They're kind of a big deal.

For more information about STROKE, see here.

SHEI: What started your interest in street wear and fashion?

Mike: Well, I’ve always been really into fashion since I’ve been growing up. Street wear specifically, I started getting into near the end of my high school years. It all goes hand in hand with the music –we’re all big hip-hop fans. That’s why you see a lot of hip hop influences in our designs. That’s how we really get a lot of the inspiration for our tees.

S: Who is your favorite designer, right now?

M: Some of our favorite brands in the game are Crooks and Castles, Rogue Status, and also I’m a big fan of Ten Deep. We look to see what they’re doing at all times. They’re kind of our competition, but they’re also brands we look up to.

S: Of all your designs, do you have a favorite?

M: My favorite design would have to be the Dead Presidents tee. I just feel like it represents what we’re all about. It’s a statement, it’s a bold design, it’s something you have to have confidence to wear.

S: What inspired you to create it?

M: It comes from the line “I’m all for presidents that represent me,” by Jay-Z. The track is called “Dead Presidents II,” talking about money, of course. We took that line and played around with it, and took our interpretation, of course. It’s a classic hip-hop song. His album is considered a classic in the hip-hop industry.

S: In general, how is your clothing inspired?

M: It all starts with a vision. We’re always looking for different sources of inspiration. Our line is basically a cultivation of our interest and passions and basically our shirts are a medium to express those interests. We consider our clothing our wearable art. When people are wearing our clothing, it’s kind of like our interest in the clothing and design. We’ll take a lot of hip-hop influence. We’ll take a line or graphic that makes a statement. We’ll play with that.

S: How did you guys meet? How do you divide the workload?

M: We met freshman year, I think, probably within the first couple weeks of school. We both rushed Phi Psi, where we got to know each other. We’re both creative individuals, and it just clicked. We had this idea and we just ran with it.

S: Give us a little background on the company.

M: The concept was put together in June of 2008. We officially launched in April of 2009. We’re currently in the top three boutiques in Michigan: Motivation, Burn Rubber, and Caruso Caruso. We’re looking to expand throughout the Midwest. We’re very selective with the boutiques we allow to carry our brand – they have to all be premium street wear boutiques. It’s not just a t-shirt company, it’s a brand. We try to make it really personal with our customers. We keep it exclusive to 50 fifty pieces a design.

S: How do you want people to feel when they wear your designs?

M: The type of people we want wearing our products are just like us. They have confidence in themselves and confident of our product. All our pieces have bold statements on it, and if people aren’t comfortable wearing it, we don’t want them wearing it. We want people who have a little swagger in their step. We support other people pursuing their passions, whether it be music or school or fashion. If you have passion about what you do, we want you wearing our clothing.

S: When you’re coming up with shirt concepts, what kind of music do you listen to?

M: I would have to say are of course, Biggie, Jay-Z, Kanye West (he’s a big trendsetter in the fashion industry), and the up and coming artists, like Big Sean and Mike Posner who are playing in our concert on Friday. We want to be able to showcase talent that’s on the rise. We feel like our brand is on the rise, and we want to support other people in other industries. Also, Fabulous.

S: Do you plan on expanding the brand at all in the near future?

M: This fall, actually, we’re expanding into long sleeves (for the winter, for the holidays) and hoodies as well. We also have a jacket in development, and some jackets in well. We also have about 10 tees in development, so be on the lookout as well. Also, we plan on expanding into other states, through a sort of grassroots movement. All of our next line is going to be of the highest quality – we wouldn’t put out anything we wouldn’t wear ourselves. The shirts are going to be slim cut, the hoodies will be lined, and the jackets zippers and buttons are all going to be custom. We’re very detail oriented.

S: You guys are both currently students at the University of Michigan. What are you plans for Stroke post-graduation?

M: Well, right now we’re just taking it one day at a time. I guess you can say we’re on a ride and we’ll just see where it takes us. I still plan on going to law school. Stroke is something we’re very passionate about, but school is still number one. Though during the summer time, and when there’s time during school, stroke is number one. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

L to R: Finkelman & Sulaka

 On Friday, September 4, Michigan’s hottest clothing line, STROKE Streetwear teamed up with Studio 4 to bring students a concert full of the hip songs of Mike Posner and Big Sean. Michael Sulaka and Justin Finkelman, the two founders of STROKE Streetwear, were representing their clothing line at their STROKE Street Fam booth and were happy to talk with SHEI.

When asked what their accomplishment of the night was, Sulaka and Finkelman said: “We totally sold out. We’re expecting nearly a thousand people. A full crowd.” And, sold out, is exactly what they did. The problem with selling out the Studio Four venue is that the place was simply not made for that many people, as evidenced by the humidity in the air. Sold out or oversold? Either way, the night was a success for STROKE Streetwear.

There was no doubt that the Posner/Big Sean concert was packed. It was crowded to the point where it was difficult to move, difficult to get a drink, difficult to breathe, but, not difficult to interview a fan, who happened to make it onto stage: “It was awesome, seriously. A lot of crowd involvement, a lot of screaming. I’m hot and sweaty, but this was worth it.”

Big Sean opened the night with a few of his songs, asking the “single ladies to put their hands in the air” and the crowd to “put their middle fingers up.” Baseball caps were flipped and long hair was pulled up. Girls stumbled climbed onto stage, dancing with Big Sean. People were excited, singing along with the tracks, chanting for “Posner!” And, after a short opening, Big Sean introduced the crowd to his childhood best friend, Mike Posner. Sure enough, the voice we all recognized so well was on stage, singing everything from “Halo,” “Drug Dealer Girl,” “Cooler Than Me,” and “Who Knows.” The crowd went nuts when the Southfield, Michigan native came onto the stage. Currently a Duke University student, Posner, just twenty-one himself, put on a great show.

The bartender complained of the fogged up mirrors, the schoolgirl dancers were airing themselves off with tennis balls (don’t ask), and Finkelman himself was feeling the heat, wiping off his brow from time to time. But, the bottom line was that Studio 4 and STROKE Streetwear brought the energy. 

Why did the crowd love Posner? Perhaps because he shares many of the qualities of his fans.   After an interview with Entertainment Weekly this week, Posner fans learned that he’s your typical, senior frat boy, who loves beer pong. Oh, but did we mention that he’s quickly climbing the charts, touring nationally through October, and has millions of hits on his Myspace? 

Pros: Mike Posner, Big Sean, good venue, good friends, great VIP area with private tables and seating next to the stage, a variety of people and drinks, several new Facebook photos (kidding?).

Cons: Really crowded, really hot, really underage.

All in all, the night was a complete success and a wonderful way to prepare for Michigan’s first home opener. Although I left the concert looking like I just fell into a pool, I had gained a new appreciation for STROKE and Studio. Last year, STROKE Streetwear put on a killer show with Wiz Khalifa and we didn’t know if they could do it again. But if last night taught me anything, it’s that the boys at STROKE know how to bring their A-Game to plan one kick-ass concert.

Congratulations on your hard work, STROKE. Thanks for the great show!

Alexandra Foster

What happens when STROKE Streetwear and SHEI team up? Are cameras involved? Then the result is probably going to be one wicked photo shoot.

Benjamin Dell: Photo Editor

Sunny Yau:Photo Editor

Will Defebaugh: Fashion Editor

Sagar Satish Deshpande: Literary Editor

Laura Haberberger: Assistant Literary Editor

Bridget C. Bodnar: Blog Editor

Winnie Jeng,:First Photo Assistant, Post Production

Sarah Alexis Rabinowe: First Fashion Assistant

Ying Da Ye: Photo Assistant

Cheyenne Warner: Make Up Artist

Kashaunda Rogers: Model

Schuyler Maximillian Lee: Model

Javon Moore: Model

Our thanks to STROKE Streetwear

Check out the rest of the shoot at Speed Strobe.com

You've seen this logo before

You’ve seen the stickers that dot the Ann Arbor landscape as part of a guerilla marketing plan: consume information, gain knowledge, find truth. It’s the motto of STROKE Streetwear – a soon to be multinationally succesful (I swear) creation of two University of Michigan juniors – Michael Sulaka and Justin Finkelman.

The boys met their freshman year through their fraternity and launched their company in the next year at our prestigious U.  But enough about them, you’ll be able to read SHEI’s exclusive interview with Sulaka and Finkelman later this week.  Their designs and business acumen on the other hand, are sure to catapult STROKE to the top.

Buy this and more at the website

Though they began with t-shirts, the Sulaka and Finkelman are quickly expanding into caps, socks, ties, and more.  Everything is designed to be wearable art “inspired by street and pop culture, luxury fashion, high-class art and design, hip-hop music, and film”.  Furthermore, the designs are meant to be part of the streetwear lifestyle.  This focus seems to make their line truly cutting edge – if the length of the wikipedia page is any indication.

STROKE is especially notable for their semi-political themes and also bright splashes of color.  Shades of red, white and black are common, but so are neon brights against dark backgrounds.

If you like what you see, you can find it right here in Ann Arbor at stores like Motivation or you can order straight from the website.  Other stores around the state, like Burn Rubber Sneakers Boutique in Royal Oak also carry the line.

Check them out – you won’t be disappointed! Stay tuned for more about STROKE for the rest of the week and an update on their Welcome Week concernt, this Friday.

-B.C.Bodnar