Austin Kowal is bringing an urban attitude to downtown Sarasota.
Kowal, the Sarasota native behind Clothesline Creativity screen printing, has launched his own streetwear boutique near the corner of Orange Avenue and Oak Street. He’s filled the racks at Solid with crop tops, jerseys and graphic tees and brought in street artists to splash some graffiti on the side of the building. The crisp, chic-looking retail space has a classy flare to it — despite the fact that one shirt says “fuck” in large letters across the chest and another features a snarling doberman.
Solid’s Austin Kowal. Photo: Maggie Menderski
The downtown Sarasota region is evolving, Kowal said. As more bars open along Main Street and more cranes build stylish lofts, the area has become more accepting of the urban lifestyle than it has in the past. Six years ago pedestrians might have raised an eyebrow at the street art on his store or the look of his merchandise, but today, the younger generation has a stronger, more accepted hold, he said.
Sarasota might not have a strong urban culture yet, but Kowal thinks the area is finally ready for it.
Price points vary, but typically start at about $25 and reach up toward $100 for jackets and shoes. Kowal has been designing graphic tees in Sarasota since 2008 through Clothesline Creative and is most well-known in the area for his RUN SRQ tees.
Solid serves as a showroom for Kowal’s own Clothesline label, but it also brings in a few more urban brands, such as Ethik out of New York and Higher Moon from Los Angeles, into the Sarasota market.