HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO SHOOT CLOTHING WITH SHOTGUNS?
IN 2012 CODY MONTGOMERY (TOTALLY BLOWN'S FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT) WAS LIVING AT A REMOTE CABIN IN IOWA CALLED "THE DANGER SHACK" AT HIS FAMILY'S TREE FARM. THERE WERE PLENTLY OF MICE IN THE OLD 1890'S CHICKEN COOP AND ONE DAY A MOUSE CHEWED UP ONE OF CODY'S SHIRTS AND PUT THIS AMAZING PATTERN OF HOLES IN IT. TO HIS SURPRISE IT BECAME HIS NEW FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING. HE BECAME FACINATED WITH THE IDEA AND STARTED THINKING OF WAYS TO GET MORE HOLES IN HIS CLOTHING WITHOUT GETTING MORE MICE IN THE CABIN. ONE DAY IT CLICKED...QUITE LITERALLY!! THE NAME CAME TO HIM SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
WHAT KIND OF GUN DO YOU USE?
MOST OFTEN A 12 GUAGE SHOTGUN WITH EITHER BIRD OR BUCKSHOT ROUNDS DEPENDING ON THE DESIRED EFFECT AND DURABILITY OF THE FABRIC. TOTALLY BLOWN ONLY USES STEEL, BRASS, OR SALT LOAD TO ENSURE THE CLEANLINESS OF THE GARMENTS AND TO LIMIT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY TOTALLY BLOWN CLOTHING?
ALL ITEMS BEFORE SHIPPING HAVE ALREADY BEEN WASHED IN A WASHING MACHINE WITH HOT WATER AND THEN DRIED AT HIGH HEAT. ON MORE DELICATE ITEMS SUCH AS LOOSE KNITS WE SUGGEST HAND WASHING AND DRYING FLAT. IN CASE AN ITEM IS DESTROYED WHILE BEING WASHED AND YOU FEEL IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT, YOU MAY SEND THE ITEM BACK TO TOTALLY BLOWN FOR REPAIR IF POSSIBLE OR REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY. WITH THAT SAID, IT IS THE INTENTION OF TOTALLY BLOWN TO CREATE CLOTHING THAT EVOLVES OVER TIME AND SO MANY OF OUR FAVORITE PIECES ARE THE ONES WE'VE WORN TO SHREDS!!!
WHERE IS TOTALLY BLOWN MADE?
TOTALLY BLOWN COMES FROM A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHERN, CALIFORNIA. SOME OF OUR TEXTILES ARE MADE ETHICALLY OVERSEAS. 100% OF THE SHOTGUN DISTRESSING IS DONE IN THE REMOTE DESERTS OF JOSHUA TREE. MANY OF OUR GARMENTS ARE ALSO MADE RIGHT HERE AT OUR HIGH DESERT STUDIO IN JOSHUA TREE AS WELL. OCCASIONALLY ON LARGER RUNS WE USE OUR MAKERS IN LOS ANGELES, BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO HIRE MAKERS FROM OUR LOCAL AREA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
CAN I COME VISIT TOTALLY BLOWN?
YES PLEASE! WE LOVE VISITORS. PLEASE SEND US A MESSAGE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SHOP AT OUR GORGEOUS JOSHUA TREE STUDIO LOCATED JUST 2 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN JOSHUA TREE. PLEASE EMAIL: OR CALL OR TEXT 1-310-694-4082 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT.
WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TOTALLY BLOWN?
TOTALLY BLOWN IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. WE CLEAN UP ALL OF THE LEFT OVER SHELLS AND DEBRY FROM SHOOTING AS WELL AS DO ADDITIONAL CLEAN UP OF THE OUTDOOR SHOOTING RANGE OF ITEMS SUCH AS TELEVISIONS, CANS, AND PLASTIC BOTTLES THAT OTHER SHOOTERS IRRESPONSIBLY LEAVE BHIND. ALL OF TOTALLY BLOWN CLOTHING IS MADE FROM NATURAL FIBER TEXTILES ONLY. OUR FABRICS OF CHOICE INCLUDING LINEN, HEMP, AND COTTON AND ARE MOSTLY PURCHASED FROM DEAD STOCK TEXTILE DEALERS MEANING WE ARE ESSENTIALLY RECYCLING FABRIC THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THROWN AWAY BY LARGER COMPANIES. WE ALSO USE MANY NATURAL DYES IN OUR PROCESSES SUCH AS INDIGO, RUST, AND COCCINELLE TO AVOID ANY OF THE NASTY CHEMICAL DYES SO OFTEN USED IN THE INDUSTRY.
DOES TOTALLY BLOWN ACCEPT RETURNS?
YES. ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WE DO. HOWEVER, MANY ITEMS ARE MADE CUSTOM TO ORDER SO PLEASE ONLY ORDER ITEMS YOU ARE TRULY INTERESTED OWNING.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY ORDER?
SOME ITEMS ARE MADE CUSTOM TO ORDER, SO PLEASE ALLOW 1-2 WEEKS FOR MANUFACTURING AND SHIPPING.
DOES TOTALLY BLOWN DO CUSTOM ORDERS?
YES, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT WE LOVE CUSTOM ORDERS. LET'S SAY YOU HAVE AN OLD DENIM JACKET THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE PERFECT TOTALLY BLOWN. YOU CAN SEND IT IN AND WE CAN SHOOT IT FOR YOU FOR A REASONABLE FEE. PLEASE MESSAGE FOR PRICES PER ITEM TO
DOES TOTALLY BLOWN DO WHOLESALE?
YES, IN FACT THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUSINESS IS DONE THIS WAY. IF YOU HAVE A STORE AND ARE INTERESTED IN CARRYING TOTALLY BLOWN PLEASE SEND US A MESSAGE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE ON AN EXISTING LINE WE OCCASIONALLY DO THIS AS WELL. PLEASE EMAIL FOR WHOLESALE INQUIRES
DOES TOTALLY BLOWN OFFER SHOOTING DEMO'S?
YES, TOTALLY BLOWN IS WILLING TO MAKE ARRANGMENTS TO TAKE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS ON SHOOTING ADVENTURES IN THE NEARBY JOSHUA TREE DESERT WHERE YOU CAN LEARN TO FIRE A SHOTGUN AND SHOOT SOME ITEMS OF CLOTHING YOURSELF. CONTACT CODY FOR DETAILS AND PRICING. IN GENERAL THE FEE IS $150 PER PERSON INCLUDING AMMO AND LASTS 2-3 HOURS.