When MILROCK set off their “RUN MKE” black signature t-shirt in simple RUN-DMC fashion (opening red bar ontop, thick white lettering, then closing red bar on bottom), MILROCK hit the block running. Strictly rubber to pavement, no soft soled shoes here. When you think of Jason Matuszewski and Dave Arnevik that organize and design this clothing company, think of DJ Khalid’s “We Takin’ Over” featuring Akon, T.I., Fat Joe, Birdman. Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. They make a damn good product. They put the best people in it to collab with. And now, MILROCK is just about everywhere. DJ Madhatter had it on during the 2009 Hip Hop Olympics. Dana Coppafeel rocked the signature shirt at his show at Dino’s on May 9th. Of course, Nate “Rufio” Showers, the hardest working SINner in Milwaukee, has one as well, no doubt. Sheit, I wore my “RUN MKE” shirt out for the first time last night. I received compliments from the Regional Executive Chef at Molly Cool’s and ‘good looks’ from las chicas at Fuegos. For only being in the apparel game as a whole for almost 7 months, MILROCK Clothing has been able to do what many local fashioneers haven’t been able to accomplish in years of production. They’ve gotten the word out.
First things first, they start with designs that bring together a common ground of
fashion, taking graphical elements and putting them on top of current design trends. Jason and Dave are like the Outkast of Milwaukee fashion. When one has an idea for a shirt that might be totally out of left field, Andrea 3000 style, the other brings in his perspective to draw out a nice finished product – “that B.I.G. B.O.I., the same muthafucka that put them knuckles to your eye” – type sh!t. The process works well, people. From there, everything goes to a whole different level. The makers of MILROCK take in considerations of the smallest details of every piece of work that they put out. Working with Jeff Meilander of Redwall Screen Printing, MILROCK is able to see all of the possibilities for the different kinds of ink printing procedures. MILROCK isn’t trying to scan some shit into the computer and print it onto a shirt any old way. They’re going for the best ink with the best shirts, which is why they print on American Apparel. Jason says “each final piece is a whole piece of a line.” From head to shoulders MILROCK has you covered with shirts(hoodies coming soon) and matching hats. The hats in fact are a whole new game with all of the stitching possibilities and creative outlets New Era is allowing them to test out. Each of the shirts are hand drawn and scanned in after being surveyed by you and your peers on which design would be the hottest one to rock. Dave’s background in the apparel industry and fashion retail allows MILROCK to always be ahead of the game in each t-shirt design.
In this year’s summer line, MILROCK produces 9 guys shirts and 3 girls shirts in 300 unit production runs. That’s it, no more. When they’re gone you just missed the fuck out. The hats are coming 35 each with the same ideology. The
different twists that Jason and Dave each put on the shirts give way for their clientele to be just as diverse and eclectic as they are. The people that they put in the shirts are from all walks of life. Jason explains it as how Marc Ecko came onto the scene by pushing his ish to everyone that needed to be seen in it. That’s why you still have an Ecko t-shirt folded somewhere in the closet, I know I might. MILROCK works with skaters like Greg Lutzka, who’s in the midst of the designing K-Swiss’s first line of skate shoes. MILROCK outfits the Division BMX Team, along with Dew Tour Rider Mykel Larrin, Roland Flasch, and Brian Fitch. MILROCK clothes the No Request squad – Kid Cut Up, Why B, D-Wood, E.Rich and Steve Marxx. And that’s only part of the mad hustle that MILROCK has. On Sunday nights at Kenadees,the entire staff dons the MILROCK shirts. Instead of being fashion traditionalist by having a fashion show, which are soon to be out of fashion and season, MILROCK will launch it all this upcoming Sunday at Favio’s Memorial Day/Birthday/”IT” Party. All of the MyCity Promo girls and everyone else involved will be sporting only the MILROCK gear, which unmistakeably will be good for business. MILROCK is only getting bigger. With the backing of Milwaukee St., they’re going to be friggin’ huge in the city.
For being some regular guys who hang out at around the way joints like Champions, Jason and Dave have Milwaukee ready for the summer. MILROCK is already on the edge of doing new things. MILROCK is working on a digital catalog at www.milrockclothing.com that will feature a vignette of small documentary style videos, all culminating into a big party. MILROCK has their twitter game together with twitter/milrock, the same with myspace. They know what they’re doing. And you’ll look good cause of it. MILROCK does it MIL-RIGHT, so they can’t go wrong!
(Note: MILROCK Clothing also is designed by Micaela Hallet who wasn’t available at the time of the interview.)



You can find all of the MILROCK clothing here at the spots:
AALA REED
1320 E Brady St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 226-2252
PHASE 2 MILWAUKEE
2224 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 272-3707
PHASE 2 BROOKFIELD
17000 W. Bluemound Rd.
Brookfield, WI 53005
(262) 641-9001
SKYHIGH
2501 S Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 483-2585
HOT POP
213 N Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-1301
RIDE
14666 W. NATIONAL AVE.
NEW BERLIN, WI 53151
(262) 789-7433
Special thanks to Photographer: Kevin Mulder and Models Chelse K. Schipper, Madelyn Anthony