eCommerce · Brand

Cotton the First

Built Cotton the First on the belief in 'fewer but better' shirts — quietly clever, obsessively comfortable, and full of personality. A San Francisco-born brand selling 2,000+ shirts to 1,000+ customers before sunsetting it in 2023.

Role
Founder / Creative Director
Company
Cotton the First
Year
2018–2022
Marketing & Social
Cotton the First — Coffee Bot print branding spread
Our branding echoed San Francisco's blend of tradition and modernity — from a logotype that paired serif and sans-serif, to prints inspired by bay windows, swirling fog, and café culture. Identity
Cotton the First — We Love SF
Cotton the First — Our beloved handcrafted coffee Cotton the First — Our beloved fog Cotton the First — The beloved bay window houses
Print Design

I turn everyday San Francisco moments — like crafted coffee and windblown umbrellas — into original prints. With just a few great pieces, my slim-fit shirts bring a modern, visual twist to the city's culture.

Cotton the First — Carefree Canines
Carefree Canines Inspired by customers' canines.
Cotton the First — Fearless Felines
Fearless Felines Inspired by customers' felines.
Cotton the First — Bay Window Plaid
Bay Window Plaid Inspired by San Francisco's Architecture.
Cotton the First — Polka Ducks
Polka Ducks My twist on Polka Dots.
Cotton the First — Coffee Bots
Coffee Bots Coffee Cups + Robots.
Cotton the First — Umbrella Swirl
Umbrella Swirl To all the flipped umbrellas in San Francisco.
Illustration & Pop-Ups

I use illustration to connect customers to Cotton the First — bringing the brand to life. For our pop-ups, I create immersive backdrops that tell visual stories and hide our shirts within the design. It's a playful twist that invites people to look closer and engage.

Cotton the First — Illustrated pop-up backdrop design
Cotton the First — Pop-up booth design concepts
Cotton the First — Customers at pop-up booth, crowd view 3 Cotton the First — Customers at pop-up booth, crowd view 1
Cotton the First — Customers at pop-up booth, overhead view
Real-world application of the illustrated backdrop at in-person pop-ups — immersive brand storytelling that hides shirts within the design. Pop-Up
Photoshoot & Website

I led photoshoots and behind-the-scenes content — working with videographers, models, and stylists while directing lighting to evoke morning sun through a window. The minimalist website echoed our 'fewer, but better' philosophy.

Cotton the First — Photoshoot, back collar detail Cotton the First — Photoshoot, olive shirt seated Cotton the First — Photoshoot, grey shirt front
Cotton the First — Photoshoot, plaid shirt full body Cotton the First — Photoshoot, shoulder close-up Cotton the First — Photoshoot, teal shirt front
Art-directed photography and a minimalist eCommerce experience built on Shopify. Direction
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