Lawrence & Larimer is located at 3225 E. Colfax Ave and at www.lawrenceandlarimer.com
Lawrence & Larimer (LAW&LAR or L&L) - located at 3225 E. Colfax Avenue - is owned and operated by the incomparable Denver native duo John (JC) and Keonna Chapman. An endeavor that began in 2015 in a 150-square foot co-op space at 27th & Lawrence (Laundry on Lawrence) has become a harbinger of style, community, and hope on Colfax. They quickly grew their brand from reimagined funky thrift store finds to launching their own collection, THE MVMNT.
After leaving Laundry on Lawrence, they hosted a series of pop-ups. They partnered with Goorin Bros. in Larimer Square where they sold their creations on rolling racks in front of the store. They participated in fashion shows on 16th Street Mall with other Denver designers, shops and boutiques and at the DCPA with Next Stage Now. Customers clamored for more LAW&LAR creations. It became obvious Keonna and JC needed a brick-and-mortar establishment to get serious about their brand.
““Get comfortable being uncomfortable with your history, so that you can become the change we all wish to see.” - LAW&LAR”
Keonna began scoping for the perfect location. Drawn to the Bluebird District, she noticed the space at 3229 E. Colfax with its adorable blue storefront and amazing foot traffic. Next door to Denver Biscuit Company, another Bluebird/South City Park jewel, people waited on the sidewalk to be sat and Keonna thought “those could all be customers.” Their previous location was ‘buzz-in only,’ a situation hardly ideal for foot traffic. After several trips passed the 3229 E. Colfax location, Keonna knew. She began speaking to the universe to make it happen.
Then it did. A friend of L&L, Eli Cox from Berkeley Supply, contacted John and Keonna. He informed them their dream spot on Colfax - with it’s adorable blue storefront and ABC brunchers - was coming available. The space once housed ism gallery operated by Denver artist Craig Thomas, then briefly occupied Cox and his goods. Keonna told JC, “Do whatever the @#$% you need to do to get that space.” JC says it was a coincidence of “right time, right place.” Keonna says it was her mad manifestation skills. Either way, it was time to take their business seriously.
JC and Keonna moved to Colfax and opened their doors with their first collection, Rebels in Paradise. They outsourced their screen printing, an uneconomical decision they quickly realized and remedied. John sought his own screen printing machine, partnered with SE Shirts & Hoodies, and now produces everything in-house. Lawrence & Larimer now offers screenprinting to the public. Per their website, “we’re here to help you stand out amongst the crowd.”
In late 2019 into early 2020, Keonna and John moved into the larger space at 3225 E. Colfax, formerly Little Lula Rose. Now in a bigger space, they could do more of the community support that the LAW&LAR brand tauts. They held Wednesday Workdays, opening their space to remote workers to set up and hang out for the day. On Thursday’s, LAW&LAR hosted group therapy sessions with a licensed therapist. “Mental health and simply having a therapist is viewed as a negative, especially in the Black community. I wanted to show that it’s OK to have a therapist, to have feelings, and it’s OK to talk about them,” said Keonna.
Another community building event held at LAW&LAR is their CWA workshop (Candles With Attitude). For $40 each, customers receive a candle container, the use of fragrances, hors d'oeuvres and mimosas. It brought the community together for fun and camaraderie, plus an awesome hand-made candle. Check out their events page as the world starts to open back up for future events.
Then, 2020 happened. Keonna and JC touched down in Denver after a European trip two days before the covid lockdown. As if traveling wasn’t worrisome enough, they had a retail business that depended on in-store customers. Pre-covid, LAW&LAR’s online business garnered about 10% of the store's overall sales. They started a push towards online sales, driven by loyal customers, artist collaboration and social media. In a short time, LAW&LAR’s onlines sales soared 730%. “It was our partnerships that kept us in business during the worst of covid. Our partnerships were everything,” said Keonna.
During the 2020 protests after the death of George Floyd, JC with the help of L&L friend Eli Cox, worked nonstop for three days to produce 400-500 Beat All Odds t-shirts, all donated to anyone who wanted one. Cash donations were accepted that were in turn donated to the Colorado Bail Fund for jailed protestors.
In August 2020, John and son Britton traveled to Milwaukee where they were the subjects of a five-story mural on the Noble Senior Living building, formerly known as the Lamplight Inn of West Allis, by Denver muralist Detour (@Detour303). Red Bull, a sponsor of Detour’s art, held a free Beat All Odds MKE t-shirt giveaway in front of the building to celebrate the mural.
New collections are introduced about every three months, a timeline where “the world changes and something happens,” Keonna explains. Lawrence & Larimer’s collection - called THE MVMNT - are historically- and socially-based, earning a moniker of “educators through style.” Their website professes this sentiment perfectly: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable with your history, so that you can become the change we all wish to see.”
The Spring 2021 collection, due out anytime, goes ‘back to the basics’, styling their loyal followers in jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies - simple, but stylish pieces to work into existing wardrobes. Currently, John and Keonna are working on a “Back to School” for kids that will include hoodies, backpacks, jackets, and t-shirts.
The LAW&LAR space is rentable to the community; they’ve hosted music festivals, tequila tastings, graduation parties, wedding receptions - the sky's the limit for this beautiful space. Contact JC and Keonna for details and pricing.
Follow LAW&LAR on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to see all the good they are doing for the community. Visit them for in-store browsing where you may see Britton (DJ Dopewave - @djdopewave) spinning or online at www.lawrenceandlarimer.com. Whatever you do, visit and support.
