Brendan & Amanda O’Shaughnessy are the creative forces behind Ocean and Sea. Ocean and Sea is a clothing, print, and accessories brand with a passion for dreaming. I was introduced to the company through a blogger friend who donned one of their signature tees. I was determined to get my hands on one and introduce this stylish tee to the masses. Last month, While attending the 8183 pop-up shop I finally purchased a tee. I could not wait to get home and style it, But I was more impressed with the quality and softness of the tee. See how I styled the tee in a previous post. With that being said.. I am happy to introduce to you Ocean and Sea.
What inspired you to start a clothing line?
The inspiration for apparel began in 2005 when I began my first company, Lovesick Clothing. However, in 2012, I was confronted by a large clothing brand that was claiming infringement. Even though I had prior rights I was unwilling to fight the battle in court. Ocean & Sea was founded on September of 2013, as a result of losing my last brand name. The decision was difficult but ultimately Amanda and I are dreaming again. I’ve always been drawn towards clothing and how it functions as an extension of an individuals persona. Clothing has been a way for me to visually express my ideas and create experiences with others.
What’s the story behind your company name?
While we were on our honeymoon 3 years ago, Amanda was drawing on the beach of the Pacific Ocean and made the connection that the pronunciation of O’Shaughnessy sounded similar to Ocean & Sea! We have the page from that sketchbook that day too (which we showcased in our Creative Project, Daydreams). When deciding what we were going to call our newest venture together, Ocean & Sea came instantly to mind and was a perfect fit for us. We smirk while getting confused faces as we explain that we’re from Kansas City, obviously the implications are ironic. We love how the brand name is a conversation starter into our story.
What is your hottest selling item?
The Heart tee. The design was inspired to showcase both our local and national pride. Kansas City bridges the major ports of LA and NY, both geographically and figuratively. Plus, we’re the heartland of the USA.
What’s something about yourself you can share with my reader’s?
Ocean & Sea is a labor of love. It has been challenging but we truly enjoy creating and sharing our inspirations with others. It has been a blast meeting people and experiencing the world through the vessel of Ocean & Sea. We’ve had some exciting initial success to our brand but it’s easy to overlook the 10 year journey it’s taken me to get to this point. I want to inspire others to dream again on a daily basis; anything is possible with perseverance and the right mindset.
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