After Arizona fan favorites The Format hung it up, the core musicians Sam Means and Nate Ruess (FUN.) went their separate ways. Means laid his instruments to rest for the time being to focus on starting a family and creating a merchandise empire, complete with ridiculously cute cat shirts.
Get to know musician and Hello Apparel creator Sam Means and enter to win this painfully adorable “Kitten” v-neck!
1. What inspired the creation of Hello Merch and Hello Apparel?
My band split up about five years ago, and I suddenly found myself with tons of free time and nothing to do with it. I didn’t want to start another full-time music project then, so it just made the most sense. I was always heavily involved in the music business side of things anyway. The band actually had a little merch store set up for a couple years prior, after getting burned on a couple deals, so it was a natural and easy transition for me.
The apparel stuff, not so much. I launched a small line in 2008, but the timing was bad, or it was just terrible … Either way, it took a back seat until late last year. My wife stepped in to add a kid’s line to go with it, and we’ve been going strong for about six months now. We’re definitely having a lot of fun with it this time around, and working together is awesome.
Did you just fall asleep?
2. Is it challenging to be part business owner and part creative graphic designer? Do those responsibilities ever seem at odds with one another?
It’s all the same for me, honestly. Both require the same amount of creativity. It’s hard to juggle everything, but I’ve somehow managed to keep a pretty good system of keeping it organized.
3. When was the first moment you realized you didn’t want to continue eating animals?
It was in NYC on tour sometime in 2003, and my friend more or less dared me to give it a shot. I figured it would last a couple weeks, but it’s been 10 years now, and I have absolutely no desire to go back.
4. After going vegetarian did you discover any foods you hadn’t thought to try before? Any necessities you would recommend we purchase immediately?
Yes, everything! I wouldn’t go near tofu or seitan before, or even a lot of vegetables, but it’s all so good now. Being vegetarian forces you to sometimes be creative with your meals. I think Quorn makes my favorite “chicken” patty for sandwiches. Actually, everything they make is pretty great. My sister and I had their Turk’y Roast last Thanksgiving and loved it!
5. What’s your go-to vegan dish that you bust out to impress friends?
There’s a vegan place down the street from my house that makes a fake Big Mac, called the Big Wac. I’ve been telling everyone about it. It’s seriously so good. If anyone is in Arizona, I highly suggest Green New American Vegetarian!
6. What’s your favorite “dumb question“ that you get asked about being vegetarian?
Man, there are so many, it’s crazy. I’m definitely not judgmental about other people’s diets, so I wouldn’t expect anyone to be about mine. But sometimes people really get in your face about it. There’s this mind-boggling defensiveness that kicks in with people occasionally. I think they assume I’m looking down on them or something, so they feel the need to belittle my personal decision for some weird reason. It’s hard to explain, but I’m sure a lot of people feel me on this one. I’m not bitter about it at all.
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*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments in which the commenters tell us about the moment they realized they wanted to stop eating animals. This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Entries must be received by May 21, 2013. The winner will be notified on May 24, 2013. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
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