Artist designs logo tees

A Sharpie, a blank T-shirt and a burst of creativity coalesced into a one-of-a-kind product that junior Kara Jeffers sold one day to a customer intrigued by her T-shirt designs.

Armed with $20 and invigorated by her first sale, Jeffers drove straight to Taco Bell.

“It was the best Taco Bell of my life,” she said with a laugh.

Jeffers, majoring in art education, initially entertained the idea of starting her own T-shirt company, later named Karosene Clothing, because of her friends’ suggestions.

She said she wore one of her designs at a party and received rave reviews, many from those enthusiastic friends.

“I had a lot, a lot of friends telling me, ‘Do it. You don’t have that much to lose. People would wear this stuff,’” she said. “A lot of people would say, ‘I could see your shirts at Urban Outfitters.’”

The company began modestly, with Jeffers managing all business aspects. She shifted from Sharpie and learned screen print, a method of creating artwork on clothing that does not wash away like Sharpie.

“It’s still really fuzzy,” Jeffers said. “I’m not a business major. I’m strictly just the artist of the process. Most of the people who have gotten one I meet somewhere, and it’s a direct deal.”

Jeffers maintains she could not have pursued the venture without her fans and friends.

“I think you have to have a good group of people around you to help you out unless you’re sure,” she said. “Unless you’re Donald Trump.”

One group of individuals in particular has become patrons of her designs. Jip Jop, a local band, has never failed to mention Jeffers’ clothing whenever they play Bloomington shows, the band said.

Junior Ben Gershman, vocalist of the band, has worn her designs since they met.

“Literally an hour before the concert, she created this beautiful, circular, symmetric thing,” Gershman said. “Ever since, I’ve been trying to get her to do pants and shoes
and headbands.”

IU alumnus Mark Moscardino has been watching Jeffers’ company grow.

“She made me a few hats, and I got so many compliments at the bar when I was wearing her hats,” he said.

Omree Harel, a recent IU graduate and friend, who helped Jeffers brainstorm marketing ideas.

“I told her to put it on a Web site to get the word out,” Harel said.

Despite all the hard work and dedication, Karosene Clothing remains more of a hobby than a full-time career path, largely due to financial problems and a hesitation to
charge for the creation of the T-shirts, which are almost always sold to a friend of a friend, Jeffers said. One such person, however, junior Sarah Clark, was pleased to receive a $15 purchase as a birthday gift.

“It’s a sweet shirt,” Clark said, “She uses a lot of bold, vibrant colors, and they are unique designs.”

Jeffers said she admires and aspires to reach the heights of Johnny Cupcakes, a successful businessman who first sold T-shirts out of a van. Nevertheless, she still aims to become an art teacher.

“I would like to keep it as a side thing,” Jeffers said. “If it was successful, great, but I really want to teach art. If I could make a living off of making art ... that’s cool too.”