Looking for a brand that fully encompasses Boise for what it was, where it is now, and the exciting future ahead? Look no further! The brother-sister duo and owners of Boise OG created a new brand that features humorous aspects of Boise’s culture and history. From the Hidden-Springs-Pineapple references to “Never Forgetting” Garden City trailer parks, Boise OG brings life memories and unofficial monuments that many residents may have forgotten.
How Boise OG Started
Being residents of Boise since childhood, Heidi Tilby and Kelly Knopp witnessed Boise’s extreme economic and population growth happen firsthand. Their childhood hometown was changing and nearly unrecognizable from their beloved memories. “We would sit around, joking about old memories [of places and references] and how they would make a great t-shirt,” said Knopp, “Eventually, we decided to make it happen.” Boise OG was a way for the family to preserve their memories while still keeping a sense of humor about the city’s growth.
The Art, History, and Humor of Boise OG
Kelly Knopp, the artist behind the brand, has been a huge contributor to the Boise Art scene for more than 15 years. “It’s not just about the humor in change, but it’s about the visual aspect,” said Knopp, “It inspires memories.” Being an artist, Knopp knows the impart visual art has on lifting old memories and the associated emotions. He hopes that Boise OG’s sense of humor shines through and serves as a reminder of happy memories for the residents that have seen changes in our community firsthand.
“We are not anti-growth,” said Tilby, the sister half to this duo, “Growth brings a lot of great things to our community, but we don’t want to forget the Boise we knew years ago.” Boise OG walks the line of being a history scrapbook and a MAD Magazine. The brand captures the true history of the residents from their eyes. It’s a history book for the people, by the people.
“The best ideas come from the source,” said Tilby, “we work together to come up with the ideas.” True to their collaborative spirit, the Boise OG founders always take new ideas from other locals about humorous experiences. The Boise OG duo strives to capture stories from all neighborhoods and decades in Boise.
Photo Credit: Boise OG
“I remember when all of that was farmland.” -Boise OG Sticker.
Although some of the humor can be hard to catch for new residents, there are many recent changes that have happened in Boise. Don’t worry; they are always willing to educate the curious. Those who subscribe to Boise OG’s emails receive a new design EVERY FRIDAY. A couple of the most recent sticker designs highlight the end-of-an-era within the bar scene, like the transition of Dutch Goose and the demolition of Turner’s Bar on State Street.
Find Their Art on Stickers, T-Shirts and Hats
You may be asking yourself, what makes Boise OG different from other merchandisers? Well, if you are a Boise OG (original), you will definitely spot the difference. With their dedication and love for this community, Boise OG often hosts fundraisers for local nonprofits - periodically releasing fundraiser stickers and donating $1 per sticker sold to the community. The hyperlocal relatable puns and underlying humor is evident to those that truly know Boise. If you are a new resident, browsing through Boise OG is a great way to test your Boise-related knowledge. “We have found that our memories, though they were obscure, were not unique but commonly shared amongst residents,” said Knopp.
Photo Credit: Boise OG
Photo Credit: Boise OG
Photo Credit: Boise OG
Where To Find Boise OG’s Unique Swag
Although Boise OG launched in April 2021, it didn’t take long for the brand to connect with local residents. There is a brick-and-mortar store in the works, but for now, you can check your Boise knowledge on Boise OG’s website and stay up to date on their Friday design releases by subscribing to their weekly email!
boiseog.com
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