Interview with Pony Attack!!

Pony Attack!! is the kind of company that started from scratch and with love. Kimmy and Nathan create the clothing and accessory line and are two of the coolest people you will meet. They bring a smile to your face and are not opaque (except when Kimmy is wearing opaque tights) - what you see is what you get and that is refreshing. Pony Attack!! clothing and accesories are not only made by hand but Kimmy and Nathan are also environmentally conscious. They use organic cottons whenever possible, American owned sweatshop free labor companies, recycled fabrics, and water based dyes. It is exciting to see two like minded people that can bring an idea to fruition, start a company and really make things happen the way they want it to. I consider this company Organically grown and it will reap success deservingly. I enjoyed doing this interview and I am sure you will enjoy meeting Kimmy and Nathan a.k.a. Pony Attack!!.

Coming up with a name that sticks. What made you choose Pony Attack!!?

Pony Attack!! is the name of a piece of art that I liked. Pony Attack!! started out just as a school project. I (Kimmy) was going to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles in 05 and I had a class where we had to pretend to start a brand. Nathan and I had just started dating and he was helping me out with the project and made a screen at his work and we made some tees and a tote. A couple weeks later all my friends wanted a tote. Nathan had some amazing ideas that didn’t fit in the structure of Foundation and we started it from there, got picked up by a few stores and it went from there – it was very organic.

With everyone wanting something unique and kitschy these days, do you think it is easier now for local artists/companies to sell their items?

I think that people care more about buying something with a story behind it, and not just a mass-marketed item. Whether it’s a hand screened tote, a hand sewn dress, or just a Tee that has a specific artist behind it makes it worth more to people. This push has allowed a $40 tee to combat a $6 tee from Wal-Mart. People are willing to pay a higher price for something unique or to support a smaller brand.

Some of your items are in local boutiques such as Mimi and Red. Are you selecting the shops based on location or what their target market is?

With our new line coming out we definitely want to put our stuff in boutiques that have the same target market as our line. We are sold in Igloo in Little Italy and it’s a perfect example. Igloo is a T-Shirt boutique that carries brands done by really reputable artists that Nathan and I look up to like The Quiet Life or HUGA, as well as some artist prints, zines, and accessories. Besides that I think Gary (the owner) could be the nicest person in all of San Diego and he makes you want to shop there. Those are the kind of places that we are privileged to have Pony Attack!! in.

Have you noticed the company growing mainly because of online sales or what you sell on consignment?

We actually don’t do online sales ourselves. We are carried on two different online stores (Little Paper Planes and Bona Drag) so I wouldn’t say that is what is pushing the brand although it has gained us a bigger audience that we couldn’t provide.

I would say friends and people just really liking our stuff and spreading the word has helped us grow. Without any advertising we have been seen on Fecal Face, there is a photo of the editor of RE:Up magazine wearing our tee on their site, plus multiple pro skaters like Gareth Stehr have gotten coverage wearing our tees.

As the parents of Pony Attack!!, do you have creative differences?

We see eye to eye on most of the graphics and we come to decisions together. I will like something Nathan will veto - or vise versa - and we just learned to trust each others judgment. I would say most of our differences are on production issues.

We have very specific strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out. I have a background in Sales, Marketing and fashion and can make a mean spread sheet where as Nathan has an Art background, experience freelancing and being a Brand Manager and can put on paper anything you can conjure up in your head. It makes for a really balanced team.

Where do you get ideas for the clothing line? Are your friends an inspiration?

From everywhere. Most of the ideas we come up with are inside jokes, or something that made us laugh really hard.

How does your dog Chloe feel about wearing Pony Attack!!?

Kimmy: Chloe loves wearing clothes. She’s basically me but in pug form.

In the two years you have been laboring over Pony Attack!!, has the company grown gradually or do you think it just blew up in the past year?

Kimmy: Have we blown up?
Nathan: My mom thinks we blew up.

Where is your laboratory? In other words, where does the magic happen? – I am not talking about when Nathan and Kimmy turn out the lights.

In Normal Heights/North Park. We have a small house, with an office and the Pony Attack!! Clubhouse in the backyard where we do some screen printing.

Will Pony Attack be moving into another location anytime soon?

If we do it will be in the same area, we will probably always run PA at home unless PA becomes big enough to supplement our incomes. We both have full time jobs (Nathan is the Art Director at Foundation, Kimmy does sales for Zero, Mystery and $lave skateboards) so going to another office or warehouse after our day jobs would be insane.

Seeing as your company will continue to grow, do you need interns?

Yes! We have one intern, her name is Chanelle and she is AMAZING. She does a lot of the grunt work, and tags along to events and helps me out with stuff like that. If anyone is in need of some college credit hit me up at ponyattack at gmail dot com.

Have you heard of ReadyMade Magazine?

Nathan: Definitely, its one of my favorite mags. I always imagine myself making the rad stuff I see in it but never do. Someday…

Speed question for Nathan & Kimmy: what is your favorite color, band, movie, book, place to drink?

Kimmy
Color? Purple.
Band? Cat Power
Movie? Just saw Across the Universe and LOVED it.
Book? Skinema
Place to drink? Beer Town in LA or my house during the day!
*Those might not have been my favorites but the first to come to mind.

Nathan
Color? Neon green
Band? Welcome Back Hiyashi
Movie? Rollerblade
Book? Seinlanguage
Place to drink? Tijuana (during the day) Livewire (at night)

What has been the hardest thing about owning your own business?

Kimmy: Not being able to do exactly what you want because of funding.
Nathan: What Kimmy said and selling stuff to your friends, I feel bad sometimes but I guess that’s the way it goes.

If you could sell your clothing line to any store, which would it be? Who do you want to see wearing Pony Attack?

Kimmy: I would really like to see our stuff in Wasteland’s 3 locations. We were just in there a couple of weeks ago and thought we would fit in nicely. They carry some awesome brands like Blood is the New Black, Keep, Lifetime Collective and Art in the Age alongside amazing vintage and designer apparel. I would love to expand past California to Boston, Chicago and New York City.

Nathan: does IKEA sell t-shirts?

Kimmy: If I could see anyone wearing a Pony Attack!! tee it would defiantly be Chloe Sevigny. She is a fashion icon and wears clothes so well. Or Chan Marshall. That would be amazing.

Nathan: Bret and Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords

You two are pretty damn cool and have done something many people think about but never follow through with. Anything else you want us to know about Pony Attack!!?

Kimmy: Yes! We will be at Bar Pink Elephant selling our new 2008 line before any stores have it so come over and take a look on Saturday!

Nathan: Thanks! Get Rad or Die Trying.

As Kimmy mentioned, you can go to Bar Pink Elephant on Saturday from 12p to 6p for the North Park Craft Mafia’s Holiday Hit List (local designers sell their goods).

Check out cool, new threads from the Pony Attack!! 2008 clothing line.
Peacock Gypsy Dress

Bad Dream T-shirt

Costanzig T-Shirt

OMG T-Shirt