My name is Rene Gagnon. I am a street and fine artist from Massachusetts, USA. In 2008 I created a series of street installations and a body of paintings that were exhibited in a solo art exhibit entitled, HOOD.

I had been approached by two hooded figures one night while walking to my truck and my guard went up. As they got closer and removed their hoods I saw that it was two very innocent looking girls. I thought it was fascinating how I reacted with fear because I couldn't see their faces. So, I wanted to play with the concept of how we react to people when we can't see their face under a hood.

During the creative process the 'hooded' concept evolved. I began to brand what the girls were wearing with an aptly named clothing line I called, HOOD. The HOOD brand was purely fictitious at that time. I would digitize and hand stencil the HOOD branding into all of the various works I produced for the street and gallery.

The idea of making the brand real appealed to me but at that time, but due to time and money constraints, I couldn't bring the HOOD brand to life. In November 2011, with major prodding and help from my daughter and co-owner Samantha (one of the 'HOOD' girls featured in many of the original works) the HOOD brand breathes life.

This is a home grown business delivered from our HOOD to your HOOD. All of the shirts are completely hand created by us. The label sewing, the graphic design and application, tagging, custom painted packaging, the works. The same principals I have have prided myself on for over 10 years selling my fine art have been applied to this venture.

Thank you for visiting our HOOD.

Rene & Sam

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