Vintage clothing and Web3 merge with MNTGE – COOL HUNTING® | Popgen Tech

As the line between the physical and digital cultural landscape continues to blur, vintage clothing has entered the fray with a new venture co-founded by Round Two Vintage designer and creator Sean Wotherspoon and visionaries Nick Adler and Brennan Russo. MNTGE (pronounced “mint”), their new web3 project, combines the excitement and creativity of web3 with the premium quality and history of the vintage market. MNTGE aims to bridge the gap between the world of vintage clothing and the web3 by creating a global platform for enthusiasts to engage in conversation, meet industry leaders and claim ongoing opportunities, drops and releases. Waiting for a priority pass means access to designer collection sales and the future MNTGE market.

We caught up with the MNTGE founding team ahead of their highly anticipated mint launch to talk vintage and web3, and what to expect from the trio’s new project.

How did the idea for MNTGE come about?

Nick Adler: It all started for me when I walked into Sean’s retail store, Round Two, during the pandemic. As we know the pandemic was hard for everyone but so many kids and customers bought these vintage t-shirts from his shop. Snoop Dogg T-shirts, Led Zeppelin, whatever. I asked Sean how much one of these t-shirts would sell for and he said, “Easily around $2k, they’ll be gone by the end of the day.” I was surprised when he said this, but he proceeded to explain to me why it was so expensive and what details and history on the t-shirt made it worth $2k – the fading over the years, the content of the image on the t-shirt, the brand name of the t-shirt – all of these components provide value and validity.

Then a light bulb went off in my head and I thought, “It would be incredible if we could somehow combine the coveted vintage with the digital to make something completely new and different.” Shawn, Brennan and I have all worked together in one capacity or another in the past and were aware of each other’s work in the fashion and talent industry. As the idea continued over time between the three of us, we decided to go for it. That was a year and a half ago, and here we are now, launching MNTGE.

You are working with one of the leading experts in vintage new clothing. How do you make vintage web3 relevant?

Brennan Russo: Through MNTGE and collaboration, we are taking traditional fashion, art and design to a new level. We combine vintage clothing with visionaries like Sean and his knowledge of fashion and culture from web3 to create a whole new creative experience for the consumer through the clothing itself. For us, it’s a means to collaborate and connect with consumers in both the physical and digital worlds.

What benefits can owners expect? Will Sean give up on future NFTs? Will this token get access to any of his web2 projects?

BR: MNTGE Pass is a membership pass for our community. MNTGE gives season ticket holders opportunities to interact with fashion history, cultural gems and rare collectibles that would otherwise be impossible for most people to own, wear or experience. This pass gives priority access to our designer collections and the upcoming MNTGE market.

How did you decide it was time for a fashion project?

NA: The financial market cannot be predicted or controlled, but conviction and confidence in an idea is possible. We feel very strongly about the value this project can bring to the masses. Vintage is also one of the fastest growing sectors in the fashion industry today. It offers buyers and collectors the perfect combination of unique style, collectability, heritage and sustainability – so we wanted to tap into that and bring our ideas to life.

What was the biggest difference between working with something like this and something more traditional?

BR: Integrating blockchain into anything can make the process longer, but it’s worth it. We’ve seen that creating art in this way allows people to assert true ownership of their assets, and that’s something we see across many industries.

Can we get an inside scoop for our readers on what’s to come?

NA: We think a lot about pop-ups, where we ask ourselves, “How can we create a real-life experience that is directly connected to the digital space?” We are a brand first. We’ve created a very strong visual impact for this and plan to include some of the coolest fashion technology you may have seen — or maybe never seen — before.

You don’t have to be a tech whiz to appreciate what web3 can do for your life

What do you hope the fashion and web3 communities will take away from this project?

Sean Wotherspoon: Accessible web3 connectivity in a new perspective, whether you’re already a web3 native or come from the world of vintage or fashion. The two are deeply connected, and you don’t have to be a tech whiz to appreciate what web3 can do for your life. You can be a normal person and you can wear your denim jacket and you can wear it in web3. It’s super affordable for me.

Hero image courtesy of MNTGE