Surreal t-shirts highlight UB grad's work

While at work one afternoon, Jim Kupczyk, a 38-year-old Buffalo native employed at a local Fortune 500 company, was walking to the bathroom when he saw the "art" of a fellow co-worker. Approaching the door, Kupczyk realized someone had taken a paint marker and drawn lewd additions to a male stick figure that symbolized the men's room.

"I almost pissed myself," Kupczyk said. "That, to me, was art. "

It was, in fact, just the kind of art that Kupczyk was looking to use in his clothing line, Andalu Inc., an online-based company that displays unconventional art on t-shirts, hoodies, and baseball caps in hopes of spawning creativity and speaking out against the norm.

Using his digital camera, Kupczyk snapped a picture of the design and added it to his collection of what he considers art.

A tall, dark-haired and well-built guy, Kupczyk, who continues to work a full-time job to support himself, said that his passion for fashion and designs is a hobby that fulfills his artistic drive. Although he's always been fashion conscious and admits to sometimes following trends, he typically uses his clothing to display his emotions and evoke reactions from the public.

"My idea of fashion is feeling good about you, wearing what you want, what colors you want; being an individual and a non-conformist," Kupczyk said.

Andalu, Inc., which launched its product line in March 2005 over its Web site, www.andalu13.com, is named after an old short movie, "En Chien Andalou," by Kupzcyk's surreal art hero Salvador Dali. Kupczyk chose the name because the interpretation of the film, much like Andalu clothing, is left up to those doing the viewing.

Because he was born and raised in Buffalo, Kupczyk greatly values all that the city has to offer in terms of art and culture. Ranked as the number four art destination in the nation, Kupczyk considers Buffalo to be an underdog, a quality that he can relate to, and therefore, identify with in his products.

"I think Buffalo is nonchalantly hip. It's an arts Mecca. I think Andalu is nonchalantly hip; it's cool, different," Kupczyk said. "It's a plethora of killer qualities, just like Buffalo."

While the majority of his clothing is offered over his Web site and within a catalog available via the mail, Kupczyk does use Buffalo's own Urban Clothing Company, located on Elmwood Avenue, as the sole retail supplier of Andalu threads.

"Urban Clothing is one of the most stylish places in Buffalo," said Kupczyk. "They took a risk with me and I am loyal to them. I want to be more underground, cutting edge. Urban allows Andalu to be Andalu."

The fashion-forward designer graduated from UB with a marketing degree and works to find inventive ways to cut costs on his products while keeping his quality high. Besides valuing Buffalo as home to Andalu and its designs, Kupczyk also said the importance of using American-made products is crucial to his designs. He utilizes a friend and local graphic designer, Dave Mariniello, to execute his designs.

"I believe in supporting the local economy," Kupczyk said. "Great people do great work. Very symbolic of the people of Buffalo."

Whether it's one of Kupczyk's signature designs, like a piece called "Joey" which highlights a young baby wearing only a diaper, covered in body tattoos from head to toe or another original piece from the Andalu collection, spreading the word on the products is not difficult when the featured artwork is so eye catching and attention grabbing.

With such unique and creative artistic work, Andalu is drawing crowds from around the globe interested in taking part in exploring the way its creator views life.

"My clothing is a reflection of my soul, my personality, my uniqueness, my warped sense," said Kupczyk.

Pieces from the Andalu collection are frequently worn by musical artists, athletes and other local stars, and although Kupczyk enjoys knowing that celebrities enjoy his clothing, he gets a bigger high from seeing the locals sporting his gear.

"I really get a kick out of walking down Elmwood and seeing a guy or girl in one of my hoodies," Kupczyk said. "The feeling is amazing."

In the future Kupczyk hopes to expand his company, yet for the time being is comfortable with Andalu's slow growth.

"I'm not sure if I really want to be that big," he said. "I really want to put out gear that I think is cool and if you like it, great, if you don't, great. Dissention spawns creativity, it makes the world go round."