From indie radio to indie T-shirts: A former Twin Cities radio personality is turning music-inspired clothing into an at-home small business.
Pop Frocks started last fall when Mandy Cox bought a T-shirt press and started making toddler and infant clothing inspired by her favorite rock and soul music legends. The goal was not only cool clothes for her then 1-year-old son, but also building a business that would reconnect her with her former music career.
Cox started out her radio career in the mid-'90s as an intern at the late-great Rev 105, and later took that experience to KFAI, where she hosted an overnight music program. She also worked behind the scenes at 89.3 The Current during the first year of the station's existence.
As she settled down a bit and had a kid, she found herself missing her old music lifestyle. "I really missed that, and thought: what can I do from the house that can bring this element back into my life?"
When the Electric Fetus recently invited her to participate in one of its
MinnEconomy events (Pop Frocks is one of this month's featured artists), Cox decided to create a whole new series of shirts all inspired by Minnesota artists.
"It all started off by asking (89.3 The Current DJ) Mary Lucia if I could put her face on a T-shirt," says Cox. Since then she's received enthusiastic OKs from more than a dozen local bands and personalities, from punk pioneers The Suicide Commandos to current buzz-band Communist Daughter.
"I'm totally jazzed about the way it's turned out," says Cox. "It's nice to get that e-mail from [Duluth musician] Alan Sparhawk saying, yes, go ahead! Do it! Send me one for my daughter!"
The limited-edition collection (Cox is limiting each design to between 30 and 50 shirts) is for sale at The Electric Fetus and will soon also be available on the Pop Frocks website.
Source: Mandy Cox, Pop Frocks Apparel
Writer:
Dan Haugen