The Artist: REAL FUN, WOW! (Ojai, CA) REAL FUN, WOW! is the moniker of Ojai, CA based illustrator, muralist, and designer Daren Thomas Magee. Masterfully blending elements of natural, supernatural, and human connectedness, Daren's work is both a perfect commentary and a welcome antidote for our modern times. In his own words, Daren explains "The aim of my work is to speak to the space between imagination and reality." If you've ever been to Ojai, you've undoubtedly seen Daren's work either hanging in or painted on the side of local restaurants, breweries, hotels, and shops. Even if you haven't, there's a good chance you've seen his work. Daren's prolific list of collaborators includes REI, Vissla, CAMP, Christy Dawn, Tank Garage Wines, and Little Blind Beer Co., among many others. When BANDITS made the move to Ojai in December of 2019, Daren was one of the first people we reached out to in town. Having adored his work from afar for almost 2 years, he was basically a celebrity in our minds. Needless to say, we were nervous, giddy, and a little starstruck when we first met him for a beer at our favorite local pub. Not only was he even cooler than our expectations, he was kind, thoughtful, welcoming, and graciously put up with way too much talking on our part. Working with Daren has been a dream come true, but we're even more honored to have him as a new friend and neighbor. In addition to "Forever Blooming," Daren also created our "Life In Flight" design and contributed his "Deep in Nature" design to our exclusive collection available at REI. Click the links below to check out his irreverent, always eye-catching Instagram feed and his website where you can find a whole catalog of for-sale prints, wearables, wall hangings, tattoo permits, and more! The Design: "Forever Blooming" Our latest collaboration with Real Fun, Wow! is inspired by the idea that we're (hopefully) always growing. To become better as individuals, as a society, and as a species we must continue to approach each new day as a chance to learn. When we embrace our differences as opportunities, when we are open to new experience, and when we use what we've learned to improve the world around us, we can become like blooming flowers - shedding the old ways to make room for the new, and becoming something even more beautiful in the process. The Charity: Inner City Arts (Los Angeles, CA) Inner-City Arts is a non-profit arts education and community outreach organization, based in the heart of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Their architecturally stunning campus provides a safe space of learning, achievement, and creativity for students of all ages in LA County. Founded in 1989, the team at Inner-City arts works tirelessly to engage young people in the creative process in order to shape a society of creative, confident and collaborative individuals. Equally essential to Inner-City Arts' mission, the Inner-City Arts Professional Development Institute provides experiential training for educators, university students, school administrators, and others dedicated to bringing high-quality arts education to students of all ages and backgrounds. By providing access to the arts and the endless possibilities they offer, Inner-City Arts is an investment in the youth of Los Angeles. Creating a bridge between the studio and the classroom, Inner-City Arts' unique approach to arts education measurably improves academic and personal outcomes for children and youth, including those students with Limited English Proficiency who are at risk of academic failure. BANDITS is proud to team up again with Daren to generate support for this organization inspiring the next generation of artists, creators, and leaders in Los Angeles! The Bandana Size: 21" x 21" Fabric: 100% Organic Cotton, GOTS Certified and sustainably sourced in India from Chetna Organic, pre-washed for an extra soft feel Make: Printed, Cut, Sewn, and Packaged by hand at a Fair Trade Certified facility in Kolkata, West Bengal, India (FLOCERT FLO ID 4512) Wash: Hand Wash, Line or Tumble Dry, Warm Iron, Do Not Bleach Please note that all of our bandanas are printed, cut, and sewn by hand. There may be slight variations from product to product.
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