About Nod Original Design
History of
I printed my first batch of shirts my senior year of high school, and sold them to pay for Spring Break.
After a short detour chasing life as a professional actor, and living in Venice Beach, I landed back where it all started, working in my family’s screen-printing business in NC.
At night, I poured botted-up creative energy into a high-end graphic apparel brand I called N/O/D. It lived in the same cultural lane as Ed Hardy and sold for $80 a pop, but it was more personal, more expressive.
I knew the rules of printing, and N/O/D existed to blur them, to live in the space between mistake and authenticity, commentary and art. It taught me design discipline, production realities, and how style and identity collide.
I eventually headed to Boulder, CO to start Nod & Rose, with the panglossian Elizabeth Rose, the men's and women's clothing boutique and underground music and art venue. The original blueprint had a print shop in the back and plans to sell N/O/D alongside the designer brands we curated. But cost cutting efforts kept the dream at bay.
Over a decade later, I started N/O/D in hopes of bringing that vision to life, to turn my gifts into an honest day’s work. The blueprint is simple:
- Custom Apparel drives the train
- Creative Management builds meaningful experiences
- N/O/D Brands creates cultural impact through my creative outlet, engaging society through design, lifestyle, and storytelling
This is hands-on, human service. No bots. No templates. Just original work, for your brand, the community and my personal mission.
The Many Moons of N/O/D
- N/O/D – The designer label at the heart of NOD CORP. Original apparel, limited releases, and creative works that reflect Nod’s vision and collaborations—built for those who live with originality. Now building Town & County and Riot Gear.
- N/O/D CUSTOMS – Scalable screen printing and embroidery, delivering high-quality custom apparel for teams, businesses, non-profits, and community-driven projects.
- N/O/D MNGMT – Creative management and production for art, music, and events—supporting artists, bands, and communities through professional services and inspired collaboration.
Next Phases
N/O/D Shopworks – A creative workspace and community hub where it all comes together—part retail shop, part custom apparel factory, part coffee bar, part art gallery, and part music venue.
N/O/D Vintage – A curated collection of unique vintage clothing, blending timeless style with sustainable fashion and creative reworks of the originals.
N/O/D Brew – A coffee shop experience infused with N/O/D’s signature style, serving locally roasted coffee in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere—the perfect excuse to get together.
Summary
We believe in doing things the right way—not always the easy way. Whether it’s helping artists share their work, outfitting businesses and teams, or creating opportunities to connect and collaborate, N/O/D is about more than business—it’s about gratitude, purpose, and passion.
Let’s make something original, together.
Nod Norkus with The Hinges circa late 2000s, behind the kit, and wearing first edition N/O/D.