Ashley Gosik, a journalist for DC Modern Luxury wrote up a piece for a series called "Look who's talking" that was featured in the back page of this issue of DC Modern Luxury. I first told you about it when i reported on the Photoshoot of me in a Dolce and Gabbana suit. So here's the article, republished in its full form.

Micha tees off!

And in the process, the Crooked Monkey CEO rocks the vote

By Ashley Gosik

If you’re looking to blame Abercrombie & Fitch for the tasteless T-shirt phenomenon, don’t bother. The culprit is 25-year-old localite Micha Weinblatt. The rabbi’s son co-founded the sophomoric T-shirt collection Crooked Monkey in his primary school pal’s basement three years ago and has since become an international arbiter of sayings like “Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.” But the Potomac native recently did something a little more grown-up. He launched a collection of “Vote” tees trendy enough to sell out at L.A.’s hottest spots like Kitson and Fred Segal and they’re in short supply at the other 500-plus shops that stock them.

Weinblatt’s style growing up was something akin to slacker-chic. “I always wore T-shirts and sweatpants,” he says. He’s replaced the sweats with designer denim, but tees remain a staple for the U Street boy who keeps his stride in colorful kicks from Puma and Adidas. Before his foray into fashion, the University of Maryland grad studied political science and interned for a number of prominent lobbying firms in the District. But after months of surveying the ensembles of his peers, he decided to put his Hill dreams on hold. “There were too many un-funny shirts out there,” he says.

Just a few months after his company’s launch, Crooked Monkey’s first T-shirt, “Livin’ the Dream,” was featured in a GQ spread. Soon, retailers from Nordstrom to Urban Outfitters jumped on the better-tee bandwagon. A bicoastal sales team and dozens of fresh, irreverent slogans followed but Weinblatt says the political tees are the most important he’s produced. The understated shirts feature sayings like “One Voice, One Love, One Vote,” and “Make Your Voice Heard.” Their bipartisan flavor is intentional.

“I’m not a fan of political parties,” he says emphatically. “There are so many other things that need to be done from global warming to the economy and none of it can be dealt with by being partisan.” The minimogul does, however, find time for a different kind of party. “I usually go out four nights a week,” he admits. Weekend mornings are spent at Busboys & Poets and followed up with a movie on his 46” LCD TV—his first big boy purchase. “Yeah, I guess I am livin’ the dream,” he muses.

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