Tucked in among the dirt and gravel piles at the Buellflat Rock plant on the eastern edge of Solvang is a small workshop where two Valley natives, Ian Palmer and Bryan Petersen, are trying to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true.

Although 10 and 22 were their jersey numbers when they played football together at Santa Ynez High School, the two young entrepreneurs said it’s coincidence that they chose those numbers as the name for the line of sports clothing they’re developing: Ten22.

Right now the business exists only on their Web site, www.ten22ride.com, where customers can place online orders for T shirts and posters.

However, they have a clear vision for their new venture.

“In five years we want to be in a thousand stores with our quality line of cut-and-sew products like tanks, T-shirts, and shorts for skaters that emphasize the young and active lifestyle,” Petersen said.

“We’re trying to focus on a quality clothing product; that’s why we came back here to the Valley. We wanted to be in this great area and to be able to work together to do a good job” he added.

Palmer and Petersen, both 26, have renewed a friendship that began when they were growing up in the Santa Ynez Valley. Although they knew each other as rivals through their participation in the Youth Football League and other local sports activities, they didn’t develop a friendship until both attended Santa Ynez High School.

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While there, they not only played football on the same team, but they also produced videos together that both found funny.

After graduation in 2001, Palmer attended college in Moorpark, Santa Barbara City College and Cuesta College, ultimately earning a BA in media arts from Chico State.

Petersen also left the Valley to continue his education, attending College of the Redwoods in Northern California. Then he moved to Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles, and took a job at Huntington Surf & Sport, a large clothing retailer.

It was there that he got some training in sales and developed the ideas that grew into the Ten22 clothing line.

Palmer brought his media arts degree back to the Valley and began building a business in videography, taping weddings, local horse events, and activities in the wine industry.

“I’ve even been hired by a local restaurant to produce a short film on how to make an aebleskiver,” Palmer said.

Once back in the Valley and talking about their individual projects, the pair realized that they shared an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire for creative outlets for their talents.

So, while continuing individual projects, they’ve combined efforts to promote the Ten22 clothing line and seek investors. Palmer is continuing his work as a videographer and Petersen has expanded his silk-screening business.

In October, they promoted their “coming out” with the unveiling of their company’s Web site, www.ten22ride.com. For more information, call Palmer at (805) 231-8441.

November 20, 2008