Phoenix Designer Brian Cresson: 100 Creatives

Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 29. Brian Cresson.

Fashion’s about more than what you’re wearing for Brian Cresson. It’s about making connections.

The designer lives in Phoenix’s Garfield neighborhood and operates his clothing company, Free Ego, out of 11th Monk3y Industries on Grand Avenue.

See also: Nicole Michieli of Gilbert’s Floating Specks: 100 Creatives

Cresson spends the bulk of his weekdays at 11th Monk3y, putting his ideas to paper and clothing. But his time at work is typically bordered by a morning trip to Jobot for some brainstorming and coffee, an after-work stop at Carly’s, and some evening entertainment at Crescent Ballroom or FilmBar.

“I have a lot in the works. Not quite ready to spill the beans but looking forward to a big release in the near future,” the 30-year-old says. “An upcoming focus of mine will be making new relationships with Phoenix area businesses and showcasing my work in local shops and fashion outlets.”

Based on his daily schedule, it sounds like he’ll have no trouble connecting with small businesses around town. And while he won’t divulge much about said big release, Cresson says that he’s experimenting with new techniques of manipulating clothing. “I’ve moved on from traditional screenprint and am now focusing on vinyl heatpressing in addition to dyeing, bleaching, cutting, and distressing clothing,” he says.

I came to Phoenix with a car full of canvases, paint brushes, art supplies, and the mindset that I was finally going to live the life I had been scared of attempting for so many years. I had just pulled the plug on my corporate career, packed my suits into a box and headed downtown Phoenix to move into an art studio/gallery.

I make art because it’s just something that I have to do. Not only is it a very rewarding passion, but I’ve always had the need to create, even since I was a young child. Now it’s even that much more rewarding as a career and lifestyle.

I’m most productive when I set myself a timeline. It’s really a great freedom being your own boss, but on the other end of the spectrum if I’m not putting in the work… it’s not going to happen.

My inspiration wall is full of images of the newest styles and fashions. Trends that are being tested by some of the groundbreaking individuals I study. I’m always surrounded by a collection of clothing test-prints, various material samples, fashion sketches and most recently trial-and-error tests of dyeing and bleaching techniques.

I’ve learned most from my first couple of years trying to break into the downtown Phoenix art scene. I learned quickly that a great sounding idea doesn’t necessarily equal success. Most of the time the business of being a creative individual takes a lot of hard work, more than you’d ever imagine.

Good work should always come from the heart and soul. The projects that I’m most proud of are ones that felt so real and important to me. There’s no better feeling and not a more genuine product than one you’ve created naturally and with passion.

The Phoenix creative scene could use more professional outlets to showcase artists’ work. More approachable downtown venues would create a more accessible environment to higher-end collectors and consumers.

See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:

100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
37. Monica Robles
36. Josh Kirby
35. Jesse Perry
34. Yai Cecream
33. Nathan Blackwell
32. Carley Conder
31. Ben Willis
30. Nicole Michieli

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