Screen printing is just fun and I never really thought it would become what it has. I still have a full-time office job, but if I could some day ditch the day job and print shirts full time that would be amazing. I bought my first Screen printing starter kit a few years ago to print bandanas for snowboarding (hence the name of the company) … but they proved to be too time consuming … so I figured that printing shirts would allow for more creativity and would also appeal to a larger audience. I have migrated more to bicycle shirts as of late, but I really like the name/significance of First Chair Clothing so I don’t plan on changing the company name as of yet.

I am originally from Indiana; I moved to Denver about six years ago and it immediately felt like home. Denver and Colorado really embody everything I love—bicycles, beer, mountains, snowboarding, sunshine, healthy living and an overall love for the outdoors.

Etsy is where it all started and I do still have some products for sale on their site. I also have inventory in a couple stores in Denver. The I Heart Denver store is by far my biggest seller, both online and brick and mortar. They have a great location right on the 16th Street Mall, and they only sell products from local Colorado artists.

Living in Colorado makes that a really hard question, I love IPAs. Avery makes a really great IPA, and you can’t go wrong with Dales. But when I’m feeling fancy, I go for Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA; they are out of Seattle, but so good with a hint of lavender!

Check out First Chair’s website, or Carmen’s Etsy store and get yourself some bike swag!