Community Highlights: Meet Chris Carpenter of Fog + Flag

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Carpenter.

Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had an interest in art and design, but I ended up majoring in physics in college, and I’ve worked in tech for the last 10 years. Around the time my son was born, my wife and I got into golf, and it’s been a big hobby for us for the last 3 years. It was around this time last year that I was thinking of ideas to start my own business and decided why not merge two of my interests and create something. That’s how Fog and Flag started. I began by designing logo ideas and different designs in my spare time. I would put out a design on Instagram to see how it performed. After a while, I got a little more serious, and I am currently working with a manufacturing partner to mass-produce my first small collection. I’m still very much getting started and learning about the industry, and refining my brand!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle for me between work and family life is finding time to invest in keeping the business moving forward. It comes in fits and starts sometimes, but I decided that there’s no reason to rush, and success always comes with time. I can say that every time I start to lose motivation, there’s something that keeps me going. Someone buys a new design, or a new opportunity comes up. Slowly but surely over the last year, I feel like I have gained some real momentum.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Fog + Flag is a golf apparel and lifestyle clothing brand. Most of the golf apparel these days is loud – with chaotic prints, bright colors, and not-so-subtle designs. While this type of style has its place, I wanted to create something with a little more subtlety while still producing creative products. The core of our identity centers on the idea that it’s the effort we put in every day to show up and get better that matters in golf and in life, not the results or scores. You’ll see that reflected in many of the themes for our products. A lot of the brand image centers around early mornings and “getting up and getting after it,” so to speak. Staying in the moment and experiencing things as they come, we try and promote a calmer side of golf and life.

Right now, my biggest collection is the “course blueprint” collection, which consists of hand-drawn designs of famous golf holes. This one has been the most fun to design and push my creative abilities. I released a special edition design for each of the majors this year, and I’ll continue to do so next year.

I also have a lot of Colorado-specific designs. The Golf Colorado collection is ever-expanding, and I am regularly working on new designs.

In the spring, I’m looking to launch a wider line of polos (and hopefully a quarter zip for the q-zip fans like myself!).

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Right now, through the winter, I am looking for some local golf courses to partner with on a blueprint collection design highlighting a special part of their course. I think Colorado is an underrated golf destination and I want to start highlighting ore of what we have to offer. I’m also looking for some local golfers to collaborate on apparel drops, marketing etc! You can also come say hi in person, grab a sticker, and check out our new hats at Fade it Golf and Social Club for their holiday market Dec 13! People can also check out my newly designed website: fogandflag.com and follow on Instagram @fogandflag. I’m regularly posting updates and dropping new designs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fogandflag.com
• Instagram: @fogandflag