Blood Is The New Black

The skinny on Blood Is The New Black.

Launched in 2004, designer and line curator Mitra Khayyam set out to expose the emerging underground art scene by transforming their traditional art medium into wearable statements. Born out of her personal thesis written a few years before, Blood Is The New Black transpired and 5 years later, they're at the top of their game; more relevant and popular then ever before. 

The concept is quite simple; display the works of emerging artists, designers and photographers on ultra comfortable ready-wear. There's no scenes. No target market. No genres. Just integrity. And it worked. Translating across the board from Lil Wayne to Urban Outfitters to Adam Lambert, tastemakers, celebs, and indie streetwear boutiques play canvas to the statements, obscurities, and oddities of the artists behind Blood Is The New Black. Now filled with a roster of over 25 including Brian Lichtenberg, Dan Monick, and Cali Dewitt, the BITNB family is doing it big, selling vegan wallets, beautiful limited edition zines, screen prints, bags, and a whole lot of tees.

With signs of only now starting to enter their prime, we have no doubt the best is yet to come. WIth a business model built around supporting those you admire, Mitra and co. are doing it right and doing it well.
 

Chatting with Mitra Khayyam of Blood Is The New Black.

Q: Worst thing to come back in fashion within the last 3 years?
A: I’m still not sold on Dr. Martens. I was old enough to remember when they were cool the last time around. I think I’m taking out my anger on aging on the shoe.

Q: Favorite indie retail clothing store(s)?
A: Mohawk General Store, Creatures of Comfort, Opening Ceremony, and Iko Iko.

Q: Is there a hazing process for artists who become part of the BITNB crew?
A: There’s no room for sexual harassment in the workplace. Unless you’re our in-house photographer Ramon, in which case all bets are off.

Q: Favorite album of 2009?
A: Avett Brothers I and Love and You. I bought it from Starbucks. No, seriously.

Q: Coolest non-tee shirt item you’ve released to date?
A: Porous Walker’s Robbery Note wallet. We aren’t responsible if you actually use it to rob a bank. 

Q: Best coffee in Echo Park?
A: Our office. We always throw in a splash of Bailey’s Irish Crème to keep things interesting around here.

Q: Coolest event BITNB has ever been a part of?
A: Our 5 Year Anniversary show. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the fact that it’s been 5 years.

Q: New York or LA?
A: I love Los Angeles.

Q: Artist/designer wish list for new BITNB contributors?
A: Aurel Schmidt, Maya Hayuk, Will Boone. One of the three is doing a few tees for us this Summer but you’ll have to wait to find out which.

Q: Best cupcakes in LA?
A: Delilah Bakery. Dangerously close to our office

Q: Favorite “celebrity” to ever rock a BITNB tee?
A: Lil Wayne. Seriously? I’m just a white girl from the valley and Lil Wayne is wearing my shirts. I’m edgy by association now.

Q: Favorite blogs/websites?
A: Fecal Face, L.A. Record, Gnarlitude, A Continuous Lean, The Selvedge Yard.

Q: Feelings towards neon colors?
A: I’m a recovering goth, we don’t do neon.

Q: Dream television show you wish you could style in BITNB gear?
A: The Jersey Shore. I want The Situation’s abs rippling under Brendan Donnelly’s Crass tee.

Q: Favorite coffee table book?
A: Danny Lyon’s “The Bikeriders," William Eggleston’s “The Democratic Camera” and a 670 page book on The Circus that weighs close to 30 lbs. You can’t have just one coffee table book.

Q: Any movie recommendations?
A: Black Dynamite. I slept through half of it in the theater, but the half I did see was awesome. I’m hoping that someone who saw the other half can fill me in.

Q: What BITNB products would make the BITNB Hall Of Fame?
A: Patrick Jilbert’s “Gold Teef for Errbody” shirt, Dan Monick’s “Giant Cum” tee, Porous Walker’s “Search and Destroy” Google knockoff, and Brian Licthenberg’s “RIP YSL” tee that earned a cease and desist from YSL’s lawyers.

Q: Favorite non-American candy bar?
A: We have amazing British customers who send us tons of candy (if you’re readying this send us more)! My favorite so far is a Flake bar.

Q: Who’s the wildest of all BITNB artists?
A: Porous Walker. The majority of his pieces either have a penis or vagina on them, that makes him a wild and crazy guy.

Q: Favorite piece of artwork you recently purchased?
A: A photograph by Dan Monick. A photo of half eaten watermelon and a table full of Saltines wrappers now hangs proudly in my kitchen.

Q: BITNB item you’d love to make but haven’t yet?
A: BITNB Artist Snuggie Series. Just putting it out there.

The Top 5 random things found in the Blood Is The New Black office.

5. "Gaze into the Slit" artwork by Johnny Prey featuring a gold vagina mold, animal skulls, and sparkles.
4. A sheep's head mounted over my desk that we found on eBay. Our customer service rep finds him very sexy.
3. Hud the dog; ignore his barking when you come in.
2. A leaky ceiling we can't fix.
1. Dodgers insulated backpack on wheels that I've been meaning to take home for the last 2 years and won't let anyone throw away – Let’s go Doyers!

Thanks to Mitra Khayyam and Chrystina Woody of Blood Is The New Black for helping us put this together. Get connected with Blood Is The New Black on Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. Shop the line here.