I’d be remiss to say I don’t love bright colors — how can you not? A life that is monochrome is a lonesome one, to me. Flash backward to June 2019. I’m sitting in the Seeley G. Mudd library, failing to study for my finals, when I get a text from my friend, Emma. I figure since I’ve already lost motivation to study, clicking the link can’t do much harm. The website is one that became a favorite of mine over the next two-ish years: Bigbudpress.com.
Big Bud Press is a company based in Los Angelos that makes all of their clothes ethically and in the U.S. — no fast fashion here. The colors they use are absolutely mesmerizing, I mean, I’m in absolute awe over the pants, shirts and, most of all, the jumpsuits. Scrolling through the website is like watching a waterfall of skittles, both the blue AND red bag.
It was deep into the summer of 2019, about two months after my friend sent me their website. I decided to venture and buy a pair of their trousers, however, in the color black. Since the clothing is sourced locally and ethically made, they run for a pretty penny. I decided it was best to buy a staple color so I could wear them as much as I wanted, and the darker the color, the easier to hide the inevitable stains. Now, when I say that I wanted to cry when I put these pants on, believe me, it was a beautiful moment. It was like being hugged by a million Baby Yoda’s in Snuggies, probably better than that. These trousers were both casual and professional and comfortable, yet not loungewear.
After a month passed, I decided to treat myself to another pair. I had been eyeing the “Burnt Orange” color for a hot minute, and I needed my paws on ‘em. What is Burnt Orange, you ask? Well, can you imagine a burnt summer sun marrying a sweet tangerine and having a beautiful child? That’s Burnt Orange. These were the same cut as the black pants I bought. So pleated, so fitted, so miraculous. These were the perfect summer fading into fall pants. As I started building and adding to my Big Bud collection, I started branching out into different styles: the work pants, the jumpsuits and even some t-shirts.
However, there’s a special “easter-egg” sale that Big Bud Press has, and that’s called a sample sale. I had no clue what a sample sale was, but, apparently, it’s where a company gets rid of old-ish stock for extremely affordable prices. Now, this had my name written all over it. I was gonna buy as much clothing as I possibly could. However, I was not the only person who felt this way. As the online sale approached, I sat at my computer feverishly refreshing, only to have the clothing I wanted go out of stock before my very eyes. Similar to when a magician pulls out a sheet from under a fully set table. Now, this has happened to me at every BBP sample sale to date; I even had my mom try and help to no avail.
So, flash forward to Jan. 16, 2021. I awoke and opened my phone to my Instagram feed, nothing out of the normal. That is until I spied a post from Big Bud Press that said something along the lines of: “Sale at the Chicago store only, two days.” I sprinted out of bed and into the shower. My mom and I made it down to the store with about 20 minutes until opening, and we were the third people in line. Somehow, standing outside a Logan Square storefront on a rather balmy winter morning felt like I had just won the Olympics.
The first four people got to enter the store, and it felt like I was in a completely different world. The colors melted into each other like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I felt like all my failed sample sale attempts had finally paid off. The staff was intensely friendly and insanely cool. I bought a pair of well-priced kelly green, western pants, a tie-dyed Chicago tee shirt and a floral mini tote.
Big Bud Press is a miraculous small business that is hip, ethical,and insanely colorful and beautiful. I had been worrying that fashion was steering away from boisterous colors. Even so, after visiting the Big Bud store, I realized it didn’t matter if others were moving away from the reds, pinks, purples, greens because I could always bop back down and buy a crazy pair of pants.
Thanks, BBP, for your vision.
—xoxo, Kelly