Cool Places to Find Choke!

The guys at Choke are celebrating a new milestone.  Our line is now carried in over 150 stores across the country and online!  We couldn’t be more grateful for our customers who took our shirt company this far.  And now you wont have to look far to find Choke shirts on the shelves!

In celebration of this accomplishment, we decided to highlight a few retailers who carry our goods.  There are quite a few interesting shops scattered across the map.  Here are three worth checking out:

Clover House Gifts in Seattle, WA.

Clover House is located in the Westlake Retail Plaza in South Lake Union and offers “little luxuries.”  From indulgent bath and body products to unique gifts, accessories and jewelry, this boutique is the perfect place to discover treasures you would find anywhere else.  If you shop at South Lake Union’s Whole Foods, head up stairs to see what Clover House has to offer.

Kids at Heart Toys in Portland, OR.

Kids at Heart is not your typical toy store.  They pride themselves on offering specialty toys and exceptional service.  The store opened in 1990 by a mom who believed in “choosing fairly traded toys, fostering sustainability and building relationships with those who make the toys your child plays with.”  In addition to carrying unique toys, Kids at Heart offers masterful gift-wrapping and a birthday club.  Next time you’re in SE Portland, check them out!

The Black Market Boutique in Lexington, KY.

Fashion-minded folks in Lexington, Kentucky know where the best stuff is.  They avoid the mainstream and hit up the black market- Black Market Boutique, that is.  Melanie Williams, who established the shop in 2001, takes care to fill the shelves with new, vintage and handcrafted items.  They sell clothing, shoes, jewelry and art.  You can find the Black Market on High street in Lexington, but keep it on the down low!

Change is Good.

There are quite a few words we’d use to describe Choke Shirt Co.  Inert is not one of them.  We believe progress is a good thing.  If you have followed Choke for a while, you might have noticed a change inside your shirts, as we’ve been known to switch up our tags from time to time.

Last week, after closing the print shop, Jeff sat at the computer to check emails and sip on soda.  As hours passed, he started feeling creative.  The source of his altered mind state remains unclear.  It could have been the sugary drink or the dizzying array of words on the monitor.  But one thing is clear, Jeff felt compelled to make something.  This bout of creative energy eventually led to the new version of Choke tags!  Jeff took styling cues from our print shop site. We like the cleaner look of the new text, and the sizes are printed larger for convenience.  Keep a lookout for the new tags as we phase them into the line over the next few months.  What do you think?

Meet the Guys Who Make Your Shirts! Part IV

Today we’d like to introduce ACE!.  The Choke team wouldn’t be complete without our four-legged members.  ACE! Is a German Sheppard mix and an expert print shop watch dog.  He enjoys showing off his tricks, howling at ambulances, and running in the woods with his human, Justin.  We caught up with ACE! in the middle of his nap at the print shop to find out what makes him tick.

Choke: How/when did you first hear about Choke?

ACE!: Oh, it was about 10 dogs years ago.  My humans kept saying, "work this" and "work that".  I pretty much love any 4-letter word starting with W.

Choke: Where did you work before Choke? How long were you there?

ACE!: Before Choke I worked on the coast as a Tsunami Early Warning siren but they let me go due to too many false alarms. Those fire trucks trick me every time. They had to evacuate the elementary school a few times. 

Choke: How does working at Choke compare to working at your last job?

ACE!: Way better! For one I get to stay inside, but also the humans like to play. They say its good for stress relief. I'm trying to teach them how to fetch. 

Choke: What is your favorite type of shirt? (Blend, cut, style etc)

ACE!: I don't have elbows and have you seen my gams?  I'm too awkward for shirts.

  

Choke: What is the best part of working at Choke?

ACE!: Rick the UPS man. I can hear his truck a mile away. I show off my tricks and he gives me treats. I have him trained pretty well.  

Choke: When not at Choke what else do you like to do?

ACE!: I'm a Healer so I like to provide first aid to those in need.  I also like to sniff stuff, survey the perimeter, chase squirrels and make dinner. My humans take me running but I can't figure out what they're chasing. 

Choke: Who is the one person/group that you wish would walk into the shop and want to print shirts? Why?

ACE!: Cats.  The only thing better than a cat is a group of cats.  The only thing better than a group of cats is a group of cats in shirts.

Choke: What’s your favorite Choke Shirt Co. design? Why?

ACE!: “Pretty Kitty.” I am saving up my Choke dollars to get my own pretty kitty.