Smash-ing Darling!

Located in the newly revitalized East Village neighborhood of downtown Des Moines, Smash provides shoppers with a variety of trendy, edgy fashions with which they can loudly declare their Iowa pride. Smash’s mix of t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and bags sport slogans such as “Des Moines! The greatest city in the world,†“The prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines,†and “Iowans: the few, the proud, the extremely attractive,†as well as an assortment of humorous political statements.
The store’s owners got their start in the fashion business in college when they began making their own t-shirts and selling them online. The shirts were a hit and soon they were able to open the store in Des Moines where they personally screen print all their own merchandise. In addition to producing the garments sold in the store and to other retailers such as Scheels All Sport, Smash designers also lend their talents to area schools and organizations seeking one of a kind screen printed apparel.
Smash’s creative team has a unique take on the subject of fashion in Des Moines. Although the store owners know that the city is not a fashion mecca, they feel the local residents have a great deal of pride in Des Moines and Iowa and it is this attitude that is reflected in their designs. The local culture is the main inspiration behind Smash’s apparel and its creators seek inspiration from a variety of area landmarks such as the downtown skyline and events like the Iowa caucus. Smash’s owners also believe that people often desire apparel that can’t be found just anywhere and that you won’t see everyone on the street wearing. It is this reason that Smash’s products are so desirable. Just as someone from Iowa would buy a one of a kind shirt in New York City, someone from a larger city who is visiting Des Moines may also want something that is unique to Iowa. Through the witty phrases printed on their merchandise and the humorous nature of their website, Smash has helped spark interest in Des Moines by showing the rest of the world that there is something about this place that people here seem to find pretty special.
Smash|400 East Locust St.|Des Moines, IA 5030
www.thesmashsite.com
Hours: Monday: 12-5, Tuesday- Saturday: 11-7, Sunday: Closed