Young Entrepreneurs Find Success With Growing LCF Business

Art and business are mixing with success in a garage in LCF.

Friends since their days at Francis Pollara and Anya Rosen are still working and playing together as creators of the collaborative art and clothing venture, [$!©] – pronounced sic – Apparel.

The pair, both 22, focus on producing original works by a collective of carefully selected artists, and describe [SIC] as not just a typical business, but a "socially and environmentally conscious commercial organism dedicated to its artists, customers and social outreach.''

Pollara and Rosen designed their business plan as well as [SIC]’s studio using mainly their own hands, minds and money, with a bit of help from friends and fundraising. The space, in the garage of Rosen’s childhood home, was built to meet not only La Cañada city standards, but also their own commitment to energy-efficiency and environmental stewardship. From adhering to LEED energy efficiency standards to a dual osmosis sump pump, soluble dyes and solvents, [SIC]’s small headquarters are focused on the bigger picture.

But its not all about the business of creating original t-shirts and other silk-screened items produced on the rather large radial press that can bust out 300 to 500 prints an hour. It is, in fact, mostly about art.

[SIC]’s artists – including photographers, illustrators and graphic designers - participate in a residency, rotating every six months to keep the product, as Rosen described, “fresh” and produced by a “broad spectrum of artists.” The work is all completed in a collaborative manner.

And as Pollara explained, [SIC] encompasses three brands: [SIC] Artist, [SIC] People and [SIC] Inc. [SIC] Artist focuses on the collaboration and production of original art.

[SIC] People, Pollara said, “Is dedicated to art as a non-profit,” raising money and awareness for causes that the designers and artists support. [SIC] Inc. provides businesses, event production companies, and organizations with a their own, specifically commissioned art and product.

Pollara and Rosen see their commitment to their artists and concept reflected in the quality of their materials and product. They hope to soon offer original art prints on paper and have a broader vision that includes gallery events and even printing on snowboards. Pollara explained that they’d like to “be able to make shirts on the fly,” loading the press and supplies into a truck and making the rounds of farmer’s markets and events like a food truck, only cooler.

Besides the integrity in their product and business plan, collaborative process, and original art, Pollara finds the print itself makes [SIC] unique. Pollara explained that that because through their process the ink is pulled by hand, it gives a more organic and nostalgic quality to the art and product rather than what is produced by a machine. Pollara and Rosen are both grateful for their branding team and other supporters, a majority of whom are recent graduates of .

Pollara hopes that as the young venture expands, “people will see and understand the concept” as well as “see the value in a local company.”

[SIC]’s website and webstore has just gone live. Visit them at www.sicapparel.com. Or go to Facebook to learn more about [SIC] Apparel and become a fan.