1.
How did you know you were ready for this business?
Well after I stopped playing basketball I wanted to focus on finishing school and getting my degree. That was something my parents always harped on, "Finish school first." Growing up my dad always had toys around, and anytime I would ask to drive one of his Ferraris or some other extravagant wish I had, he would always tell me, "Finish school first." And so that's what I did.
After graduating college I spent a lot of time actually designing apparel. I've always been into fashion, so when I stopped playing basketball it was like a shock how much free time I had. During that time I worked with my dad's tailor and designed various pieces. My thought process was none of the clothes I want to buy actually fit me correctly. So with him, I created my own versions of products I liked and focused on making garments that fit bigger, athletic bodies like mine while maintaining the flow and integrity of certain styles. I feel the fashion world and the sneaker culture are closer related than ever. Today it's commonplace to find someone wearing $1,500 denim with a pair of retro Js. Honestly, it's the right time for me. And I believe the culture will enjoy this concept.
Did your dad or people you know in the industry give you any advice before going into this new venture or was this something you wanted to jump in on your own?
Oh, of course. My dad and my mom are 100 percent behind me. I'm constantly reaching out to both of them. My brother Jeffrey works in Portland at the Nike headquarters for Jordan Brand now, and so we're always bouncing ideas off of each other or making sure we stay up to date on everything within the culture. My sister Jasmine works for the Hornets now and so we are all busy but keeping in touch.
2.
I have a few friends that currently own boutiques or brands whose opinions I value. They've been a huge help to me to in just being creative. Going back to my UCF days, in almost every class we had some sort of group project. I've treated this concept no differently. Working through problems and bouncing ideas off of the right people.
What would you say is an important skill to have when getting into the sneaker business?
I think it's important to be able to adapt on the move. Not only in the sneaker business, but in business in general. Especially in today's age, there's so many variables. There are so many outlets and sources that did not even exist 30 years ago. I think it's important to just be confident in your vision and always voice your opinion. Don't be afraid to ask questions or work through something until you fully understand it. Things happen in business and especially when dealing with human beings.
What's been the hardest part of getting this new project off the ground?
The biggest challenge, to me, is managing how high I set the bar for myself. My entire life, no matter what I've done, there's always been eyes watching. People create their own expectations of what I should be doing or how I should live my life. I'm excited to step into the sneaker boutique business and I know that there's this expectation of excellence with anything a Jordan does. That bar is the low bar for what I actually expect of myself. That's why I can't wait to share this concept with the world. I truly feel people will gravitate towards it.