Making Clothing During COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has left us with cancelled plans, cleared schedules, and whole lot of time on our hands.

Many have used this time to try something they’ve never done before. For Dorian Castro, this meant putting pen to paper, or in his case, needle to thread, as he learned the skills necessary to make his dream of starting his own clothing line a reality.

Castro, a graphic designer by trade, wanted to take his skills beyond a tablet and computer and turn his artwork into something wearable. It wasn’t easy; the process of screen printing and stitching garments comes with a huge learning curve. “If I didn’t know it I’d call someone or text someone or look it up online,” he said.

His first release featured the design of an iconic Fresno landmark in response to the shelter in place order that had just been announced at the time.

“That’s really what kicked it all off. The city had announced the lock down and this thought came to mind I’m going to do the security bank building as a character and let the city know, you know, just keep your head up,” said Castro.

The community support inspired him to pursue his passion and finally make his dream a reality. “I’ve been wanting to do this since 2011 but I was scared to invest, but after seeing the support and people requesting the t-shirts, I knew this was the time.”

Castro is currently working on his new series of pieces he hopes to have out in fall 2020.

To keep up with Dorian Castro’s creations, check out his Instagram account @Cencr