Original Art-Inspired Collaborative Apparel

CZT is elated to collaborate with Kent Paulette on this prolific collection of wearable art. Amongst a variety of garment types ranging from swimsuits to heavyweight hoodies and T-shirts to headwear, this uniquely eye-catching line combines the thoughtful placement of Paulette’s original artwork throughout a grouping of stylish and thoughtfully curated everyday garb selected for their accenting and complimenting design characteristics.

Kent Paulette is a self-taught artist who uses uninhibited, energetic brush strokes to create paintings that leap off the canvas, alive with color, texture, and movement. Deriving inspiration and personal connection to nature's elements which surround his North Carolina studio overlooking the mountains, Paulette shares several descriptive nuances of his preparatory ritual conducted prior to any new creation. “Before each painting, I go to Laurel Creek in my backyard to collect a bucket of creek water. I wade through and stick my face in the water even if it’s the middle of winter. The cold water really wakes up my spirit and I put that energy into my paintings! I come back to my studio with mud between my toes and feeling very connected with nature. I then add the creek water directly to paint and use that to stain the canvas with my transparent Creek Washes.”

Continually pushing himself and his paintings beyond the boundaries of habit and into the realm of chance, Paulette strives to insert the present moment into each brushstroke. To make room for this spontaneity and to breathe life into his paintings, he uses a remarkable range of developed brushstrokes from which he is able to achieve the uniquely detailed characteristics of his works of art.

The conceptual foundation for Paulette’s work can be traced to the likes of artist Brion Gysin, known for his pioneering work with the “cut-up” method and for his experiments with randomness and repetition, the moving sounds of classic rock and folk to that of Afro-beat and experimental electronica, along with a wide-ranging reading list that revolves around topics such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, evolutionary biology, theoretical physics, nature, science, and a Zen state of mind.

It is with sincere honor and emphatic enthusiasm that we have the great pleasure to present this collaborative effort, combining both the creative minds and distinctive disciplines that make up this original collection of CZT hand-selected ready-to-wear varietals.