CREATE, SMILE, INSPIRE
Updated: Aug 15
UNFURLING THE DEPARTURES
I first saw Unfurling the Departures play live in Santiago, Chile.
What caught my attention immediately was how Cristian (who ended up designing this drop) described themselves that day: “Hardcore moderno.”
That pretty much told me what I needed to know.
They had a solid, edgy sound that reminded me of Emmure, but they were newer, heavier kinda, and had their own thing going on. Even for a Chilean band, they definitely stood out to me.
I eventually became friends with @gloom.psd (on Instagram), Cristian Flores, who was this bands's vocalist and also a graphic designer.
The band even played my hometown, Talca, for a show that I helped organize.
I still have the original flyer from that show.
I love the art, the depth, the layers, the non-cliché textures, bro.
FROM MUSIC TO GRAPHICS
Years later, after I had moved to the United States, I connected with Cristian again.
By that point, I was working on the idea that would eventually become Holy Spirit Clothing, and I knew I wanted to collaborate.
The direction was basically the opposite of what I had been doing visually in the hardcore world, but I wanted something trippy, happy, and weird.
Not dark or aggressive.
We started playing with smiling faces, melting shapes, and distorted details. The goal was to take something familiar, but more melting kinda, and make it just strange enough that you had to look at it twice.
The graphics needed to be happy cause the whole idea was a creative cycle that resonated with me at that time; CSI: Create → Smile → Inspire.
Make something from nothing—literally a thought, a non-tangible, not yet physical thing, (which is insane if you really think about it).
Wow, you see it become real, which definitely brings a smile.
That feeling gives you a reason to create again — or maybe it inspires someone else to do the same.
Looking back, I like that this was the first design and produced drop.
It came from a connection that started with music in Chile, continued through friendship and design, and eventually became part of the clothing project I was building in the United States.
The CSI OG Tee is still available in black or white with neon green print.
Create. Smile. Inspire.
SHOP THE TEE
