When Dylan Thompson was 17, he was playing hockey and sick of having to wear suits to travel on game days. One day, he complained to his older sister and brother-in-law, Paula and Brian Brunson, about his attire issues, and the group set out to change young men’s clothing forever.
“One thing we all had in common was going to sporting events and having to dress a certain way,” says Brian, who, along with his wife, used to play professional basketball. “I wore a suit. It was always my dad’s suit that was a hand-me-down that never fit well. And then Dylan started talking about how, once they got on the bus, everybody would just take their pants off because they were uncomfortable. So you got a bunch of guys sitting on the bus with their pants off.”
The answer was d.RT (pronounced “dirt”), a young men’s clothing brand launched three years ago and designed with growth spurts in mind. With the slogan “Adjust, Adapt, Evolve,” the Dallas-based team set out to create clothing that is flexible and machine-washable. Their first project: the perfect suit. Inspired by children’s ski gear that’s made to last multiple seasons, d.RT’s suits have adjustable hems that can be let out at the wrist and ankle for an extra inch. The trousers also have hidden buttons and built-in tab fasteners for a customizable fit.
In addition to its standard range of technical fabrics, d.RT introduced a water-resistant fabric this spring so even the messiest boys can look put together. “The nice thing is we literally get to test it,” Paula says. “So my boys are wearing it, and I’m washing and drying it. I know every in and out of this clothing, so it’s great for us because we’re not putting anything out there that we don’t believe in.”
After finding success with suits, the group expanded into streetwear, adding joggers, hoodies, and tees. All of the collections are designed to be mix-and-matchable, so items can be creatively paired. But that doesn’t mean the color palette is limited to black, brown, or gray; the summer collection features butter yellows and Kermit greens, while we can expect burgundy, olive, and the d.RT tartan (which is a certain clan’s plaid) this fall.
“I think that’s what these young guys are looking for,” Paula says. “I think they’re a little tired of having to work grays and blues and black all the time.”
This story originally appeared in the October issue of D Magazine with the headline, “Sharp Dressed Teens.” Write to [email protected].
