Student by day, entrepreneur by night

TAMUK freshman takes on fashion industry

The dark color of the pencil lead left behind in scribbles was all that was visible from the table, where countless journals of design ideas were scattered across it. Around his father’s classroom, paintings and artwork hung everywhere, not a plain white wall in sight. 

Growing up around so much art and inspiration, Texas A&M University-Kingsville freshman Trent Garcia has always been drawn to fashion, which took front and center as an outlet for his creativity.

Gathering inspiration from his father, Bishop High School (BHS) Art Teacher Bobby Garcia and the late Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton’s Menswear Collection Virgil Abloah, Garcia came up with the idea to start his own clothing line, ANTCREW, during his sophomore year of high school.

While BHS is a rather small school, first day –and year–jitters still ultimately existed for the freshman Trent Garcia.

“When I went to high school, I didn’t know anybody, which was pretty daunting. What I figured out was that I could speak through my clothes, instead of directly talking to people,” he said. “I would try dressing as crazy as I could, which got me attention.” 

Now, three years later, ANTCREW is taking Bishop High School and surrounding areas by storm.

Trent’s goal for his clothing line is to become a well-known fashion brand in the future and to provide accessible fashion for everybody.

“I think of fashion as a form of art. You have paintings and music that are easy to access, but if you want to be a part of fashion it sometimes takes a lot of money,” he said. “I want ANTCREW to be a brand that can be accessible for any and everybody who wants to get into and be in fashion.”

As rain begins to fall, streets and yards start to flood with the nonstop downpour. People and animals alike all scramble for sanction from the ever-surging water, only thinking of themselves. Among the puddles of water, red patches can be seen from afar. At closer inspection it becomes clear that they are not just splotches of red: it’s a form of unity only seen from ants, never leaving each other and helping one another in times of need.

That message of unity and inclusivity is what ANTCREW as a whole strives for. These small creatures inspired Trent with their undying unification, which is where he got the idea for his clothing line’s name.

“We consider ANTCREW an extension of our own family unit. I feel that when someone takes the time to purchase an ANTCREW product, they are essentially joining the ANTCREW family,” Bobby said.

With the brand still in its early stages and coming from a college student’s budget, Trent’s line is currently only commissioning t-shirts and hoodies. However, as ANTCREW grows bigger, so do his hopes and goals.

“[Within the next five to 10 years] I want to have a fashion house established somewhere in Texas and be putting out new things,” Trent said. “Maybe in 10 years I’d like to have our first fashion show, too. I have a bunch of stuff for that planned out, it’s just going to take time and money.”

Not only do Trent and ANTCREW receive support from Bishop High School and the Bishop and Kingsville communities as a whole, his biggest support comes from the rest of the Garcia family.

“I know anything Trent wants to do, he can do,” ANTCREW model, salesman and younger brother Reid Garcia said. “He has that Kanye and Virgil effect, and I can easily see my brother in that kind of group when he grows up. I was very excited for Trent [when he brought up starting ANTCREW]. Our whole family is excited for him because we know he’s going to succeed.”

ANTCREW does have a website, www.antcrew-clothing.com, at which products will be available for sale soon, as well as an Instagram account: @antcrew_clothing.

 People can also request pieces by direct messaging the handle and letting them know what they would like.

“ANTCREW will not only be a high-end clothing label, but a household name in the world of art, music, and fashion,” Bobby said. “When people wear ANTCREW they are joining the fabric of design history.”