Skaberd |skay-bird|: noun a variant on the word skateboard; a skate clothing line started by Dylan Bartlett, along with friends Wallace Owen, Justin Zosel, Caleb Fancher and Ben Policicchio; adjective having a skate state of mind.

Bartlett’s startup clothing line of skate wear dropped onto the Tupelo scene a year ago. Bartlett and his friends sold three shirts a month out of the back of Bartlett’s black Volkswagen GTI, and the business has now grown into a successful online venture that earns hundreds of dollars a week. While the business is financially satisfying,  Policicchio nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing all the positive feedback.

“Skaberd is such a cool asset Tupelo has,” junior Shelby White said. “It’s a group of hilarious people we all know selling amazing hand-crafted products. Skaberd is for any age and makes anyone that wears it look awesome.”

Skaberd’s sales have now spread from Tupelo High School to Mooreville. Sales have also been placed to skaberd.com from as far as New York and Hawaii.

Q.When did it all start?

A.Ben: Dylan Bartlett, an admirer of art and culture of skateboarding, wanted to bring his thoughts to life. Dylan ran the idea by some friends, and asked if the idea of a T-shirt business might be a promising enterprise. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. We just make clothes and stuff because we enjoy it and we also like filming promotional skate videos.

Q.What is your best memory?

A.Justin Zosel’s best memory with Skaberd is going on skateboarding trips to Oxford.

Zosel: We have a lot of fun going to Oxford.

Wallace Owen best memory associated with Skaberd was getting punched in the face.

Wallace: Dylan said let me film you answering some questions about Skaberd and Ben just surprised me with a punch in the face. It didn’t hurt that bad. He had boxing gloves on.  

Ben Policicchio’s best memory was when they were getting their skateboard decks made.

Ben: Definitely getting our first skateboard deck made and the photo shoot with them afterwards was loads of fun. Skating them was even more fun.

Q.What products are being sold?

A.Skaberd has the ability to design whatever they desire. The shirt ideas usually come form the things they see in the environment or they’re born straight from the imagination. The members come up with the ideas and Dylan designs them on his computer.

“I think all the designs are so simple and funny and not unreasonably prices. Overall I’m a big fan. It’s really interesting for sure.” senior Jordan Poppelreiter said.

Personalization is available, but due to the number of orders they get a limit must be set. All designs are available in short and long sleeves and many different color options. They’re also available as hoodies and sweaters. People can either order it directly off skaberd.com or through any of the members involved.

Q.What are the future plans?

A.They are currently trying to get our product into some retailers.

Ben: We are currently trying to get into retailers and purchasing a vinyl cutter to begin producing windbreakers and rain jackets and they also plan to film a full length skate video.