The Joy of Working with Friends

This is a spotlight on OMJ Clothing's own, and friend since Robinson Elementary School ... William Ridgeway Jones

There’s something uniquely special about working with friends...it adds camaraderie and a shared history that makes the journey that much more satisfying (nostalgia is a real asset). Will is a longtime friend who has been integral to OMJ Clothing's story.?

Will and I go way back...all the way to 4th grade! Even then, he was ahead of the curve in style (I remember getting style advice back then...Guess jeans were the go-to) and music (Will was listening to Pearl Jam while I was listening to...nothing haha). If anyone from a small-ish town like ours was destined to work in fashion, it was Will.

When OMJ was Just starting, Will was one of our biggest supporters. Before we even had a retail space, he became one of our OG custom clients. His first order was for 15 shirts and ordered them at a meeting we had at The Charlotte City Club...talk about belief in the vision...I was terrified at making 15 shirts but honored at the same time! That confidence gave me the push I needed to keep building.

Almost two years ago, Will officially joined OMJ part-time. By day, he is in commercial real estate at Gray Family Properties, but he moonlights as an OMJ stylist, bringing swagger and panache to our menswear side of things. Whether he’s working with clients or representing the brand, he’s always the best-dressed guy in the room.?

If you love great style, follow his latest venture: @Sirridgewaysartorial. I promise he will be the best-dressed person in your feed!

I can’t help but think, our 4th grade teacher Mrs. Barnwell sure would be proud!

My weekly Recommendations

Read: One of my favorite writers, Tommy Tomlinson, wrote about teamwork and had an awesome tie-in with the deaths of 2 greats this week...David Lynch and Bob Uecker. As it goes, they couldn't have been more different but were both incredible teammates. Full article Here!

Listen: Another one of my favorite writers, and perhaps favorite podcast, Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History is an all-timer. This episode is an interview with Adam Grant about unlocking your hidden potential. Malcolm has a phenomenal way of breaking things down so that everyone can understand while also eliciting very thought-provoking questions. It is fantastic and I recommend this and Adam's book as well.

?AI: Every week, I'll share insights on Artificial Intelligence (the good and the bad) and how we, or other businesses, can leverage it. AI will soon and finally be used to help screen out spam calls...thank goodness!!!

Watch: Last week, I mentioned my buddy Kenneth Haas and I started a Mad Men series rewatch, rewatching one episode a week. We had a good amount of folks reach out wanting to do the same so I will think of a way to incorporate some recaps in the coming weeks in a better place. For today, this week's recap is below:?

Mad Men Season 1, Episode 3: "Marriage of Figaro"

Ah, Episode 3... where we dive deeper into Don Draper’s mysterious psyche, suburban chaos, and the many ways a 1960s birthday party can go off the rails.

The episode opens with Don on a train, where he bumps into someone from his mysterious past...uh-oh. The conversation’s vague enough to raise eyebrows but just cryptic enough to make you go, Who is this guy? Don shrugs it off with his signature smirk and an unspoken none of your business. Classic Draper. Side note: I loved the IBM mention...amazing to think in 1960 the company was almost 50 years old. Amazing to think about.

Back at the Sterling Cooper circus, Pete Campbell has returned from his honeymoon, full of unearned confidence and the oblivious charm of a golden retriever wearing a tie. He struts around the office like he just invented marriage, but nobody’s buying it. Meanwhile, the office brainstorms how to market Volkswagen’s "Lemon" campaign, which will become a constant theme of Mad Men, reliving past historical ad campaigns in real-time.?Later, we take a field trip to Menken's department store where Don turns on the charm and gets a new set of cufflinks.?

Finally, it's the weekend and we are back in suburbs, where Don gets roped into attending his daughter Sally’s birthday party. Cue the awkwardness: The dads are thrilled, breaking out drinks to enjoy their midlife crises in peace. Meanwhile, the moms are busy gossiping, because, in the 1960s, that’s just cardio. Shout out to the poor divorced lady who just moved in down the street and who bears the cringeworthy brunt of all the gossip yet saves the day with a birthday cake.

Things get existential when Don, clearly suffocated by the picket fence dream, sneaks away from the party to sip a beer alone and stare into the abyss. But don’t worry... the tension is broken when Don finally comes home hours later with a dog in tow to save the day. Poor Betty, and poor kids...and also poor Don. Trapped in between two worlds and can't handle it.

And there you have it: Episode 3! It is one of my favorites of the series and one I often go back to. I love the nostalgia of what a kid's birthday party was like back then and all the quiet moments that tell a great story without having to say anything at all. At the time is was pretty transformative in television to have a show about office happenings use the majority of an episode to showcase non of the other main characters. I remember how real and authentic it felt at the time and just gets better every time I go back to it.?

My big takeaways:

• A powerful episode on life and happiness. You never truly know what someone is going through, even when it seems they have it all.
• The beer fridge Don goes to while building the playhouse is a timeless subtle joy for all men and their suburban dreams.
• Birthday party constructs are still about the same nearly 60 years later.?
• The camera Don used during the birthday party was a next-level scene and gave me major Wonder Years opening credit scene vibes.?

Hope everyone has a great rest of your week!?

best,?

Bradley Rhyne, CEO

??

Schedule Appointment →

?

Client Spotlight

Congrats to the Fox's and this all-time wedding suit liner!?

?

More Weddings →

?

?

Reviews and Referrals

Reviews: If you have had a great experience, we would love it if you would leave us a nice review on Google!

Referrals: If you refer someone who buys custom (suits, jackets, shirts, etc), you will receive a complimentary custom shirt (up to $225 in value).