2008 Woodie Awards
A Novel Theory
UVM Entrepreneurs combine consciousness with cutting-edge style
ADRIAN THOMPSON Cynic Correspondent
Issue date: 12/5/06 Section: Life and Style
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At this point in the semester, the typical UVM student is bogged down with classes, term papers and preparations for finals. These academic commitments are more than enough to keep most of us busy. This is not the case though, for a small group of entrepreneurial UVM students.
In April of 2006, two creatively inclined UVM students, Guy Derry (class of 2008) and Chris Lisle (2009), decided to start silk-screening clothing. Derry took a silk-screening class in high school, but this time he had a larger vision attached to the craft. The motivation for the effort was rooted in a desire to combine their creativity with a marketable product. It was another two months of brainstorming, soul searching, testing and product research before a company actually emerged.
"From the outset, we had a very clear goal: to create a stylish product while maintaining high standards of ecological and social responsibility," Derry explained. The young company, later coined Novelty Theory, specializes in "conscious apparel" which fellow Novelty Theory partners and UVM students Ben Stewart (2008), Adam Demartino (2007), Mikey Bisgono (2008) and Tim Hosmer (2008) describe as "wearable art."
True to their vow of social and ecological responsibility, all pieces in the Novelty Theory line are produced sweatshop-free and are hand-dyed 100% organic cotton and hemp.
The Novelty Theory web site (http://www.NoveltyTheory.com) is artistic and innovative in its comprehensive display of the company's first edition product line. For Derry, "A creative online presentation of our products is just as important as the products themselves." This drive to constantly innovate and reinvent is at the core of Novelty Theory's creative philosophy, and is also at the root of the company's namesake.
According to the group, Novelty Theory refers to Terrence McKenna's theory regarding the prediction of the fluctuations of novelty, or "newness," in the universe. The company's name has proven appropriate, as circumstance and a trial-and-error approach have led to innovative designs as well as marketing strategies. Despite changes that inevitably accompany growth, Novelty Theory has stayed true to its initial vision of fine style in harmony with social and ecological responsibility.
In April of 2006, two creatively inclined UVM students, Guy Derry (class of 2008) and Chris Lisle (2009), decided to start silk-screening clothing. Derry took a silk-screening class in high school, but this time he had a larger vision attached to the craft. The motivation for the effort was rooted in a desire to combine their creativity with a marketable product. It was another two months of brainstorming, soul searching, testing and product research before a company actually emerged.
"From the outset, we had a very clear goal: to create a stylish product while maintaining high standards of ecological and social responsibility," Derry explained. The young company, later coined Novelty Theory, specializes in "conscious apparel" which fellow Novelty Theory partners and UVM students Ben Stewart (2008), Adam Demartino (2007), Mikey Bisgono (2008) and Tim Hosmer (2008) describe as "wearable art."
True to their vow of social and ecological responsibility, all pieces in the Novelty Theory line are produced sweatshop-free and are hand-dyed 100% organic cotton and hemp.
The Novelty Theory web site (http://www.NoveltyTheory.com) is artistic and innovative in its comprehensive display of the company's first edition product line. For Derry, "A creative online presentation of our products is just as important as the products themselves." This drive to constantly innovate and reinvent is at the core of Novelty Theory's creative philosophy, and is also at the root of the company's namesake.
According to the group, Novelty Theory refers to Terrence McKenna's theory regarding the prediction of the fluctuations of novelty, or "newness," in the universe. The company's name has proven appropriate, as circumstance and a trial-and-error approach have led to innovative designs as well as marketing strategies. Despite changes that inevitably accompany growth, Novelty Theory has stayed true to its initial vision of fine style in harmony with social and ecological responsibility.
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