Montauk Pioneer - August 8, 2008

Montauk's remarkable PJ Monte, the 18-year-old fashion designer who founded and created Don Clothing, sells his line in several select Manhattan boutiques and on his online store. With two fashion shows under his belt, one in the Hamptons, the other in New York, this amazingly talented entrepreneur has certainly entered the world of fashion.

One and half years ago the creative and visionary PJ Monte, whose inspiration evolved from his connection to hip hop, skate boarding and family history, developed into a love of design. When he fashioned a bust of Al Capone, using red and white on black, he soon envisioned it on a tee shirt. His inherent creativity and his extraordinary ability to see objects beyond the obvious has become his gifted strength. Saluting the 21st century, PJ's designs are reminiscent of the wise guys, the gangsters and the charisma of that era.

"I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet," remarked Armani. In the fashion world, Street Wear, a new market, is growing by leaps and bounds, while Urban Wear is loosing steam. Don Clothing is right on the mark with its unique T- shirts, hats and sweatshirts. PJ Monte plans to also enter the sphere of "cut and sew" and manufacture higher quality shirts to meet the obvious demand.

Today, guys are having fun with clothing and making their own choices, rather than following a mother's or girlfriend's selection. "Men are more aware of fashion; they're not afraid of it," Calvin Klein says. There is a major change in the world of men's fashions. Now what a guy wears tells a kind of story about him. Because the girls like guys to dress in a seductive and appropriate way, in harmony with their personalities, Street Wear is the newest sensation.

To be sure, PJ Monte has grasped the simple lines, colors and details of the new demand from 18-30-year-old males.

In case you are wondering why PJ Monte calls his line Don Clothing, he explained simply that the word don is a verb that means to put on clothing.

Don is also the Italian and Spanish word for a well-dressed gentleman, as well as the word that describes an impeccably dressed high roller or boss of a crime family. Another artful conception devised by the designer.

With his winning combination of a solid foundation in marketing and management and his creative skills, PJ Monte will enter Pace College this fall and major in business, while at the same time, continue to run his fabulous Don Clothing.

This weekend on Saturday, August 9th between 5-10 p.m. at 307 Butter Lane in Bridgehampton, Don Clothing, along with Edgewood Goodies and Create Build Destroy, will host their "Mind on Material Exhibit; the journey from Inspiration to Fruition." Jake Patterson and Max Spooner of Edgewood Goodies, Alex Hollender and Tyler Ben Amotz of Create Build Destroy and PJ Monte of Don Clothing will showcase their artistic journey from inspiration to the finished product.

The showcase will be visually displayed in two houses, the first being the inspiration and the second the finished product. A connecting pathway of comprehensive, visual depictions of their progression of ideas will be spotlighted. Divided into three sections, one for each clothing line, the inspiration house will exhibit materials and artwork. In the second house, the finished products of the three lines will be showcased with a "pop-up shop" of available to purchase summer wear. The entire concept will focus upon that which lends itself to the creative process. Featuring a live DJ and an exceptionally sponsored beverage bar, the event promises to be an exciting one of a kind happening.

You never know, some of these Monauk fashion designers could end up in stores around the globe, and that would be pretty neat!