Polymer_ SS/19 Launch / HQ Opening Event / Enjoy Yourself

Photos by Morgan Rindengan @morgnar / Words by Josh Jochem @alohacactus

Enjoy Yourself.

Let's start this by asking where were you on Saturday night? Hopefully you answered- "At The Polymer_ SS19 Launch Party". If that was not your answer-FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) may begin to kick in as you proceed, but let's just hope that's not the case. 

March 16th 2019 was a night for the books, especially for a new, up and coming apparel brand known as Polymer_. The event launched their new SS19 collection, but mainly focused on bringing the Long Beach and greater community together to showcase their new work space, office, better yet "home". For those that don't know, the brand started in early 2017 working out of an ole' beat up pull-trailer found on craigslist for a couple hundred bucks. They used this trailer not just as work space, but in a way of growing with their team and creating a solid audience. Moving forward, the brand has expanded into a commercial space in the Wrigley area of Long Beach, California. The space is broken into an office area, meeting room, warehouse for inventory, art gallery and studio utilized by known artist Alex Gardner, and just a little more room to throw an amazing party like this one.

The night stood tall to the brands mantra- "Experience Multiple Concepts"- because a lot of concepts were definitely being experienced. The Polymer_ team pulled together over 20 artists to be displayed in their new gallery by having each artist create a signature styled Tyvek “Transporter” tote bag. Each artist went above and beyond to put their own mark on these well-known recyclable totes the brand produces and sells. Not to mention, all proceeds of sales for the night went to the Surf Rider Foundation and Marine Mammals of Los Angeles. The newly established local brewery, Ambitious Ales partnered up to serve up some hops and YouTube sensation, Christine Mai Nguyen blessed the night with the one's n two's. To top the night right off, Long Beach based band Spirit Mother concluded the evening with a proper face melting performance that left the crowd with jaw's dropped. The inspired crowd continued the festivities down the street at the Hawk Bar where the good times continued.

I hope all who came out enjoyed themselves as much as we did. The statement "Enjoy Yourself" was the theme of the night and these guys weren't joking. "Its all about the journey..." As simple as that is, its the upmost truth. A wonderful journey lies ahead for Polymer_ and I hope all of you are along for the ride.

Art Show

Enjoy Yourself Bench by @brandy.no.wayne

 

@preemoreno

@kelsielane

@larsensotelo

@zeegisbreathing

@grbgmade

@leskid

@xistheweapon

@stayadorned

@shainaturain

@colestremtattooer

@nicksimonelli

@t_lord

 

@pinkytaylor

@tigheyay

@bawkwards

@ig_draws

@mase.studio

@grbgmade

Long Beach Love Birds- Josh Jochem and Emily Dureault

The OG Polymer_ office quarters

Nick Trapasso cruised through on his Italian Stallion 

Josh decked out in the new Polymer_ Tactile Woven shirt

The new office is open for business!

Polymer_ pins for days! Love seeing these on jackets around town

Enjoy Yourself

These new floral pieces by Ryan Ward are totally a perfect fit for this seasons vibe

@helygonzalez

The band Spirit Mother pre-face melting performance

Ain't no party without our boy Jordan Kreisberg in the house

LBC muses

As the sun went down, the crowd begin to thicken

Screen projections of the SS19 campaign- by Polymer's own Chris Velasco

Lost in translation

Two of the evening's standout artists- Brandy Wayne and Shaina Turain

Brandy Wayne went above and beyond with her magazine reading inspired bench

Nothing but people truly enjoying themselves!

Braided, faded, and chains out!

Shaina Turain- our favorite art educator in town

Ian Bragg always coming in with "high" expectations

The classic art show beer line...don't forget to tip your bartender!

Spirit Mother ready to knock the socks off your feet

All eyes were looking up on the heavy riffs of guitar and violin

Friends and family all around...is that a GRBG made hat? 

Great capture of the crowd and Spirit Mother jamming on the second story

Warm hearts and cold beers- Ben Kilpatrick, Cameron Strand, and Nick Brown

Sean McCormick slaying the shred stick from above

Long Beach turning into LA with the OG street dogs

Newly Weds! Shonn and Marianne Oquendo

Long hair whips throughout the set!

Supra footwear's Joe Donovan...Thanks for the Gold kicks my dude!

Camera's all over the place - Cody in the Infuse burnt woven

Spirit Mother got them in a trance!

Danny from Ezekiel was in the building!

Ben Kilpatrick and De Marquis McDaniels came to peep the goods

PHX girls, Macie Alana and former Polymer Intern Kailee Ackman

Christine Mai Nguyen blessing us on the one's n two's

Two peas n pod, Willy Mammoth and Bo Boses

Ain't no Long Beach party without the doggs!

Christine Mai Nguyen and Polymer_'s main man, Eric B

Bo Boses and Alex Galles didn't like what they were about to see...

And that's what I call a good ending to the night! 

**********

Thank you to all that came out! Hope you Enjoyed Yourselves!

Live Performance:

Spirit Mother @spiritmotherband

Vinly Sets:

Christine Mai Nguyen chrissstttiiine

Artists:

Brandy Wayne @brandy.no.wayne

Tony Bawk @bawkwards

Ian Bragg @leskid

Cole Strem @colestremtattooer

Gunther Estrada @grbgmade

Hely Omar Gonzalez @helyomargonzalez

Branden Tighe @tigheyay

Ignacio Villanueva @ig_draws

Kelsie VanWuyckhuyse @ kelsielane

Larsen Sotelo @larsen_sotelo

Martin Etem @mase.studio

Michael Ziobrowski @xistheweapon

Nick Simonelli @nicksimonelli_

Nick Zegel @zeegisbreathing

Pinky Taylor @pinkytaylor

Ryan Ward @ryanrussellward

Shaina Turian @shainaturian

Sylvia Strem @stayadorned

Taylor Mousaw @t_lord