build our voice, generate a little more revenue and have a bigger platform, we want to be able to help more people and be a part of improving the community even more,” Solomon said.
Garber and Solomon say they have some special events and releases planned for this year, but are currently working on a graphic t-shirt capsule designed 100 percent by Ohio creatives. Their next release is scheduled for the end of March.
