A Hiatus, from Ocracoke
That is the question asked by designers, friends and business partners Jessie Morrissey and Pollux Dietz. Their new venture is called Hiatus, and they envision a brand that will capture the relaxed, playful energy of Ocracoke.
"We want to make cool stuff for our age group," said Jessie. The clothing will appeal to locals as well as tourists, she said. They are starting with a line of T-shirts, to be produced in small, handmade batches throughout the summer. "Everything is 100% American and Ocracoke made," she said.
Their first design reminds people to "Ride With/ Walk Against" and has images of a surfer and protesters. It was inspired by traffic laws, but refers to an attitude. People should both go with the flow and stand up for what they believe in, say the designers.
Pollux temporarily left his silk screening business in the Washington, DC area to spend to spend the season on Ocracoke. "I escaped to Neverland, to take a hiatus, if you will," he said. His plans now include keeping a year-round lease on an Ocracoke house and dividing his time between the two.
"Ocracoke is a place people come to escape real life," said Jessie, who was living in Boston when she met her husband, Ocracoke native William Howard. For her, the design business is a chance to have fun, be creative, and take a hiatus from working for other people, she said.
Hiatus is in its infancy, said Pollux. The partners are looking for the right venues to sell their products, and envision having their own storefront within the next few years.
"Remember back in the 90s when you could go to a tape store in some basement?" asked Pollux. Hiatus will have that kind of authenticity, with "a culture in the gear."
The line will expand to include board shorts, hats, bags and dressier shirts, the kind with buttons and collars. "Maybe we'll give out a mix tape with each purchase," laughed Pollux. The tapes could come from the radio shows each hosts on WOVV. Jessie plays punk on Kick Out the Jams each Monday night, and on Wednesday evenings listeners can tune in for No Bollocks with Pollux.
The idea for the business formed one evening over cocktails. "In one night we started a band, a bar and a T-shirt business," said Pollux.
"This one was the easiest," said Jessie. She admires Pollux for his ability to follow through, meet deadlines, and make the work entertaining. Both say they couldn't ask for a better business partner.
Their creative process is collaborative. Jessie studied photo and film at school, and Pollux spent a marathon day on the couch learning photoshop. "Coffee was the only drug involved," he said.
The partners throw ideas around on Ocracoke themes: mosquitoes, Blackbeard, boats, and things that sparkle like stars and sunlit water. "I'll sit for hours and hours tweaking words around," admits Jessie. Then she heads over to Pollux's house to collaborate on images, colors and fonts.
When they realize they are tinkering with things that don't matter, they take a break, then re-visit the design to make sure it's ready to print. Hiatus designs are "cheeky, but not offensive," said Jessie.
So far, they have invested hours of their own time, and several hundred dollars in the business. A dozen cool kids have already bought the shirts, and "it really is cool because they're helping us get set up," said Pollux.
To purchase your own Hiatus shirt (starting at $18) visit the next Homegrown Handmade Fresh Caught market in the Community Square on June 9. Or just stop by Gaffer's Sports Pub, where the partners both work and met, and ask for Jessie or Pollux.
Hiatus is also available to design for others. They should have their very own facebook page soon.
"Today Ocracoke. Tomorrow the world," said Pollux.
