Gabe Grimm, owner and designer of BillBoy clothes has always been a stellar creative since a child. With parents as musicians, and being hands on for as long as he could remember, he has grown to creating a successful business of personally designed and individually crafted clothes. Gabe’s art form is a testimony in itself with raw, bold and personable designs that attract and inspire.
Gabe’s story started in California, resigning in a suburb of San Diego. His mother was a pianist, and father an opera singer so he was always pushed to be in the creative scene. Gabe was homeschooled until high school, and he had plenty of time on his hands. This often meant he was participating in many inquisitive outlets since a kid. “My old man always used to let me use his tools to build stuff. When you’re homeschooled you has so much time.” In high school he got really into basketball, and went to a private catholic school in Kansas to play. In college he found himself struggling and after a phone call with his mom she suggested that he start to draw again. From here, after a big move to Denver, Colorado for a better start he has hit nothing but success.
The clothing brand wasn’t much of a thought until COVID hit. He made one of his first pieces in quarantine, and then with that continued to try to build. This meant leaving his friends and family in California, for an opportunity to produce his products with higher quality. “The way I was making clothes wasn’t what I envisioned. I found a place to print for free. My cousin already lived here, and all the signs led to me saying yes.” This move really paid off. He built his entire set up by hand with a friend in his basement, and has the time carefully craft what he wants.
He has many inspirations for his work, all being classical and pre-modern day artists. From Norman Rockwell, to designer Austin Babbit he loves work that expresses exactly what they’re trying to convey. Every artist inspires him in a different way. When asked about his motivation for creating, he put it simply. “I guess I’d go insane. My parents always said I was always there to help when I was a kid. I got satisfaction from being hands on. There was a certain itch that got scratched when I did any creative outlet. I can’t stay still for too long.”
Through Gabe’s trials and tribulations, he’s learned many lessons. He pushes being creative and doing what you love for the sole purpose of doing it. As someone who’s had to sacrifice much for what he wanted to achieve, he wouldn’t envision life any other way. “Don’t do it because of money, do it because it makes you feel good.”
Gabe has barely touched the surface of his creative potential, and heavily pushes his purpose with his clothing. He stresses the beauty of undividedly reaching for your passions in life. “There’s material wealth, and there’s psychological wealth. You got a group of friends, you got a good family, and you’re not starving. Is there really anything to complain about? If you do this because it’s fun and worth struggling through, then you should do it. And If it doesn’t work out at least you had fun doing it.”