Q&A with Founder Rick Klotz of WARRIORS OF RADNESS

Where do I start? First off, I have never met anybody that embodies what his companies’ about more than Rick Klotz, Founder of Warriors of Radness. He is a direct reflection of the spirit of his brand and the clothes he makes.

Rick’s upbeat and friendly character allows you to sense the excitement from each piece of his line. I have never seen anybody achieve cohesiveness, when mixing multiple neon colors within the same garment. Well, that was until I met Rick Klotz. Oh yeah, and that second thing...The Warriors of Radness line is absolutely killer!!!

Grungy Gentleman get’s rad with Founder Rick Klotz of Warriors of Radness…

[Rick Klotz, Founder of Warriors of Radness]

Grungy Gentleman: What should everybody know about Warriors of Radness?

Rick Klotz: That it’s the New West Coast Traditionalism.

GG: Where do you get the inspiration from for your collections?

RK: Historic Southern California style and culture.

GG: How have you guys executed the surf lifestyle into your collection?

RK: The surf style is part of the Southern California style. So it embodies the entire collection.

GG: You are able to incorporate some killer color combinations into your product. How do you make it work without looking tacky?

RK: I don’t know. We just do. And if some stuff comes off as tacky, I’m stoked. If anyone’s afraid to wear tacky, well then they probably aren’t unique enough for me!

[Rick Klotz getting real funky. Killing it!]

GG: The Grungy Gentleman totally digs the Weekend Warriors collaboration you teamed up with SATURDAYS on. Explain what it means to be a Weekend Warrior and tell us about the super-cool product you guys created.

RK: What it means to be a weekend warrior? For that I must quote Ted Nugent:

“Finally it's Friday I'm out of my cage

Two days of freedom are coming for a rage

I go the dances and hit all the bars

On weekends my wages they go just so far

I'm a weekend, weekend warrior

So stand up and shake it and show them what you got

Find me expose me and shoot your own shot

There's no room for schoolgirls we're doing just as we please

Hanging out at pre-teens and putting on the squeeze

I'm a weekend, weekend warrior

I stayed out till Sunday and never went back home

Except with my best friend I won't stay alone

Explode I, I got high, took it to the end

Looking out for Monday I'll start it all again

I'm a weekend, weekend warrior”

The cool product we created for Saturdays NYC was an idea by the Saturdays guys. We though it would be a good combo, as both our companies are pretty much out of the “surf industry” box. Costa Mesa burn in hell (at least those few blocks of all the big box surf companies.)

GG: Clearly we also want to hear about the dope collaboration with Gourmet. What are some highlights that stick out to you?

RK: The Gourmet guys are buddies and all fun guys. They inspired the idea of doing a collection reflective of that bastion of money, yachts, and bland taste: Marina Del Rey. But there’s a certain charm to Marina Del Rey and that’s what we all saw in it.

GG: What are your top 3 favorite pieces from the Warriors of Radness collection?

RK: The muscle pant, the GLSA team trunk, and the surf style mod trench coat out this fall. I tend to wear these 3 pieces together at the same time.

[Muscle Pant]