SILKY SOFT WITH AN EDGY VIBE

Riffling through a rack of T-shirts bearing their bright designs, Alyse Gamson and Marla Price laugh and tease with the ease of longtime friendship. The two first met at a mutual friend’s bachelorette party in 2008 and quickly bonded over a shared love for creativity and adventure. That bond buoyed the women through child-raising years and eventually led them to launch ARO + STAR, their new premium apparel brand.

Doing business as Artemix LLC, Gamson and Price’s clothing- design adventures started with T-shirts. Expanding to include additional luxury comfort-wear pieces, the full line launched under the ARO + STAR brand banner in December 2023.

Conceptualized during the pandemic, ARO + STAR fulfilled two needs—it gave Gamson and Price an entrepreneurial outlet for their artistic passions and it anticipated and met post-pandemic realities. “We realized that people would be eager to resume their lives and get back into the world—a world in which comfort and style were now equally important,” says Gamson. “It was the right time to create an apparel brand that seamlessly blends both elements—clothing that not only embraces comfort but also empowers people to confidently navigate the world, expressing unique style along the way.”

At ARO + STAR, that translates to silky soft hoodies and joggers, whisper-thin muscle tanks, long and short-sleeved tees, and reverse slub cotton tops, all emblazoned with art and graphics designed by Gamson and Price. “Our art and graphics focus on icons and empowering messages with an edgy vibe that uplifts, inspires, and promotes self-confidence and strength,” explains Gamson.

The artwork and fashions draw upon the team’s combined skills and schooling. Price’s abiding interest in art and fashion led her to major in graphic design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gamson, who had undergraduate and master’s degrees in accounting and a CPA certification, spent years in the corporate world before a transformative experience in San Francisco prompted her to pursue a career in the arts. “I then attended art school with a focus on fashion design and illustration and spent the next several years exploring the world of physical making,” she recalls.

The more Gamson studied textiles and pattern making, the more her awareness of fabrics and how they draped over the body grew. “This created a new problem for me,” she says. “Clothes didn’t feel right to me anymore. I started dreaming of creating an apparel brand with high-quality, soft fabrics that had the right fit and feel.”

In the early 2000s, Gamson started to explore the tools of digital making and began the journey to become a digital artist. “I live in jeans and graphic tees and have always wanted to be able to print my own designs on T-shirts,” she explains. When a friend opened a customization shop with a digital direct-to-garment printer in-house, Gamson took things to the next level. “I started to wear only T-shirts that I designed,” she says.

Even in childhood, there were signs that the pair would become art and fashion entrepreneurs.

Gamson, who was born in New York, lived in Brooklyn and then moved to the southeast coast of Florida. Her youthful memories include bike rides with her sisters and playtime with Barbies. “For a special birthday present, I got the Barbie Boutique and loved setting up the displays,” she recalls.

Price, who grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois before her move to California, could usually be found with a notebook and markers, sketching away. “At a young age, I even went door to door selling custom birthday cards,” she laughs.

Today, while Price is based in Marin County, California, and Gamson in Highland Park, the two are in constant contact. They share a workload that may have them doing artwork and researching the softest fabrics one day and overseeing production and social media the next.

Beyond its eye appeal, ARO + STAR clothing is carefully crafted with attention to detail and high-quality design. “Fabric is very important to us—where it’s made, what it’s composed of, and especially how it feels on your skin,” says Gamson.

The T-shirts are made in Los Angeles with 100 percent slub cotton and 100 percent cotton jersey. While made from traditional fabrics, the T-shirts are constructed with a modern edge—the reverse slub cotton is stitched with exposed seams for an edgy vibe and superior comfort.

Sustainability is key, with garments made in small batches. This choice allows for more precise planning, minimizing excess inventory that might otherwise end up in landfills. The commitment to craft garments from 100 percent natural fibers is also a conscientious choice, as is the compostable packaging that is made from corn starch and printed with vegetable-based inks.

Currently, ARO + STAR is focused on a direct-to-consumer retail model with sales conducted through its website, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. “We do have occasional pop-ups during the holiday season and in support of local and broader causes,” adds Price. One such cause? One percent of ARO + STAR revenue currently supports a monthly accountability and mentorship program for formerly homeless moms through a partnership with The New Hollywood Accountability Program.

Gamson and Price are excited about several new company initiatives. They have added a variety of new art designs and are debuting a new T-shirt style dubbed The Boxy Slub Crew. May 2024 brings an expansion of ARO + STAR’s Unisex collection while the duo’s Fall and Winter collections will introduce a wide range of new styles. A kids’ wear line may also be in the offing.

In sum? “This has been a shared dream for more than 20 years. We are both so happy that our passion for art, the creative process, and human connection is now realized in ARO + STAR, a luxury brand that embodies confidence and feels good inside and out,” explains Gamson.

For more information about ARO + STAR apparel or how to host a pop-up with a percentage of sales supporting your organization, visit aroandstar.com or view on Instagram @aroandstar.