In April of 2006, two creatively inclined UVM students, Guy Derry (class of 2008) and Chris Lisle (2009), decided to start silk-screening clothing. Derry took a silk-screening class in high school, but this time he had a larger vision attached to the craft. The motivation for the effort was rooted in a desire to combine their creativity with a marketable product. It was another two months of brainstorming, soul searching, testing and product research before a company actually emerged. "From the outset, we had a very clear goal: to create a stylish product while maintaining high standards of ecological and social responsibility," Derry explained. The young company, later coined Novelty Theory, specializes in "conscious apparel" which fellow Novelty Theory partner and UVM student Ben Stewart (2008), describes as "wearable art."  True to their vow of social and ecological responsibility, all pieces in the Novelty Theory line are produced sweatshop-free and are hand-dyed 100% organic cotton and hemp. According to the group, Novelty Theory refers to Terrence McKenna's theory regarding the prediction of the fluctuations of novelty, or "newness," in the universe. The company's name has proven appropriate, as circumstance and a trial-and-error approach have led to innovative designs as well as marketing strategies. Despite changes that inevitably accompany growth, Novelty Theory has stayed true to its initial vision of fine style in harmony with social and ecological responsibility. Novelty Theory members pride themselves on the company's attention to detail, but they should also be applauded for maintaining a flexible and fun atmosphere around their work. They liken their motivation to reggae legend Jacob Miller's proclamation of, "forward - never, never backward!"

This group of UVM students doesn't deny that it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to juggle business responsibilities with academic responsibilities, but it seems that their desire for experience and ambitious drive to do something different keeps them moving forward and thinking about what is to come. "We would like this to be our employment if we can make it work. The reason we formed a company instead of just some off-hand thing for friends is because we would like to potentially earn a living off of this eventually," Derry says.                 

Products:
1. Gentle Eyes T-shirt
2. Floral Elements T-shirt
3. Lion Pride T-shirt

Vendor Info:
www.noveltytheory.com     
Email: info@noveltytheory.com