An artist's vision is not always set in paint or stone. John Robert Holbrook works his brand of artistry in socks. With socks, swimwear, athletic wear and ties, the designer is making a name for himself in a very competitive field.
"It's art," he says. And he doesn't mean just his products either. His marketing is equally a sensation. Holbrook made a splash with his patented fabric, Darlexx, and clothes. But it's his ads ( also sold in full-size posters www.allposters.com ) that everyone's talking about. Most show more of the hunky models than they show of Holbrook's clothing. The most popular ad? A full-body shot of a man in nothing but designer socks. His promotional posters have been hung in boutiques in New York, Chicago, Park City and Beverly Hills, though often briefly. Holbrook frequently clashes with the conservative business owners. But those states don't have the market cornered on prudery. What do the magazines GQ, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Men's Fitness have in common? They all rejected Holbrook's advertising on the basis that it was to explicit. "They show as much female nudity in ads," Holbrook points out. "It's a nasty double standard. I will never be a department store commodity," he says. "I want my clients individuality and personal power to shine through my products." He hopes the same for his cologne "John Robert Holbrook - Pharaoh.
What will the scent's controversial ad be? It will be shot on the salt flats in Utah," he says. "The model is in the desert. Hungry, thirsty, he drops to his stomach. All he sees is my bottle. And with his last ounce of strength, he reaches for my bottle of "Pharaoh", which is more precious than food or water, the ultimate possession!"
www.johnrobertholbrook.com