Combine sweet threads with live music and what do you get? Weirdcity, a new Austin-lifestyle brand and brainchild of local Austinite, Anderson Price. The original idea for Weirdcity sprung from Anderson’s love of music as well as his desire to give back to his hometown musicians. “I was inspired to create a product that spoke to Austinite’s unique sense of style as well as their common desire to support their community”, said Anderson, “and what better way to support our community than by supporting the artists who have built Austin into the cultural center it has become.”
What hopes to be the first of many products in the line, Weirdcity’s “Austin Polo” is made with 100% Pima cotton and enhanced with custom-made, authentic pearl shell buttons and a subtle yolk style stitching reminiscent of western shirts of yesteryear. Tagged with a small-embroidered Armadillo logo and a guitar pick hang tag, Weirdcity shirts appeal to everyone from the frat boy to the cowboy. The Austin Polo is currently available in three stitching/fabric color combinations, burnt orange on white, blue on white, and baby blue on slate blue. Sizes range from S-XL.
Most importantly, Weirdcity has partnered with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (“HAAM”) by committing to donate a fixed amount of money for every shirt sold. That donation will translate into a variety of services such as a month of pharmacy costs, a vaccination, an acupuncture visit, or a box of blood sugar lancets, depending on demand.
Weirdcity’s Austin Polo is currently for sale via Kickstarter, an online funding platform for creative projects. Kickstarter’s unique platform and fervent fan base allows Weirdcity not only to launch its first product but also immediately begin supporting HAAM as a result of the site’s scale. Following the success of the initial Kickstarter launch, Weirdcity plans to expand to various local retailers throughout Austin.
“By starting a Kickstarter page we wanted to fuel a fire on a grassroots level to not only build, but also to attract a group of active supporters” says Price. “We invite friends, family and the city to be our first true supporters before we hit the stores. From our Facebook fan base to our growing base of loyal fans, we are primed to achieve success in the coming months and beyond.”
Price, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s school of business, spent a number of years in the banking and consulting worlds, before discovering his social entrepreneurial side. Similar to TOMs Shoes, he wanted to not only start a brand that fit well and looked good, but that also was part of a larger good. Upon completing his Masters in businesses at UT, Price had his first brush at business success with the creation of Fliptogs – flip-flops sold in a vending machine on Sixth Street.
Help Weirdcity in its efforts to benefit HAAM today through the Kickstarter campaign at http://kck.st/weirdcity!
Weirdcity
www.weirdcity.com
www.facebook.com/weirdcity
Health Alliance For Austin Musicians
www.myhaam.org
www.facebook.com/myhaam
Randall Metting 
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