I am excited to announce this weekend’s Grand Opening of The Classic Georgia Store at Matre Gallery!
I co-founded Classic Georgia in 2012 with my good friend and proud Georgian Jason Payne of Athens. Our name came from a series of my photographs from around the state, and we wanted to create a company that captured the great spirit of our state in much the same way that I had been trying to do with a camera. In early 2015, we partnered with Peach State Pride to produce and distribute a line of our apparel, featured now in over sixty retail stores across the state.
While Classic Georgia is still in its infancy, it occupies my interest just as much as the gallery, my photography and making Plaid Columns paintings with Evan Jones. Since my photography and art are integral to our designs, the decision to open our first Classic Georgia store inside Matre Gallery came naturally. The boutique occupies its own dedicated space, and is a nice compliment to exhibitions in the main gallery.
We are thrilled to also offer apparel by Peach State Pride, Bald Head Blues and The Bitter Southerner in The Classic Georgia Store, all independent brands that honor the south, each in their own unique fashion. We are also collaborating with the estate of Lewis Grizzard to produce merchandise that celebrates his legacy.
We hope you will visit us during our Grand Opening Weekend, and return often in the future.
-Rob Matre
Very cool. Grizzard is one of my favorite writers. I named a room after him at the Club.