Celebrity contractor and designer Eric Eremita, who has previously appeared on more that 70 episodes of home improvement network HGTV’s Love it or List It and Brother vs Brother, has launched his own line of fashion called “THIRTEEN by Eric Eremita,” combining his inventive background and talent in interior design, and innovative building dexterity with his primal love of fashion. Eremita sat down with NYC Tastemakers to talk about what this fashion line means to him, the significance of the line’s name, and his future projects.
Eremita, who describes himself as a “very artistic guy,” said that his passion for design and contracting came from a young age.
“It’s just from… being a kid,” said Eremita in an interview, “paper and pencil, and constantly drawing, and being creative. Once it started with that, and me getting pushed into the home business, the design business, I took my talents and brought them into homes.”
As he worked, Eremita noticed that he had always been desirous of becoming involved in the fashion industry as a compliment to his work in interior design, telling himself that “it’s never too late” to pursue suppressed career endeavors.
“If you could design a home, you could design anything,” he said about his newfound involvement in the fashion industry. “If you’re a designer, you can design anything.”
Eremita brands THIRTEEN as a platform that provides “cool clothes for cool people.” His line encompasses everything from sportswear to t-shirts to suits, fitting all styles, genders, ages, body types, and aspects of life – a line with versatility that can accommodate any occasion.
In terms of the significance of the brand name, Eremita chose the number 13 because it is one that is as recurring in his life as it is meaningful.
“THIRTEEN really got started because my [wedding] anniversary is on Feb. 13,” he said. “When I was on the television shows, I carried a tape measure and I wound up taking a Sharpie and writing a red heart with the number 13 inside the logo, just to say hello to family. I wounded up, basically, branding myself. So, when I wanted to start the company up, I went back and forth with a few names, but really didn’t have to look very far because I decided to name the company THIRTEEN.”
Also, coincidentally, the brand name THIRTEEN, Eremita noted, includes his initials “EE,” which he highlights in his logo with a different color depending on the apparel item.
Similar to many people, Eremita contracted COVID-19 in late March and spent 30 days hospitalized, of which two weeks were spent on a ventilator – usually a negative sign in COVID recovery. After that time, doctors approached Eremita’s wife to tell her that he “wasn’t going to make it.”
On April 13 (4/13), 2020, however, Eremita woke up from his coma. And ironically, aside from his apparel company being named THIRTEEN, when Eremita was putting together his clothesline September 2019, he designed a t-shirt that said “4:13” within a heart logo.
“This had nothing to do with the brand,” he said. “It’s just a number that follows me around.”
So much so, that when he got his company trademarked this year, it was approved on April 13. Later during the interview, the author of this article was able to find herself relating to his connection to 4/13, solidifying his spiritual bond to the number.
Eremita found himself questioning whether his connection to the number is a coincidence or a form of divine intervention because the number just “keeps popping up” on him.
Despite the fact that he moved away from Love it or List it last season to pursue his own shows and endeavors, fashion was what it took for Eremita to realize his connection to a number many consider unlucky.
“There are definitely some works on the horizon in the lifestyle and home improvement, renovation, and design fields,” said Eremita about endeavors he plans on pursuing in the future, “so I’m not going anywhere.”
To stay updated on Eremita’s upcoming projects, fans and followers can find him on his personal Instagram and Twitter. To shop THIRTEEN by Eric Eremita, visit this link.
