Student creates, sells savvy shirts

Kory Savage, junior from Clinton, Ky., has taken his interest in art and design to the next level. He is the creator of Savy Brands Clothing.

Before Savy Brands, Savage had never considered being a fashion designer of any kind. He said the project started as a spur-of-the-moment decision while participating in an internship for Walt Disney World. One day during the internship, Savage was helping a friend with his homework where the task was to design something, he said. Savage then sketched a design for his friend which was later printed on a shirt.

After his friend told him what a hit the shirt had become, Savage decided to take this interest further. Inspired, he drew up another sketch that was designed for a shirt for himself and his friends in Murray.

“I was impressed by the people (at Disney),” Savage said. “It was amazing to experience the feeling you get by sparking a conversation with someone of a different race or religion just by asking them about the clothes they are wearing.”

Savage said he has always been interested in art and design, but when it came to clothing design, there are not as many males involved in the industry.

“I’ve always wanted to do something (with my creativity),” Savage said. “My dream was to become a veterinarian, but as I took the courses, I began to realize I enjoyed other things. (Designing clothes) always came to mind, but didn’t seem like it could have become a reality.”

Savage knew starting a clothing brand would be expensive, which is what held him back, he said. It became a reality when a long-time family friend told him they would sponsor his idea of printing and producing shirts.

He draws up his ideas via Adobe Cs6 and sends it off to be printed. As a result, his family friend helped him mark something off his bucket list, and they turned his idea into a real-life project.

“My inspiration is in myself of course, but it is also bigger than me,” Savage said. “It comes from people, music, art and where ever else I can get the feeling from.”

Currently, Savy Brands clothing sells only T-shirts and crew necks. Savage would like to eventually sell hats, tanks and frockets. The dinosaur logo was an accidental discovery.

While researching prehistoric animals for a class, Savage said he came across a cartoon T-Rex and thought it would be a good idea for his shirt. The diamond on his other shirt was inspired after starting the process. For a diamond to shine it needs to be polished, Savage said.

“Depending on the profit from my current shirt sales, I will then make other products available for buyers,” he said.

For now, the future of Savy Brands Clothing is unknown. Savage said it is a dream to see his shirts being worn around the country; however, his ultimate goal is to still become a veterinarian.

“I definitely will keep Savy Brands Clothing going long after my first goal is hopefully accomplished,” Savage said.

Savage currently sells T-shirts and crew neck shirts for $20-34. The clothing is for both males and females and is made with preshrunk cotton.

Students can purchase Savy Brands Clothing at savybrandsclothing.com.

Faces & Places is a weekly series that profiles the people and places of Murray. Every person and every place has a story. Let us tell it.

Story by Kelsey Randolph, Staff writer.