Western Courier

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: AJ Self Darren Boone, former Western football player, models a shirt from the clothing line ATezBaby, which he is investing in and promoting throughout campus.

One Western student is helping take a clothing line his high school teammate created to the top. Celebrities such as Nelly and Chris Brown and two or three NBA stars, including Darius Miles, have worn the merchandise.

Darren Boone, senior communication major at Western Illinois University, is trying to promote the clothing line: ATezBaby (80s Baby). This merchandise line is run by Boone and a few of his friends from Southeast Missouri State University.

It pays tribute to people born in the 1980s through its creative slogan.

The idea to create a clothing line was stuck in the head of the eventual founder, Jared Odem. When famous rapper Nelly visited Odem and Boone's St. Louis high school and heard about the idea, Odem said Nelly loved it. From there the boys ran with the idea and decided on the name ATezBaby.

"One day (Odem) was just playing with words," Boone said. "And he just came up with A-T-E-Z. I don't know where he came up with it."

The creative title interested Boone, who said, "People are always looking for something new, so I was diggin' the idea."

Boone is an investor in the business, taking on the responsibility of promoting ATezBaby by presenting the name across campus.

"I have a few of the football guys wear the shirts," he said, noting that anyone else seen wearing them is an additional help.

In addition to that, he is in charge of the finances.

"Right now we're not even making a profit, we're just making back our money that we put into it," he explained, adding, "Of course, the extra money that I do have, I put into the business."

In addition to T-shirts, ATezBaby also provides sweatshirts, sweatpants and even shoes and boy-shorts. As far as prices go, shirts start at $20 and all other merchandise is increased from there.

Though Boone is graduating this May, he plans on passing ATezBaby down to a younger friend of his who wants to take over his local responsibilities.

"If it was to take over then that would be (great), but for now it's just something we're doing on the side. Just a project we're trying to build on, and if it takes off and takes over, then you know, that's more success."

Boone invites everyone to attend an ATezBaby skating party this Thursday to help "bring back the '80s." The party will be held between 8 and 11:30 p.m. at Skateland. More information about ATezBaby and its merchandise can be found at www.myspace.com/ATezBaby.

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