New Skool of Thought: Business Tips from Artist Nate Tan
On July 21st, Kapwa Kultural Center hosted a highly anticipated business workshop led by Nate Tan, the visionary behind New Skool and Nate1Design. Nate, a celebrated artist and entrepreneur, shared invaluable insights on how to launch and sustain a small business, drawing directly from his own remarkable journey.
The workshop delved into critical aspects of entrepreneurship, from identifying and cultivating your personal passion to developing a compelling business idea and effectively bringing your product to market. Nate candidly recounted how his deep exploration of art, starting from his teenage years with graffiti drawings, organically blossomed into New Skool, his highly successful art apparel and accessories brand. He illustrated this evolution by showcasing a visual timeline of his work, from his early sketchbooks to the diverse range of apparel he sells today.
Throughout the session, Nate shared practical tips and tricks for aspiring entrepreneurs. He was honest about the realities of running a small business, openly discussing both its advantages and challenges. A significant "pro" he highlighted was the flexibility and autonomy that small business ownership offers, allowing individuals to navigate their careers and personal lives with greater control. However, he also cautioned attendees about a major "con": the unfortunate reality of idea theft, whether intentional or accidental. To combat this, Nate strongly emphasized the importance of originality, urging participants to infuse their business ideas with their unique personality and vision, making them as distinctive and "you" as possible.
About New Skool & Nate1Design
Born and raised in SF’s Sunset District, Nathan “Nate” Tan is a local artist and designer whose work has helped shape the Bay Area graffiti art scene.
In 1987, as a high school student Nate co-founded the West Coast chapter of the Master Piece Creators Crew (MPC) alongside graffiti partner Omen2. During the height of Hip Hop culture in the Bay Area, MPC became known for their large-scale murals filled with socially conscious messages. Their work has been featured in the documentary “Piece by Piece” and in the book “The History of American Graffiti,” where they are recognized as pioneers of the West Coast graffiti movement.
Since then, Nate’s artistic journey has expanded beyond walls. He has spent decades not only painting but also teaching and curating art shows. He even helped develop and teach The History of American Graffiti course at 1AM Gallery in San Francisco.
Enter in: New Skool. What began as an infant and toddler clothing line has since grown into New Skool, a full lifestyle brand offering men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and art. Nate founded New Skool as a way to merge his street art roots with fashion:
“New Skool allows me to merge my love for creating art into something that can be worn by babies, kids, and adults. Seeing people on the street wearing my designs is still a really cool thing.”
Today, New Skool can be found at retail locations across the Bay Area and features accessories, apparel, keychains, stickers, magnets, and his original artwork.
Go check out New Skool’s artwork and apparel at our KKC space, or click the button below that directs you to his online store and retail locations!
Interested in being a vendor or collaborator at KKC? Click here for more information.