Union LA Joins Verdy to Break Down Graphic Design, Favorite Bands & What Makes the Perfect Collaboration

Following last year’s Union Tokyo collaboration, the LA-based retailer rejoined with Verdy on January 26 for a special pop-up event centered around limited Wasted Youth tees and signed merch. The Japanese graphic designer also sat down with Union for a brief interview, touching on his design ethos and background in punk music, citing famed bands like Minor Threat and Gang Green as initial influences.

“I’ve always been a big fan of punk music,” Verdy notes. “I was equally as interested in the Ura-Harajuku era and its clothing, so I think I combined my inspirations.” He also reveals the origins of his other label, Girls Don’t Cry. “Girls Don’t Cry was originally a message I printed on a tee and gifted to [my wife] to keep her head up and smile.” As such, that label “only collaborate[s] with brands or stores that my wife likes since it is a message for her,” hence last year’s CAREERING collaboration.

View the full interview above and check out the photo recap on UNION’s site

Most recently, Union dropped its latest range of in-house goods.