Vintage English
Vintage English
Undergrad student runs and owns a vintage clothing company. Scroll down to see the HDYP Spring 2012 Look Book .
As an English major, Walker Tamblyn is using his university education in an interesting and progressive fashion. Tamblyn has translated much of what he has learned in the pursuit of his degree to help run his own business – a successful vintage clothing collection company.
On the surface, the skills associated with a degree in English may not exactly seem to correlate with being the sole-proprietor of a clothing company. For Third-year student/entrepreneur Tamblyn, taking English is a path he is thankful he chose. Though he did not follow the most traditional route, Tamblyn’s education has provided him with invaluable knowledge, and a skill set that is surprisingly relevant to operating his own clothing company.
Tamblyn’s company is called HDYP vintage. HDYP is a clothing company for men and women that was born out of an enthusiasm and appreciation for modern culture, art and the urban lifestyle found in the Nation’s Capital. Unlike other vintage outlets, HDYP draws inspiration from the fashion of today, and offers the vintage equivalent. Tamblyn is proud of the fact that the HDYP collection offers something of substance, allowing HDYP clients to wear cultural artifacts that are reflective of both who they are, and where they came from. At its core, HDYP is a contemporary vintage company which offers clothing from the past through the vantage point of the present.
Dedicated to finding original, unique and exclusive vintage clothing and streetwear, Tamblyn started the company based on his love for fashion and ‘treasure hunting’ – finding unique articles that couldn’t be found anywhere else. For as long as he can remember, Tamblyn has always appreciated the value of things, and has enjoyed the feeling of owning something few other people possess. He started HDYP in his second year at Carleton as an exercise to see if he could transform a hobby into a profitable company. Tamblyn acknowledged the fact that simultaneously running a business and being a full-time student would get hectic, but he saw this as an ideal time to get a sense of whether HDYP could offer him a sustainable career once he completed his undergraduate degree.
What Tamblyn learned at Carleton plays a significant role in the daily operations of HDYP. Specifically, an English degree has helped him to develop valuable communication and research skills, as well as to become an effective multi-tasker, working within deadlines and writing and publishing promotional and brand content. The skills of literary analysis are transferrable to composing a design collection because they involve recognizing a distinctive style, breaking it down into its elements, and thinking about how messages are communicated through different kinds of signs, whether these are words or articles of clothing.
As Dana Dragunoiu, an Associate Professor of English at Carleton, remarks, “Students often ask us what jobs they can find with an English degree. The obvious answers are teaching, editing, publishing, writing advertising copy, creative writing. But there are lots of not-so-obvious options, too. The skills learned during an English degree are critical for success in all work-related arenas. Our students graduate with a host of skills that are highly valued in the marketplace: they are exceptionally competent writers, they are expert researchers, and they can analyze complex ideas in tough and creative ways. Mastering the skill of writing an engaging essay that is closely researched, thoughtfully analyzed, and persuasively argued has enabled many of our students to parlay their degrees into very rewarding careers in advocacy, informational technology, civil service, and business. Writing well—really well—is a passport to freedom. It opens doors to unexpected and enriching possibilities.”
As a collector of rare and often indefinable items, the tool that he has found most useful is his ability to conduct elaborate research:
“Incorporating research methods that I learned in English to acquire further knowledge of my products and where the best sources are, has been enormously beneficial in running HDYP,” explains Tamblyn.
Employing these skills has clearly been effective. In its few short years, HDYP has had its share of successes. Not only has Tamblyn’s company created local buzz, but HDYP has been featured prominently in media outlets nationwide. CanCulture, 613, Xpress, The Fashion Press, 613 Style, Bywardofmouth.ca, and an aggregation of blogs, have all taken time to feature HDYP as an up-and-coming company.
Though Tamblyn is the first to admit that running a business and attending school can be a grind, he says the rewards far outweigh the detriments of having a busy schedule. He hopes other students and other would-be entrepreneurs can draw inspiration from what he has accomplished. He believes the key to this is not to fixate on the end objective (such as, for example, degree completion), but to use the things students are shown and taught every single day as they attend university:
“I think that just achieving a degree can become the be-all and end-all for students, while learning can, and should be, applied to create something more for ourselves. I hope students can creatively use their countless experiences in university towards their own pursuits.”
Like Tamblyn, many of his friends attend Carleton and are also entrepreneurs. These students range from Communication to Sociology majors and are all finding their own unique methods of adapting the skills they’ve learned at university to manage their individual projects.
This influx of young, Carleton entrepreneurs is reflective of what Tamblyn sees as a pivotal time in Ottawa. As a ‘small big city’ that lies in close proximity to a metropolitan city like Toronto and the cultural hub of Montreal, Ottawa is often unfairly overlooked. Students like Tamblyn are giving the city a louder voice that outsiders are beginning to hear, helping them notice and appreciate the unique and compelling culture of the National Capital region. He hopes other students will use their education and skills to continue this momentum.
“It can be intimidating to put yourself out there, but you would be surprised by the amount of support and encouragement you receive for pursuing what you believe in. By doing this, we can contribute not only to the student community but the local community as a whole.”
Where to find HDYP:
@HDYPVINTAGE on Twitter
Check out some shots from HDYP’s Carleton/student themed 2012 Spring Look Book.
This collection was inspired by University life, both past and present, and the fashion which is created on a campus. This Spring collection draws inspiration from the late 50′s, and early 60′s academic look of young people with bright futures. For women- longer skirts, pleated shirts, blouses, and hats- contradict the notion that less clothing is more sexy. These looks are sophisticated, worthy of respect and intrigue. For the men- oxfords, bow ties, varsity jackets, blazers, brogue and wingtip shoes, chinos, and proper socks- complete a well-rounded outfit, pairing sophistication and style. Brands in this collection include: Yves St. Laurent, Polo Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, Bally, Bostonian, and many more.
-Walker
Many Thanks to:
Photographer: Blair Smith
Stylist: Jessica D’Angelo
Models: Coralie Charles, Emma Grant, Steve Sampassa, Jesse Beamish
Additional clothing provided by: Fall Down Gallery, Slaysh
Location: Fresco Bistro Italiano
Models International Management