Rising Stars: Meet Christopher Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Allen, Creative Director at FHWL.

Christo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?   
I’ve struggled with addiction most of my life. I first got sober on October 18th, 2014 and I’ve still yet to have a drink of alcohol. I’ve had some slip-ups with drug use and finally realizing I am not like normal people I realized I need to find something that drives me. I’ve always been creative but this time getting clean I needed to do something new. I’ve always been passionate about clothing but I never pursued it. I had to ask myself what can I do with my life that would make me happy. The answer was ride motorcycles and make my own clothing.    

I started this venture off by drawing on white t-shirts with markers and sewing clothing by hand with dental floss. I stayed away from social media in the beginning of my ventures, I just truly enjoyed the peace of mind sewing brought to my life. Around 2019 I lost one of my best friends to a heroin overdose. He was a local artist who would do shows at first Friday on Sante Fe. We both were working a program of recovery together. He was the person who put it in my mind that I should start selling my clothing. At the time I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t see what he was talking about until I lost him. Still to this day, it pains me to talk about this. So, when I saw him buried, I knew I had to honor my friend by staying clean and pursing my dreams. I’ve made a promise to honor him an all the friends I’ve lost to addiction by staying clean.    

Since I would sew every night, I had a pretty big collection of pieces. I was asked to showcase my clothing at an electro-punk show at rinoceropolis in Denver. That night I sold out of all my custom pieces. I was so blown away to see the public take a liking to my creations. All of them created out of depression just a way for me to cope with life and silence my mind. After that show it made even more sense that I could create clothing that people would enjoy. I don’t do what I do with the end result being money. I love to make clothing and if people want to purchase it that’s awesome. And if they don’t that’s still awesome. I’m just happy to get t0 that meditative state sewing provides me.    

Thru sobriety, I was able to get my first motorcycle and travel to the Sturgis motorcycle rally. I’ve been 4 times now in my life. The first time I went with my bike rode all the way out there in the middle of the night by myself. The plan was to learn how to operate a sewing machine once I got there and understand how to put patches on motorcycle jackets. I met with seamstresses who loved my leather jacket which I did so much sewing by hand. They were happy to let me watch them use a machine and I even got to sew some of my own patches on my own jacket. I wanted to keep growing with my art so I needed to come home and get a machine. So, I got one from Walmart and it maybe lasted me 2 years. I loved that machine and made so many pieces that have all sold. I wish I kept at least one of my original pieces. Now I’m on a heavy-duty sewing machine that handles leatherwork with ease.    

I ended up quitting doing construction and landing a job in a printshop with a friend. Again, trying to expand on what I want to do with my clothing. I now screen print my own designs onto clothing. My friend/manager has taught me the ropes of screen printing. Honestly what he’s done for me has brought me to the greatest level in what I’m trying to do with my line. I really want to thank him for everything he’s taught me. At this current moment, I feel like anything is possible. I truly feel today what my friend was saying “you could sell your clothing worldwide”    

My clothing has been shipped around the world. In the beginning, my pieces were born from pain. Today I am in paradise amongst the living.    

I am getting used to the digital world and have my brother teaching me the ropes of graphic design. I have a small team of artist who help me continuously grow and evolve. Every part of my brand comes from my hands to the consumer. From sewing to screen printing to packaging. It’s all done with my own two hands.    

I’m trying to use my small voice to tell a story with my clothing. I don’t ever want to go back to the person I once was. So, I use dark morbid imagery to remind me of my own dark times. I can never forget where I’ve came from. Once I forget my past it’s very easy for me to repeat it. I try and help as many other people as I can, to pursue things that make them happy. Start doing what they’ve always dreamed of and don’t worry about being judged for it. Have fun doing something you love to do and do that thing every day.    

To everyone who has purchased a piece from me or showed me love on my creations, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve been thru some extremely painful times in my life, buried most of my closest friends, making these clothes has giving me a sense of purpose I never really had with any other art form.    

I am clean    

I am sober    

I am free from my suffering    

From hell with love    

Garments born from pain    

To be worn in paradise    

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?   
The biggest struggle I’ve had is getting used to the digital aspect of selling clothing online. Since I do everything myself, I’ve had to build my own website and learn how to take my own photos and edit everything on photoshop. I’m brand new to all this. Creating the clothing is the easiest part but doing all the marketing and photo edits takes a lot of time I’d rather use to sew. I’m still getting used to this aspect.    

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?   
I create one-of-a-kind custom clothing. Most of my top-selling garments are a collage of different fabrics some hand-sewn with dental floss and some areas sewn with a machine. I’ve been told my pieces tell a story and each piece looks very well put together. Nothing seems rushed. I also don’t charge very much for my pieces. I’m just happy to get my clothing into people’s hands who want to enjoy it. My brand isn’t fueled by money. It’s more about keeping pieces affordable and allowing all walks of life to be able to enjoy them. From hell with love is different because this is all done by one person. From screen printing shirts and hoodies to sewing. It’s all done by me. I don’t just come up with an idea and order it online. I create it all myself. I try to keep my labor charges fair for my one-of-a-kind pieces and if those prices are too high for some people, I offer shirts and hoodies with cool prints for people to easily afford.    

I am most proud of pursuing this dream to create my own clothing. I wear nothing but my own clothes.    

I also just ran a suicide prevention and awareness print. The garment could be t-shirt, hoody or long-sleeve and it’s meant to spread awareness in society that anyone feeling emotionally unstable could reach out and talk to this person wearing this garment. I am deeply passionate about people needing to be there for each other. I’ve lost to many friends to suicide.    

Sales from this garment go towards making art kits for kids. Pencil box, markers, watercolors, crayons, and a little drawing book. I’m doing what I can to try and give back. This is currently happening an I’ll be printing the shirts and hoodies next week. My trunk is full of art supplies and that makes me so happy    

Can you share something surprising about yourself?   
I remain pretty faceless when it comes to my brand, I want to let my clothing to speak for itself so showing face thru here will be a first. People also don’t know much about my home life. I am happily married and a father. My son and wife are my biggest inspirations to keep doing this. I hope someday I can turn this over to my son. And my wife has pushed me to branch out an put my work on the internet. Without her, I’d be sitting on a huge collection of clothing that no one would ever see or purchase. She also pushed me to get my first sewing machine. The growth of my brand started with her. None of this would have turned into something without her. 

Pricing:

• 1 of 1 Hoodies 120.00
• Printed Shirts 20.00
• Printed Hoodies 35.00
• 1 of 1 Flannels 120.00
• Custom Hoodie Starting Price 80.00

Contact Info:

• Email: from.h6ll.with.love@gmail.com
• Website: https://fromhellwithlove.xyz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/from.h6ll.with.love/