On game days, the first and foremost question in a State fan’s mind is, “What to wear?” For those who opt out of body paint, there is Olly Oxen. The slogan ‘Pride and Style’ clearly describes the brand as an alternative to the traditional State apparel.
Founder and head designer of Olly Oxen, Charlotte Guice, is an alumna who graduated in 2009 with a degree in art design. Although she focused mostly on furniture and welding in the College of Design, she developed a sense of entrepreneurship on her own. For Guice, the aspect of owning a business was hereditary.
“The logistics of business came from me watching my family. Almost everyone in my family owns a business, and that really helped,” Guice said. Internships that stretched from being a graphic designer in Raleigh to working in New York for a summer also moved Guice to where she needed to be to come into her own.
The styles range from women’s scarves and poodle skirts to men’s visors and bowties. There are even baby onesies for the youngest of Pack fans. The poodle skirt was her first original product as a design project far earlier in her career, and it inspired Guice to brainstorm for other spirited designs to support her school.
“I made the original Wolfpack skirt for a portfolio for the College of Design while I was still a senior in high school for an interview. My brothers also went to N.C. State, so I made it for myself to wear to the games.”
Charlotte’s, a boutique in Cameron Village, is an accessible location where the Olly Oxen line can be found. According to the shop’s owner, Charlotte Harris, the business is more than happy to host the brand not only for school pride, but also as a less expensive alternative to other official school apparel.
“We like to carry the line because we have so many students and alumni [as customers],” Harris said. “They want anything with N.C. State on it. Needlepoint belts are extremely popular but cost a near $170 – Olly Oxen’s belts look the same and cost $50. The price points are great, and it’s a great look, so it’s very appealing to our customers.”
Guice takes on the superman role and works on Olly Oxen in her free time while balancing a full time job as the Undergraduate Student Services Coordinator at the College of Design. Even with the responsibility of going to work every day, Guice still finds the time to put together new designs.
Consumers can expect a lot of growth from Olly Oxen, although it will remain a purely collegiate line. The line will be branching out to other North Carolina colleges in in late October.
Although she’s only 24 years old, Charlotte Guice is already ahead of the game for starting a business in this day and age. Most entrepreneurs spend years attempting to put together a plan for company establishment and growth. Unlike these people, Guice has already expanded Olly Oxen out of its borders of solely athletic fan gear and into the sphere of regular, day-to-day attire.
“I don’t see it as fashion at all, it’s not trendy enough. I see it as lifestyle,” Guice explained. “[As] either … collegiate or regular clothes, I just see it as lifestyle. And it’s always expanding.”
Alt: Olly Oxen apparel can be found online at htt://www.ollyoxen.com. Local stores carrying Olly Oxen’s line include Charlotte’s, NoFo’s and Roundabout Art Collective.
Source: James Hatfield
