Sloan Brown’s Indie Art Brand Rookie Made Is ‘Inspired by Bad Ideas’

Designer, sign painter and digital illustrator Sloan Brown has an eclectic portfolio of hand-painted and hand-sewn objects. Owner of Rookie Made, a An independent art brand based in Toronto, the designer’s work includes custom zodiac basketball jerseys, graphic tapestries, and handmade felt banners, all inspired by her love of typography and sports subculture. Using materials ranging from “one-shot enamel paint to felt and wool-blend textiles,” Sloan applies her multidisciplinary skills in branding, craft, and design to the trials of her crafts. “Most of my projects end up in the trash or at Value Village, so I’m very sentimental about the art that works the way I imagined it would… Everything else is left on the curb for my neighbors to pick up,” she tells us.

After working for years as a freelance digital illustrator for agencies, sportswear brands, and independent boutiques, Sloan reconnected with a range of analog processes in her practice for her own independent shop. “I learned to sew and started painting on objects like toolboxes, toilet seats, and light switches to experiment,” she says. Launching her traditional sign painting company in 2021, she’s created a variety of signage that blends the traditions of enamel painting with her modern, sporty visuals—a graphic style that blends into her prints and soft textiles. For all of her creative endeavors, Sloan draws heavily from “what’s on my friends’ shelves, stage design, and vintage knickknacks.”