Words by Keane Fletcher

With the opening of Hipland's brick-and-mortar store at Kawana Shopping World this week, we're bringing you something a little bit different. A lot of thought process goes into which products we stock and why, and so in order to give you the inside scoop on some of the store's featured brands we're sitting down with some of our favourite creators to see just exactly what makes them (and their brand) tick. 

First cab off the rank, Los Angeles-based Rahmi Halaby, a multi-disciplinary creative entrepreneur and founder of Linden Ave Studio, a boutique marketing and design agency. Launched back at the start of 2020 to showcase the creative work of Halaby himself, Linden Ave Studio has since gone on to become a full service marketing & design studio, developing and executing a number of different experiential and visual design projects, including their own in-house apparel concepts. 

You can check out some of their apparel here on the Hipland website and keep scrolling for our interview with Rahmi Halaby below!

1- How did Linden Ave Studio get started? 

I was working as the Creative Director at a digital agency and also running a streetwear brand called Only Positives Co. that I had started in college. I had learned a lot working at this agency as well as operating my own brand. OPC had run its course. It was a brand that I had started when I was 19 and I wanted a new start. I had developed a vision for a workshop of sorts that emphasized creative strategy and paired this with a more mature streetwear brand, all under one roof. In the meantime, I was working at Ps&Qs (a menswear boutique in Philadelphia, PA) on the weekends and would daydream about bringing this vision to life. Finally, I was planning a move to Los Angeles and decided to coincide this new beginning with the launch of Linden Ave Studio. 

2- What was the original vision for the brand? Has it changed much over the years?

Linden Ave Studio is less than a year old. We are still working on having it grow to reach the full potential of the original vision. However, I would be lying if I said that the vision will not change over the years.

3- Was there a crucial tipping point that helped solidify your vision for Linden Ave Studio?

Ky Cao, the owner of Ps&Qs, had brought me into the back office one day and was actually trying to get me to keep OPC going. I had explained to him how I had this vision for Linden Ave Studio, but had all these reasons for why now wasn’t the right time. Ky told me there will always be a reason that it isn’t the right time and I should just go for it. That was the final push I needed.

4- Talk us through some of Linden Ave Studio‘s biggest failures. What did you learn from them?

I would say Linden Ave Studio’s biggest failure so far is just having our ideas remain as ideas for too long. There has been many times where we may have had great ideas, but we procrastinated too long and the timing passed. Even though we can get caught up in projects that we are currently working on, I try to always make sure we put some time aside to work on new ideas as they come about. That way we aren’t reminiscing about really dope opportunities that we could have had. 

5- How do you feel about being stocked in Australia?

Being stocked in Australia is fire! I try not to get too deep, but I do consider clothing art pieces and it is really gratifying to know that our art has made it all the way to the other side of the world. 

6- What are your hopes for the future of the brand?

As we continue to grow and develop I am really excited to step into other worlds that may not traditionally be seen as streetwear and put our own creative touch on them. 

7- What advice would you give to other up-and-coming brands and creators?

To other up and coming brands I would tell them to get comfortable hearing no. I try to set a minimum of 'nos' that I’m going to get every week. I can’t be upset about not getting the opportunities that I want if I haven’t heard enough 'nos to earn that 'yes'.

Hipland's brick-and-mortar store is open now at Kawana Shopping World on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Thanks for stopping by Hipland!