Native State

Branding The Uncharted

This project revolved around creating a new brand identity and introducing it to the market through a one-year fashion plan. The client's vision was to craft a narrative tailored to a niche close to them: The adventurous spirit of Southern US Coastal Outdoorsman.

Through extensive market research, competitive analysis and culture alignment discovery, we crafted a brand that threaded the needle of this backcountry niche and told a story that hit close to home, no matter where that home takes you.

The outcome was a brand that struck a perfect balance – one that was comprehensive yet specialized enough to connect deeply with an audience that had previously felt adrift between the existing extremes. This positioned the client with a powerful brand and top-tier products to set the stage for a profitable lifestyle brand for years.

INDUSTRY

Fashion

Outdoors

D2C Products

eCommerce

SKILLSETS

Market Research

Competitive Analysis

Brand Development

Naming

Mission, Vision & Values Development

Messaging Strategy

Identity Design

Packaging Design

Line Plan Development

The Mission

Create and launch a fashion apparel brand tailored for the adventurous spirit of Southern US Coastal Outdoorsman.

The Strategy Challenge

We knew this story needed to be told in a very particular way. There existed a niche, a gray area, between brands such as Travis Matthews, Patagonia, Nike, and Columbia that was either lacking in compelling brand storytelling or experiencing a shortfall in product quality.

We needed to create a brand that spoke to this demographic while producing the highest quality product that catered to the lifestyle they subscribed to every day.

Brand Name & Story Crafting

STORY CRAFT:

This is a breed of men with a thirst for adventure but have no interest in climbing Mount Everest – because they have better things to do. They longed for the open plains and uncharted destinations yet cherished being home in time for family dinner – because it's tradition. They battle Tarpon in waring wakes with lifelong friends, only to seamlessly transition into winning the next pitch at the office – because both are a trophies worth fighting for.

What they cherished above all else is a life unscripted, where they called the shots. It’s the liberation of the mind, a treasure trove of experiences, and they needed a brand that could be their compass on life's journeys to the farthest reaches and back home before dark.

BRAND NAME:

NATIVE STATE

BRAND ETHOS:

What is Native State?

Is it a state of mind? Or it's a destination waiting to be discovered on a weekend road trip through the hills of Georgia, Louisiana's bayous, or the vast plains of Texas. What if it's both?

What if Native State is the voyage we embark on, the journey we all share? Life is too short to let the good times slip away. Shape your own path, live life on your terms, in your own time, for today, for your state, family, and community. Just the way you like it.

Vision, Mission & Values

VISION STATMENT:

Our vision is to create a world where unscripted adventures are a daily practice and never a pastime out of reach.

MISSION STATMENT:

We exist to make premium, multifunctional goods for adventurers to create unforgettable moments in backwoods, backyards and boardrooms.

VALUES:

Being There For Your Community Always Comes First
Ask For Forgiveness, Not Permission
Do What’s Right, Even When It’s Hard
Quality Is Better Than Quantity
Save Fridays For Friends, Fishing and Bonfires

Identity System Development

VALUE ELEMENTS:

NORTH

SOUTH

LOCATION

NO LIMITS

FINAL MARK:

ICON:

WORDMARK:

COLOR STORY:

SAND BEIGE

EMBER ORANGE

WOOD BROWN

TYPOGRAPHY:

BRAND PATTERNS:

WAVES

NATIVE REGAL

TOPOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTION:

Collatoral

Digital Storefront

Packaging

Posters

Year 1 Product Development

TREND STRATEGY

We must carefully navigate the balance between staying fashion-forward while considering that our Native State Consumer has a strong connection to the outdoors. Our brand should exude a distinct masculine undertone, which is how we establish a unique and authentic presence in the market.

BRAND MARKERS IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

When people embrace a brand and connect with its story, they not only recognize the logo, but they also carry the brand's entire story with them. By implementing brand markers or signifiers consistently throughout the product line, consumers will gain recognition for the brand without requiring a logo or wordmark to be present. This will allow for more versatility and adaptability in product development.