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The Forest Lab Streetwear

Updated on September 20, 2013

The Forest Lab is planted...and begins to grow.

It’s not often you get to see someone’s dreams come true right before your very eyes, but I have witnessed this phenomenon recently as my friend Garrett Campbell finds success with his company The Forest Lab.

Established in 2005 this clothing company has had a growing experience similar to that of a tree, which starts with a seed and becomes a true forest. The seeds for The Forest Lab began in Moreno Valley, California where Campbell excelled in learning the skills of graphic design in the Academy of Creative Technologies.

Once the seeds were planted they began to take root as Campbell, after returning from a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began designing stencils to spay paint on to shirts. Although these first designs were intended to be simply Campbell’s personal collection, many of his friends started asking to buy them for themselves, thus the company began to sprout and grow.

The Forest Lab

Garrett Campbell, The Forest Lab
Garrett Campbell, The Forest Lab

From Sneakerhead to Entrepreneur

Moving to Provo, Utah, Campbell an avid “sneakerhead” (someone who collects original and unique sneakers) sold off part of his valuable sneaker collection to create his new company, The Forest Lab. While in Utah, the investment paid off as a local store specializing in skate and snowboard clothing called Blindside became interested in carrying their product, and the branches began to grow on the tree. The Forest Lab’s original 15 designs were featured at Blindside, and in the first month alone became the top selling brand sold in the store.

The Forest Lab

Everybody loves the designs of The Forest Lab.
Everybody loves the designs of The Forest Lab.

                          Photo courtesy of Unfading Image Photography

Forest Lab creates mashup designs.

I met Garrett when he moved back to California as he transplanted The Forest Lab to more fertile soil allowing it to grow in the perfect climate that Southern California affords.  It is here that I have seen this little seedling become a firmly rooted tree and really start to produce fruit.      

The Forest Lab clothing takes everyday images and creates a “mashup” that reflects designs that anyone can relate to.  Ideas come from all avenues, from movies, childhood stories, Jack Vettriano paintings, to the Los Angeles Lakers, just to name a few.  Campbell, who has a love for artistic graffiti is the creative genius behind many of the fresh T-shirt designs.  Making these ideas a reality, The Forest Lab has connected with the artistic skills of artist Matt Cory.  The rest is fast becoming history.

Matt Cory drawing Only Kings Have Rings for The Forest Lab

The Forest Lab

A product of Sunnymead, more commonly known as MoVal.
A product of Sunnymead, more commonly known as MoVal.

Spray caps, marbles, dice, milk caps, what ever it takes to make it. The Forest Lab

Unlike many who “can’t see the forest from the trees”, Campbell has been inspired by other artists like John Earle, founder of Johnny Cupcakes, and Bobby and Ben Hundreds of The Hundreds, who have proved to him that the sky is the limit. Willing to “put everything he has into this company”, Campbell makes sure every shirt he sells has a small token to remind himself, and others, of the sacrifices he has made to grow. Campbell includes, in a small bag attached to each shirt The Forest Lab sells, either a used spray paint cap, a marble from his marble collection, a die from his dice collection or a milk cap, symbolizing his commitment to “give it his all”.

The Forest Lab and the Los Angeles Lakers

As I came to know and love Garrett, it was no surprise to me that his latest creations pay tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. Campbell, a die hard Lakers fan, came up with the idea for his two most recent designs, Only Kings Have Rings, featuring Kobe Bryant, #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Here’s Ronnie, showcasing Ron Artest, #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Forest Lab- Only Kings Have Rings

Fresh off the press, The Forest Lab's new sensation, Only Kings Have Rings featuring LA Lakers, Kobe Bryant.
Fresh off the press, The Forest Lab's new sensation, Only Kings Have Rings featuring LA Lakers, Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest- The Forest Lab

Only Kings Have Rings, shows Kobe Bryant wearing a crown, on the front of the shirt, with a hand full of championship rings including a broken finger, on the back.

Here’s Ronnie, a mash up of the Lakers player and The Shining, shows a picture of Ron Artest on the verge of "murdering" the other team.

The Forest Lab- Here's Ronnie.

A new design from The Forest Lab, Here's Ronnie, featuring LA Lakers Ron Artest.
A new design from The Forest Lab, Here's Ronnie, featuring LA Lakers Ron Artest.

Here's Ronnie The Forest Lab and Matt Cory

The Backside...TFL

#1 LA Lakers and The Forest Lab
#1 LA Lakers and The Forest Lab

All the trees in the Forest- The Forest Lab

In the forest a new tree gains strength and protection as it grows from the other trees around it. Campbell, who is the antithesis of prideful, humbly acknowledges that his success in this industry is only made possible because of the support of his friends and his family who are trees of support for The Forest Lab.

The Forest Lab - Wendys

Raiders, Wendys mashup from The Forest Lab.
Raiders, Wendys mashup from The Forest Lab.

Come out to the Forest- The Forest Lab

If you haven’t had an adventure recently, it is time for a trip to the forest...

The Forest Lab.

Follow The Forest Lab on Twitter too.


The Forest Lab -TFL

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Charlie Caption- TFLEdward- TFLBear Pirate- TFLThe Don- TFL
Charlie Caption- TFL
Charlie Caption- TFL
Edward- TFL
Edward- TFL
Bear Pirate- TFL
Bear Pirate- TFL
The Don- TFL
The Don- TFL

Lakers Play Off Games- The Forest Lab

The Forest Lab at the Staples Center
The Forest Lab at the Staples Center
working

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