CREATIVE COLLAB: DOLAN GEIMAN

With it being such a monumental birthday for America this summer, we really wanted Nu Patriot to be a comprehensive homage to not only the country, but all the important elements of its history. We knew artist Dolan Geiman was the man for the job.

“This is our second time collaborating with Dolan,” Cheryl said. “We worked with him previously on Desert Desperados and he’s the artist behind our Senorita Dakoda that was so popular from that collection. For the Nu Patriot collection, we wanted to include as many icons of Americana as we possibly could, so Dolan’s signature collage style was a perfect fit for making that work in a way that didn’t feel cluttered or crowded, we didn’t want it to come across forced. His work speaks for itself, obviously, and he’s just really wonderful to work with.”

We touched base with Dolan for a quick Q&A about what he’s been up to lately, his inspiration for these designs, and how this collab differed from our first one.

Q: What's new with you since the last time we spoke?

DG: It has been a whirlwind of high-energy creative momentum! After a lot of focused art making time during the winter months, I’ve been back on the road for art fair season. There is nothing quite like the energy of standing in a town square and talking to collectors face-to-face — it’s the best creative fuel I know.

Lately, I’ve been pushing the boundaries of scale and obsessive repetition in the studio. In pieces like All Hat, No Horse, I’m hand-cutting hundreds of individual figures to create massive, teeming landscapes where the story isn't just in a single character, but in the collective weight of a thousand stories. I’m digging deeper than ever into my vault of 1940s ephemera, vintage maps, and forgotten poetry to find those 'ghost narratives' of the American West.

I am essentially a modern-day scavenger, weaving these fragments of history into cohesive patchworks that feel as identifiable as a signature textile. I’ve hit a stride where the history of the land and the grit of the studio are perfectly in sync, creating works that invite people to look a little closer and get lost in the details.

Q: This is our second collaboration with you. How did this experience differ from the collab on Desert Desperados?

DG: This second collaboration felt like a deeper creative synergy. For Nu Patriot, the Double D team provided a high-concept visual roadmap from the jump. Having that clear thematic direction allowed me to dive into my archives with a specific purpose. I was able to curate a visual lexicon of images and historical fragments that spoke directly to the Americana story you wanted to tell. It wasn't just two brands working side-by-side; it was a true meeting of the minds where your vision provided the spark, and my studio provided the raw materiality to bring it to life.

Q: What was your inspiration for creating these custom prints for Nu Patriot?

DG: I was inspired by the 'Patchwork of America'—the idea that our foundation is built from thousands of individual stories and icons. I wanted this print to feel like a journey north to south and east to west, where every look reveals a new hidden gem or a bit of forgotten poetry. It’s a celebration of the American timeline, reimagined through the tactile, 'head, heart, and hand' process that defines everything we do in the studio.

Q: We obviously have a tremendous amount of admiration for your art. What's it like for you to see it transformed into garments?

DG: I always love seeing my artwork experienced in new ways. Art and fashion have been integral partners since the beginning of time, and to have my work displayed and integrated into these clothing collections is truly an exciting creative celebration.

Q: This collection is heavily patriotic-themed. What "easter eggs" of Americana did you feel were important to work into the print?

DG: I wanted to make sure to get the Statue of Liberty in there; When I was a kid, I remember these paper book covers that the elementary school supplied to us, and we used to cover our books with those – that was hundreds of years ago (haha) – but I remember those book covers were always emblazoned with the coolest vintage Americana prints, specifically the Statue of Liberty and lots of stars. I think seeing these emblems and icons early on made me want to explore the motifs we use to tell a larger story. The Statue of Liberty was part of this early story for me, and I knew I had to weave her in.

Q: Finally, one of our favorite things to ask everyone we interview: do you have a life motto or mantra? (Or if you have an intentional "word", that works, too!)

DG: I have many mantras and mottos, one for every day of the year, but my favorite has always been “Carpe Diem, Baby!”

You can learn more about Dolan and check out more of his work at DolanGeiman.com or follow him on Instagram, @dolangeiman.