The clothing we wear isn’t just clothing. It represents our identity, who we are, or who we want to be. Clothes can also embody some of our values in what we find important in life, especially in the battle of comfort vs. cool. You have to admit, finding the perfect t-shirt is a bit of an art form. Not too tight, not too loose. Soft, but resilient material. Eye catching, but still hip design. All of these demands often lead us to sacrifice something in the quest for that timeless tee.
Winged Beast Outfitters founder Stirling Prentice knows a little something about this. “I had my first show when I was living in Windsor, and all the shirts were from Giant Tiger,” he explains, “all of them shrank as soon as you washed them, and I was really embarrassed. As a person who buys t-shirts, I really hate when they shrink so that was the last time that I bought something that wasn’t quality material.” As a result of this misadventure, Prentice became the light at the end of a dark, t-shirt filled tunnel.
Winged Beast Outfitters isn’t your typical t-shirt company. Created 6 years ago, mostly out of boredom and endless doodling, it was founded solely by Prentice who began experimenting with screen-printing after ordering a kit online. “I started practicing, making joke shirts for my friends, and it just kept growing and growing,” explains Prentice. “It’s always been a weird learning experience for me because I don’t have an art back round, I’m not a graphic designer, so this is very different from what I do normally day-to-day. There’s always been this element of a challenge.”
Prentice’s beginnings in the design sphere were rather humble. “When I was going to school in London, Ontario, I was literally printing on the floor, on an IKEA table with the legs removed because it was the only flat surface I had in my apartment at the time. I’ve had a rough and tumble kind of setup,” he admits. “My set-up is very portable because I’ve moved a lot.” However, Prentice seems to have found his niche here in Ottawa, and has been a prominent figure in craft markets and expositions since his arrival in our capital city. “Ottawa has been good to me and is very generous. From an art perspective, the scene here is really great and there’s a much more positive response to people doing their own little thing than in some other cities,” he explains.
Despite his love for Ottawa (and our love for his designs), Prentice has had no problems reaching out to a broader market, even going so far as sending clothing to Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, thanks to a little something called the internet. Prentice’s online presence is always growing, as he not only features his work on the company’s website, but also has an online store on Etsy, a go-to destination for one of a kind pieces.
Much like his company name, Prentice’s designs are unique and quirky. His top-selling piece is an epic print of a raptor riding a whale, which Prentice continually reproduces due to the never-ceasing demands. However, Prentice isn’t afraid to toss out ideas that haven’t been as successful. “Sometimes, you make one that you’re really in love with but no one likes. That’s one of the fun parts of it being a part-time business, I can take a risk on a shirt that I find interesting and if it doesn’t work out, you can just move on, you don’t have to sweat it,” he explains.
Prentice’s enthusiasm towards designing is truly refreshing. While he is primarily known for his t-shirts, his future plans for Winged Beast Outfitters go far beyond that. “At this point, I’ve been doing t-shirts for so long that I’m looking to build relationships with sowers around the city and possibly come out with a line of dresses. I’ve always wanted to expand on that aspect,” he explains. With so much ambition, it’s exciting to watch Prentice take his small company to new levels, including starting his own Kitten Army. We can only hope that his previously nomadic lifestyle doesn’t strike again and deprive Ottawa from a truly creative and promising designer.
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