About Us
Founder-Nathan James
This clothing brand is more than just fashion—it's a deeply personal journey. I’m a 1st generation American with Caribbean roots running deep through both sides of my family. My mother, born in England to parents from Guyana and Barbados, and my father from Grenada, shaped my identity in ways I’m still discovering. Raised in a single-parent household, I grew up without my father in my life. As a child, I internalized the harmful stereotypes pushed by society and the media—especially the idea that "Black boys without fathers are more likely to end up as criminals." These toxic messages made me question my worth and hate the skin I was in.
It wasn’t just the media that shaped my insecurities—it was also the silence and stigma within the Black community itself. Being Black and queer, I was made to feel like I had to hide parts of myself, convinced that I couldn’t fully exist in either world without judgment or rejection. I also struggled with my mental health and being neurodivergent, feeling the weight of stereotypes that said Black people didn’t need therapy, that we were supposed to be strong and endure without complaint. I believed that seeking help, asking for accommodations, or even acknowledging my struggles would make me seem weak or somehow less than others.
These beliefs stunted my emotional growth, kept me from understanding and expressing my emotions, and held me back from getting the support I needed. The shame, guilt, miseducation, and stigma—not just from outside the Black community but also within—made it nearly impossible to be my authentic self. I lived in fear of how I’d be perceived, worried that embracing my full identity would mean losing the love and acceptance I so desperately sought.
But through years of self-reflection and growth, I began to dismantle those lies. I fought to reclaim my identity, embracing not just my Blackness but also my queerness and neurodivergence. These are parts of me that I once struggled with but have come to understand as sources of strength and pride. My Black skin is not a flaw; it’s a mark of resilience. My queerness and neurodivergence aren't things to hide; they’re what make me uniquely powerful.
Creating this brand was an act of defiance, a way to push back against the narratives that tried to define me. It’s about more than clothes—it’s about rewriting the story of who we are and who we can be. Every piece in this collection is a statement of pride, a reminder that we are enough just as we are.
This brand is my way of saying: I see you, I understand you, and we’re in this together.
More than what you perceive
The Brand:
The media is such a powerful industry right? It uses the power of images and stories to convey things. They can influence the thoughts and feelings of society. They can create narratives that either unify or divide. Sometimes the narratives they create dehumanize individuals and communities. It causes others to be fearful and assuming. The media has the tools, content, and stories to define how we perceive others. Some don't even need the media for that. Their upbringing taught them to create narratives of people they don't know.
Over the years, the collection of stereotypical/objectifying/negative narratives placed on and within MARGINALIZED communities have dominated the mainstream. The media fetishizes our pain and stereotypes. Our joy or success doesn't fit the narrative. this brands mission is to challenge these perceptions, stereotypes, narratives that have been circling our communities. No longer will we allow the media and people to write our narrative.
Our Values:
1). Community-We don't want this to just be a clothing brand. We want this to be a community, a safe space, and a family.
2). Ambition-We won't dream small as long as you don't. It's time to stop limiting ourselves.
3). Supportive-We are a black owned business and support other black owned businesses. No more tearing each other down. It's time to build one another up.
4). Contribute-We will contribute to DBIE work, shifting perspectives, and tearing down racism/bigotry within the media and communities.
