With artists from every corner of the underground being seen wearing their designs, countless fashion forwards are rushing to don Get Free clothing. In the years since it began, Chris Porras has developed a signature style and eye that has enabled his brand to continually push boundaries. We talked with the designer about his clothing brand, as well as printing merch for Lil Tracy, Slug Christ, Big Baby Scumbag, and other underground artists.
When did you start Get Free and what led up to it?
The brand started about 5 years ago from my college dorm, [after] feeling like I had no creative outlet. I kind of just felt like I shouldn’t be there, or didn’t see myself with a career with anything from college. I wanted to make stuff I could see myself wearing that didn’t exist. I taught myself Photoshop and Illustrator and looked up some screen printing companies not thinking I would end up working at one.
So that’s where you learned about screen printing and all the other facets of production then, at a screen printing company you worked at?
Yes, it’s currently where I live and make all my clothes out of. It’s called Trademark Screenprinting LLC. The owner MJ offered me a chance to print my own shirts one time and next thing I knew I was working there. I’ve been working there for 8 months, but I recently just moved my business into the warehouse this year.
What precipitated that move from the screen printing shop to your own warehouse?
I always found it super important to be involved on the grounds of production. A lot of people just start a brand, place an order and have a few packages show up on their doorstep. With my brand, I’m fully involved throughout the entire process, from sourcing blanks and fabrics to printing or sewing on the finished tags. Having the ability to physically be there and work first-hand with certain inks, fabrics, textiles or even embroidery color stitching first hand has helped shape the final outcomes of my collections recently. I’ve definitely made last some minute calls on color ways of products before it was about to get made. Something I’ve never had access to before.
What were you doing before Get Free?
I was skating every single week since I was in middle school, it was pretty much was a way to stay out as long as possible with my friends doing dumb shit around town and the city. We’d take trips into the city and I started visiting a lot of skate shops/clothing boutiques, so I always was around or had crazy clothes from an early age.
Tell me about the latest collection.
The collection is called free from life which essentially just means death. It’s a collection that was 8 months of work in progress, and] it brought the introduction of Headgear and accessories to the brand such as Fingerless gloves. Those were just an experiment toying with the screenprint oneday, to see if it were possible, they are actually harder to print than a t-shirt. We also switched to USA Made tees because they had all these vibrant / “feminine” type colorways. Inclusivity is important for me when designing so I want my clothing to feel universal. My intentions for this collection were for people to consider wearing colorways they normally wouldn’t consider pulling off, instead of that black tee they have on everyday.
I noticed you utilize a lot of workwear in your collections, what’s the inspiration for that?
When I first moved to NYC four years ago I interned for DOT NYC to design signs and merchandise for the city of new york. They introduced me to design on workwear. I noticed that workwear was a really high quality fabric and it was accessable for me to get. This was early on in like 2016. So I found out where they were getting their stuff from and made a few of my own pieces for my collections.
How else does living in New York influence your work?
Well now aside from running my own brand I do merchandise/tour support for a lot of artists. I constantly have to meet with them whether it’s getting shirts to them before a show or coming up with with a concept of a new design. I found that being out at night in NYC it’s important to position yourself as “the plug” to something or people might not fuck with you. It sucks but everyone’s work oriented here.
Definitely. Any good stories about a business opportunity that arose from a night out?
This one time I pulled up out the Uber to this bar, Lil Tracy and Nick Blanco were standing outside. I literally just watched this documentary on Tracy so it was crazy. I offered to buy ‘em drinks and we went bar hopping a few spots and Tracy previewed Sinner in the Uber. The night ended at a taco spot where I plugged myself as merch not thinking anything would happen. We did a rare run of 50 shirts that sold out the same day of Lil Tracy’s Halloween show in NYC.
Who have been some of your favorite artists and people you’ve seen rocking Get Free?
I’m fortunate to have gotten a few artists I actually listen to everyday including Slug Christ, Big Baby Scumbag, Father, Lil Tracy, Chxpo, Brat Star, BigHead, and Maddie Knight.
I’m blessed to have the opportunity to even work past just getting my clothes on certain artists, but to form a relationship where I can make them money by printing their merchandise for shows.
What are the future plans for Get Free?
Repurposing fabrics from previous collections, more accessories, rhinestones and challenging gender norms. I want guys to be able to wear feminine type products, that’s something I’m working on. More Pop-ups and expanding internationally, really, I want to expand into markets beyond just New York and LA. More immediately, you’re gonna see us collab with some of your favorite artists soon. Keep your eyes peeled.