GRAPE'S NEWEST SPONSORED ARTIST

We are proud to announce Grape's newest sponsored phenomenon: Joe Cool.
Born on the south side of Chicago, this young talent works diligently perfecting his skills on the mic and behind the boards, producing tracks for himself and local artists while currently residing in Leesville, Louisiana. His flow is sick and his grind is amazing, something Grape always embraces.
Watch us both expand as he tours the West Coast this Spring, bringing raw HipHop and fresh style to those we have yet to reach.

Twitter.com/JoeFnCool
Facebook.com/YoJoeCool
YouTube.com/TeeBrown08
KillJoeCool.com

NEW STOCKISTS FOR GRAPE!!!

The Commonwealth of Virginia has long been the runner-up when it comes to style.  With  the ever increasing streetwear pandemic gripping us, however,  new boutiques and specialty shops are quickly becoming a key element  in the arsenal of today's better dressed Virginians.

Grape is excited to say that we are currently being stocked in two separate cities, in shops owned by savvy, well-informed streetwear connoisseurs who breathe this lifestyle.

Located in the popular Carytown shopping district, West Coast Kix is a clean, upscale boutique catering to those looking for an all-out fashion assault. 

Watches, deadstock snapbacks, legendary streetwear brands and colorful kicks fill space alongside sections dedicated to local brands and talents. 

Never shy to support Virginia's clothing lines, West Coast Kix showcases Richmond brands just as often as international superstars such as Neef and Alife.
With attention to detail being our greatest common bond, Grape will be a staple in this shop, and we look forward to our involvement in their evolution.

Housed in Old Towne Petersburg, The Pizza Shop is Central Virginia's most original streetwear and skateboard boutique. Purchases are stored in pizza boxes and proof of purchase is written on pie-selling receipt books. 

Vintage snapbacks and limited edition pieces are showcased on brick oven-like enclosures alongside the latest seasonal offerings from classic streetwear brands. Skate demos and community service are only a tiny piece of what The Pizza Shop brings to the table. 

Come in to buy a board, your latest Thrasher magazine, or local and nationally-known clothes, and leave with a slice of style.

Make sure to check back with our new Stockists page often.  

More will be added soon and, before you know it, we will be in your neck of the woods spreading our message:

Live The Good Life, Love The Good Life.

Renovations.

Richmond Street Art

Complete darkness and blind courage.
Broad daylight, back alleys, crowds of people.
Security cameras and security guards.
Masked artisans, disciplined practice, razor precision.
Ruined clothes and clipped fences.
Stairwell dwelling, shadow-lurking, needs to create.

Richmond, VA's street art scene is picking up a tidal wave of momentum; and most will never see the faces behind it.
And that's the way Grape likes it -
underground mural producing armies of creative force, gradually owning their surroundings.
Changing the urban landscape into their living room, they hang pictures on walls with levels and care.

Follow Grape as we document these amazing outdoor decorators and notice the musing effect they have on our ever-evolving streetwear scene.

Repetitively breaking a light out of frustration or boredom is vandalism.
Painting vibrant colors on abandoned buildings is an improvement.
Improve with age.

Want to be heard?

The one thing we promise you is that our blog, "100% Fresh",  will never become a Bullhorn. It will never be a public address loud speaker pouring the ideas of a few into the passive and uncritical ears of the many. 
Grape will only become what is destined to be if it grows into a Town Square: a place where many ideas and voices can freely co-exist and meld into one constantly changing and evolving statetment of Who We Are.
With that in mind, Grape would like to invite new voices into our streetwear family.
If you would like to blog for Grape email your submission to GrapeEditing@gmail.com.
Keep it short, interesting and above all positive.
Peace to you and yours.

Diligence.

The "Honey-Do" list will always be there. It's inescapable. Something to fix, clean, maintain...
The checklist of an entrepreneur is self-imposed by choice.
Investments, marketing, promotion, advertising, funding, production...
Some choose to subcontract and outsource production - we screenprint every non-collaborative Grape shirt by hand.
We create and design everything in-house.
We write "Thank You" notes.
The experience you share with us is meant to feel special.
We reach out to the community, we are accessible (@GrapeCloth) and we are encouraging.
Support us so there are more opportunities for us to spread our message.
Our checklist will always grow,  just as you should always grow.
Thank you for growing with us.

A Night To Remember

Last Friday evening in Richmond's Renaissance Conference Center, local independent radio station, WRIR 97.3FM threw it's sixth-annual B'Day bash: "The Party For The Rest Of Us".

The event started with a number of comedians stirring up some laughs in an intimate setting, while funky-soul music blared from the performance hall on the other side of the venue.

Waitstaff pushed carts loaded high with birthday cake through the massive crowd while all walks of life enjoyed each other's company. 

The diversity of the night was just a testament to how open-minded and culturally rich Virginia's capitol is becoming.

Baby-boomers bobbed their heads to lyrical genius DoethePaperboy, as young folk in the next room enjoyed the heavy guitar-fueled lashings of several local rock bands.

Grape was there to support our new friends and document what was a great evening of music, networking, laughs and leisure.

Here is iPhone 4 video footage of what went down in parts of the Hip Hop Showcase, curated by Black Liquid, 97.3FM and their continuous support for our Richmond emcees:

DoethePaperboy

Black Liquid

Artik Phreeze

Ms. Proper

Shout Outs:


Black Liquid and The New Juice Crew - @BlackLiquid
(Good look on the mixtape, Homie!)


Ms. Proper and Friends - @MsProper
(Your energy is simply amazing!)


Artik Phreeze - @ArtikPhreeze
(Show-stopper. Enough said.)


DoethePaperboy - @DoeNation804
(You see everybody making the mean face? They are listening, my friend!)

The Revolution Will Be Televised

Maybe a political statement from Grape is a bit much. Maybe its not enough... Who knows? What we do know is that you cannot Live and Love the Good Life without Freedom.  The Freedom to assemble, the Freedom to express and share ideas - the Freedom to openly state those ideas. Even if those in power disagree, our freedoms are as essential to what Grape is as any design or ideology. They are essential to all humans.  With this in mind, Grape stands in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in Egypt.

The Sneak Preview

C. Arson and Mil Gates - Money

Grape supporter and Baltimore-born emcee C. Arson was generous enough to leak us a copy of his yet-to-be-released mixtape, "Not Ur Everyday Music, Vol. 2."

We bring to you his newest single, "Money," a collaboration with his brother and SK member Mil Gates.

Don't forget that Grape blessed y'all first... 1.