It All Comes Full Circle
If you know anything about Viola Chip, you would know that we believe everything has a story, and every good idea happens by chance.
Photo Credit: Viola Chip
When we launched Viola Chip, we were mad about graphic tees - we still are - and just like many other brands, companies, artists, and any one person who has something to say, the tee has become the most practical way to bring a message to life. It has become a cornerstone among communication devices. Posters? Who needs them. You got something to say? Put it on a fucking shirt and wear it. Through tees, self-expression has found permanence in inking its way into soft, wearable threads of cotton.
When we were designing our first capsule, we would spend days roaming lower Manhattan walking through Chinatown and Canal St. taking in the surroundings. (Partially because Lauren loves dumplings). When we were conceptualizing the theme, we kept coming back to one thing, both figuratively and literally, and that was food. And so we were inspired.
The design embodied every feeling intrinsically tied to, well, food, and just like that, our message of eternal gratitude now lives on the backs of those who wear our tee.
In January 2019 we launched our very first capsule. Among two other original designs was our flagship piece: the ‘Hot & Spicy’ tee. This particular design personified how we felt about food. This concept of gathering, consuming, feeling pleasure, feeling nourished, feeling grateful - it was conveyed through our design. An embroidered chili pepper on the left chest over the heart and the words “Hot & Spicy” in a vertical repeating pattern on the back, mimicking the classic thank you plastic bags popularized by takeout spots. The design embodied every feeling intrinsically tied to, well, food, and just like that, our message of eternal gratitude now lives on the backs of those who wear our tee.
Fast forward to March 2020. In barely one year, COVID-19 comes crashing into the lives of millions affecting everyone. Literally, everyone. Virtually no corner of the Earth is unbothered by this. One of the first and most obvious impacts of the pandemic was the quick and deafening blow it took to the restaurant and hospitality industries. In no time, restaurants were forced to temporarily shudder due to phrases like “quarantine” and “social distancing.” Like millions of small businesses across the nation, one of our beloved NYC restaurants, Loring Place, had closed its doors, indefinitely to help battle this pandemic.
As patrons of this establishment, we became aware of this news rather quickly, and felt an immediate desire to help in some way. The desire to help was rooted in a sense of community, a sense of gratitude, and a love for food. What happened next wasn’t exactly poetic, but the ending was. We had a limited number of remaining ‘Hot & Spicy’ tees from our first capsule a year ago, and so we decided to sell and donate 100% of the proceeds to the Loring Place Employee Fund. With the support of Chef Dan Kluger, Owner of Loring Place, and the rest of his staff, we were able to sell out in just days. In short order, we were beyond excited to have donated just over $1,000, getting them one small step closer to their goal.
Now, remember when I said the ending was poetic? Well, here goes nothing. If you recall, our idea behind the design of our ‘Hot & Spicy’ tee was a proclamation of our love and gratitude for food. When we found ourselves searching for inspiration to support a restaurant we loved, we found the solution exactly where we started. It came full circle, and just like that a message of eternal gratitude now lives on the backs of those who wear our tee. This concept of gathering, consuming, feeling pleasure, feeling nourished, feeling grateful - it was conveyed through our design. An embroidered chili pepper on the left chest over the heart, the “Hot & Spicy” pattern mimicking thank you, it all happened by chance.
The battle against COVID-19 doesn’t stop there for Loring Place. They’re doing an amazing job of supporting their staff and family, but they can use your help to meet their goal. To make a donation, visit the Loring Place Employee Fund GoFundMe. We look forward to enjoying many more meals there.