It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday after Saturday night happy hour. Yea, you’re not feeling too hot. But you know what? There’s only one thing that can save you from ruining what should be the most restorative day of the week: Bagel Crust. You pick up your Gatorade and your courage and walk through the golden gates. But… what’s that on the wall? Rows and rows of… bagel merch? Forget the bagel, nothing can cure a hangover like a shirt dedicated to your Sunday Scaries cure.
But hang on, since when did Bagel Crust have merch? Who makes it? And better yet, where can we get some? Here’s everything you need to know about Underground Collective, our newest Penn State merch obsession.
Created in the midst of COVID craziness in Harrisburg, PA., Underground Collective was started by Brittany Keyes as nothing more than bleached-out clothes for friends and family. But while we all fell for the DIY-clothing trend and gave up after a few weeks, Keyes created a brand that got her the golden ticket— a merch deal with the bagel shop she and her roommate frequented every Saturday religiously. And it’s the kind of deal you dream about.
After posting what was just simply another addition to her inventory in her feed, Keyes got a DM from everyone’s favorite bagel shop. Yup, they slid in the DM’s— the beginning of everyone’s favorite love story. And since then, it’s been nothing short of that. With complete creative control and an entirely supportive business partner, this is what dreams are made of.
While Keyes has since graduated from Penn State last spring with a major in psychology neuroscience and plans on attending nursing school in the fall, that doesn’t mean her love for clothes and her brand will ever end.
“I always say if at least three people don’t like what I’m wearing then I know it’s a good outfit,” Keyes said. Noted. And it’s that same mantra that fuels her fire in keeping her brand fresh. “I feel like some of the stuff I make is very much one of-one like I won’t make it again,” Keyes said. But, then again, it all just depends on whether the clothes she sources from Salvation Army, the bins or any good thrift store she can find speak to her.
With the help of her family and so many others who see the vision for her brand, Keyes has every intention with keeping business as usual even as nursing school looms on the horizon. So don’t worry, you can still get your hands on some game-day tops before Blue and White and the start of the tailgate season next fall.
“I always say if at least three people don’t like what I’m wearing then I know it’s a good outfit.”
But if there’s one thing you need to take away from this brand besides seeing for yourself the game day outfits that could be, it’s the impact of the person who made them.
“If you’re thinking about starting something, even if you suck at it at first, just keep going. I look back on some of the stuff I made and I’m like ‘Oh my God.’ And I know two years from now I’m gonna look back at the stuff I’m making now and say that’s not good. You’ve got to work on things to get good at them and along the way, you just learn so much,” said Keyes.
So, what are you waiting for? Screw the bagel and find yourself your new favorite hangover cure: a hoodie from Underground Collective. Tag us in your favorite looks from her Instagram or from Calder Ave @valleymag on Instagram for Fit Check Friday!
