Meet the Collective: Romany

Welcome to our series introducing you to each of us: the Ten of Clubs Collective. You'll learn about what each of us does, what inspires us, our likes and dislikes, and all manner of other juicy titbits.

 

Please introduce yourself.

Hey, I’m Romany. I’m 24 and I’m one of the designers here at Ten of Clubs. I do a lot of freehand sketching and digital design. I also do screen-printing, as well as pitching in with whatever else needs doing to get orders out the door and to keep customers happy.

Do you work anywhere else as well?

Yes, I work shifts as a barmaid at my local pub. I’ve done bar work for years. I really like it. I like talking nonsense with the regulars.

What's your favourite of the items TEN OF CLUBS makes and sells?

I love Rosie’s skateboards. She’s so talented. ‘Bagu’ was probably my favourite. Can’t wait to see the new decks she’s working on.

What are some of the items you've designed, and which is your favourite?

Well, Tape, Rise and Shine, and Wave Tee are all mine. I'm really happy with how my latest T-shirt turned out. Yeah, Bone Heads is probably my new favourite. The design was done freehand. The original sketches took so long.

What other clothing brands do you like?

I like a lot of streetwear and skate brands. I really like Moth Skateboards. Its designs are really original. I also rate Salon Skateboards. The brand's run by and aimed at women, and we definitely need more women in the skating community. I think Cigarette Skateboards is sick too.

What’s the best item of clothing you own, not including TEN OF CLUBS garms?

I have two really cool jumpers my grandma gave me, that she got at Glastonbury the year I was born. They're chunky, oversized knitted jumpers. One's purple with pink and white flowers, and the other has a geometric rainbow design. They sound awful, I know - but they're cool, I promise you.

Now, to really get to know you and probe your secret areas, some quick-fire questions randomly selected by the TOC-2000 supercomputer.

What special skills do you have?

I can eat a jar of pickled chillies in one sitting. Sometimes I put hot sauce on them too. That’s me, living on the edge!

Do you have any pets?

No, not now. I used to have a pet tree frog called Lil Crème Fraiche, but I gave her to my sister to look after. I was working a lot, and I knew my sister wanted a frog, so Crème went to a loving home. I’m happy to say Crème is alive and very well, with her own luxury terrarium with running water and lots of plants.

What’s the best way to start the day?

Coffee and a fag. Classic.

What TV shows are you into?

I don’t watch a lot of TV. When I do, it’s generally the same things on repeat: Friends or The Mighty Boosh.

How do you relax after a busy day at the TEN OF CLUBS coalface?

I’ve recently got into jigsaw puzzles. They’re great, aren’t they. I used to despise them, but they’re actually a good way to relax and stop thinking about stuff.

And what’s your perfect weekend?

Just relaxing somewhere by the sea. Ideally somewhere with really cool skateparks and pubs.

Talking of pubs, what’s your favourite drink?

If it’s alcoholic, it’s probably wine. If it's wine, it's definitely red.

What’s your dream car?

Ooh, some sort of campervan, or a van I could kit out like one. That would be amazing.

What’s your proudest achievement?

Skateboarding. I never thought I’d have the balls to do it. I’m still not amazing, but I’m better than I ever thought I would be. And I guess my uni degree is up there too. It’s certainly the most expensive piece of paper I own!

Who’s your go-to band or artist when you can’t decide what to listen to?

Always the Pixies. They’re my favourite band. At the moment I’m listening to a lot of KennyHoopla, Lil Peep, Static Dress, Brand of Sacrifice, and Vein.fm. Fall Out Boy and Blink-182 will always be among my favourites too.

What irrational fear or phobia do you have?

Cows! But it’s not irrational. I have been chased by them too many times.

Really?  Okay.  What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of rain. There’s even a name for it - petrichor. How cool is that!

What do people find surprising about you?

That I’m not vegan! For some reason, people always just assume I am. 

What would you rate 10 out of 10?

20?

Which of your scars has the best story behind it?

I broke my ankle skateboarding and had to have some pretty major surgery, so there are plenty of scars to choose from. I have eight screws and a metal plate in my ankle now. I have yet to find out if I set the alarms off in airports.

Tell us something you’ll never do again.

Break my ankle. Well, I really hope not!

The interrogation is over. Any final words?

Yeah, thanks to everyone that has supported us. Please tell your friends about us. We're on Instagram and Facebook. And I've got loads of new designs I want to show you.

 

♣︎︎ Thanks for reading. Read more or shop now.

Sup. We're a design collective of young artists. Defiantly alternative and passionate about music - alt rock, metal, hardcore - we've been creating fresh apparel and unique wall art since 2021.

From graphic tees, long sleeves, hoodies and headwear, to art prints, hand-painted skateboards and more, we help you express your individual style.

A share of the proceeds goes straight to the designer each time you shop with us. It’s why we tell you who designed each item we sell.

Stay cool and spread the word ♣︎