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Unsighted Clothing launching Friday

By Don Fennell

Published 4:48 PDT, Wed August 12, 2020

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

A bit of a perfectionist, Craig Johnston spent the past two years bringing an idea to life. But he wasted no time developing a brand identity.

Johnston, a 20-year-old Richmondite, is excited to be introducing a new line of luxury streetwear. Unsighted Clothing’s inaugural selection of hoodies and t-shirts is being introduced Friday (Aug. 14) and will be available through the company’s website https://unsighted.ca/. All the items feature high-end art images on heavy weighted, high thread count 100 per cent luxury cotton. Johnston’s says the stretch materials are developed and sourced sustainably, and a free from harmful substances as well as being ethnically traded and created under the most fair and socially responsible conditions for workers.

“I wanted to make clothing people could buy and still be able to go out and show off,” says the young clothing designer. “Fashionable first, luxury in feel and quality second and affordability third.”

He wanted to include all the essential attributes while drawing attention to a challenge close to his heart—sight and visual impairment. It’s a condition his grandfather has been afflicted by and Johnston has found a way to pay homage by incorporating raised (3D) Braille—depicted in the logo—into the sleeves of each items to close-caption each garment’s artist image and other features. As well, a percentage of all sales will be donated to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

“My grandfather has been suffering vision loss for the past few years—luckily he still has vision—and that inspired me,” Johnston says.

Johnston is now happy he didn’t rush into production, taking time to improve the designs and outsource the materials.

“The steps it took in order to launch took years of practice and research,” he explains. “To start, I had no knowledge of how to do any of this. After learning, I spent time emailing and meeting with screen printers and label makers to finally create the perfect tags and prints. But I have been interested in fashion for as long as I can remember. My mom tells me I always had an opinion on what I wore since I learned to walk.”

The designs, which retail from $50 to $120, are targeted mainly to consumers between the ages of 15 and 35. Johnston says some similar items sell for much more.

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