Today we’d like to introduce you to D’Angelo Smith.
Hi D’Angelo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I got my start watching a friend of mine, Marvin, have his own clothing brand. His brand, Clothes, was really instrumental in me making the decision to get into my own line.
I was sitting at work and I kept thinking about the phrase “always us, never them.” Everybody I saw with that shirt on, I felt it looked cheesy. Great statement but the shirt didn’t capture attention further than that. I ended up sketching some ideas down and settled on NVRTHM, to make it simple and it just blossomed from there.
I got in contact with Marvin and he gave me a wealth of information on how he started. I was already fluent in Photoshop, Illustrator, Bootstrap, and other designing apps, so it was just a matter of me sitting down and fleshing out ideas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been smoother than I thought however the struggle is in the marketing for me.
It’s tough being a start-up brand. There’s a connection that has to be made with the people even if your brand is something simple to explain.
Personally, I’m an introvert so getting out of my comfort zone to let people know that “hey I am my own clothier and I have my own brand” is eye-opening for me. The reaction I get when people see my work is always positive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m probably a born creative. I am known in some circles for being a producer with my Brothers, The Machine. I have produced for the likes of Yo Gotti, Don Trip, and a host of upcoming Memphis rappers from the 2010s.
I was always known as the quiet, fly one of the crew. That’s what led me into this world of starting my own brand. I’ve always been told I had the best swag in my crew, so why not start something that represents me? The exclusivity of having my own brand is what makes me proud.
Having something and being able to say that it’s mine is really rewarding.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson that I’m learning is to not be so humble.
If I’m trying to get to a place where the lead designer brands are I have to be prepared to speak and act as if my brand is already bigger than everyone else’s.
So I have to keep putting it out there that NVRTHM is the move, whether you like it or not.
Pricing:
- 25.00 Inaugural Collection
- 30.00 Special edition shirts
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nvrthm.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/nvrthm
- Facebook: facebook.com/nvrthmmphs
- Twitter: twitter.com/nvrthmmphs
Image Credits
Kayla Chevis
