Colin Behr launched his “Wardrobe Theory Project” at the Dust Collective in the East Village. (Photo: Jordan Gale)
By Rylie Smith
It’s likely you’ve crossed paths with Colin Behr’s work, even if you didn’t realize it. He painted a mural on the Secret Admirer patio and has helped design Jordan Brand sneakers for Nike.
The Iowa native is returning to his roots after nearly a decade with Nike in Portland, Oregon. This time he’s back with a special project to challenge the way we think about clothing.
He released a 140-page magazine called “Wardrobe Theory Project” on Feb. 22 at the Dust Collective, a vintage shop at 509 E. Fifth St. in the East Village. The event drew local creatives eager to get the first look at Behr’s curated wardrobe and stories.
The concept for the project came to Behr in November 2019, on a trip from Busan, South Korea, to Tokyo. During long flights, he usually sketches ideas for new designs. But this time he thought, “What if I didn’t design something new? What if I explored what’s already in my closet?”
His experiment was simple. “I challenged myself: No new clothes for a year,” he said. “It turned into two. Over that time, I documented 200 outfits, photographed with whatever light I had.”
Obviously, people have been making do with their old clothes for centuries. But in the current era of easy consumerism and fast fashion, Behr’s initiative took him on an intimate journey with his wardrobe, through sketching, mending, repurposing and experimenting with new outfit combinations. “My Birkenstock Bostons got new rubber outsoles,” he said. “I patched holes in my pants and even altered some garments into something new to serve my needs better.”
By demonstrating firsthand the creativity that can emerge from restraint, his Wardrobe Theory Project offers a compelling alternative to casual consumption. “At the end,” he said, “I felt more at peace with my choices, more in control of what I added to my life and more authentically like myself than I ever have before.”
In his inaugural issue you will find:
- An essay by Ryan Lynch about his clothing and personal style.
- A spotlight on the Dust Collective, which Garrett Cornelison opened to promote sustainability, upcycling and clothing repairs.
- A story about Vietnamese sisters operating a Portland tailor shop since the 1980s.
- A showcase of Behr’s 50 favorite pieces in his wardrobe, with details on acquisition, technical aspects and sentimental value.
The Wardrobe Theory Project invites readers to join a growing Des Moines community committed to thoughtful living. To learn more, visit wardrobetheoryproject.com.
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