House of Spirits

In the world according to Distilled, a local fashion line and artists’ collective, art isn’t meant to be confined to galleries and museums—admired only from a respectable distance, like a caged bird. Instead, it should interact with its surroundings, not unlike the Mission District’s famous alleyway murals.

“One of our goals is to insert disruptively confusing and beautiful imagery into the natural environment,” says Sep Kamvar, a 29-year-old part-time Google employee (he recently sold his search engine, Kaltix, to the Web giant) who cofounded Distilled in 2006 with friends Matty Merrill and Rob Maylor. By incorporating the work of local street artists into original menswear designs, Distilled turns clothing into a canvas, and the world into an art gallery.

“We really want to be a platform for artists,” says Merrill, a Stanford alum and former designer for Tommy Hilfiger and Triple Five Soul. “Our collaboration with the artists is simple and organic. We tell them we’d love to feature their work, and in return we’ll promote them; we’ll do everything we can for them.”

Distilled’s spring 2007 collection, available locally at Villains Vault and Nomads, features the Adam Jacket—named after Adam5100, a local stencil artist and one of 20 Distilled “conspiritors.” Crafted from crisp blue-and-white seersucker, the jacket includes a hidden pocket large enough to hold spray-paint cans—a nod to the artist, whose 2006 work Zebra Girl is printed on the lining.

“We are pushing the boundaries of what is traditionally considered fashionable,” says Kamvar, from Distilled’s pocket-sized design studio in the Mission. “And in the process, we’re making the world around us cooler.”

PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS (clockwise from bottom left)

On Darren (far left): shorts ($295) at Bloomingdale’s, 415-856-5300. Distilled SoMa shirt ($85) at Nomads, 415-864-5692.  Distilled Fader hoodie ($150) at Nomads. DSquared2Marc Jacobs for Vans slip-ons ($85) at Huf, 415-552-3820. On Garrett: Distilled BayView blazer ($275) at Nomads, 415-864-5692. Free Gold Watch Marilyn Stripes T-shirt ($32) at Free Gold Watch, 415-346-9415. Marc Jacobs blue-and-white striped shorts ($310) at Bloomingdale’s, 415-856-5300. Adidas Rod Laver vintage sneakers ($130) at Huf, 415-552-3820.

On Darren: Distilled Nob Hill nylon jacket ($172) at Fred Segal Street, 310-395-2831. BDG striped tank ($18) at Urban Outfitters, 415-989-1515. Marc Jacobs swim trunk ($260) at Bloomingdale’s, 415-856-5300. Vans artist’s edition slip-ons ($50) at Huf,  415-552-3820.

On Garrett (left): Distilled Rockaway sweater ($140) at Nomads, 415-864-5692. Distilled denim deep-blue jeans ($200) at Fred Segal Street, 310-395-2831. Upper Playground Wood canvas slip-ons ($60) at Upper Playground, 415-252-0144. On Darren: Distilled Rockaway sweater ($140) at Nomads. Black jeans, model’s own. Shoes, stylist’s own.

Shot on location at SF’s Palace Hotel.