Telfar Clemens On Opening His First Store in NYC, Fostering His Own Lane In Fashion, & More

Oh my god, Tell par Cleves is.

Here today, New York High Book.

Happy Angie Martina's day.

Yo, there should be a Tell far day also.

That's what I mean. I want to get there to that.

You will you already on your way?

Yeah? Maybe the store opening will be the marking of that new era.

Yes, I love that. Let let's let's bring people up to speed.

Number one is Andree Martinez Day because I got the city, the key to the City of New York on this day. However, many years ago, right right, which I didn't even know, Angelauie made.

A big deal about it, and all of a sudden it came back to life today. So I didn't even I didn't know today was ala. I didn't know today was Agie Martinez Day.

So she's so happy to be here on this day.

But now so. Telfar also is from New York.

Left Rax City, Left any Home, nor Riega, and many others from left fright.

James is it James Harden.

Is James Harden from left Frock?

Okay, all right, myself, well yourself, you know, so he is from New York, so it is not crazy that he too, would at some point get the key to the city, which I think should happen soon.

My naval string is here, so I'll take I'll take any keys.

Naval string is here, string is here.

My mom says, when your naval string is buried somewhere, that means that's where you're from.

That's where you're from. Did you grow You grew up in Left Fright.

I was born in Left Freck City. I was raised a little bit in Liberia, West Africa. Got it a little bit in Maryland, DC, Virginia.

Oh, you gotta taste all the world.

Yeah, And I travel all over if you know my you know Instagram Global. Yes, I take on a different different places that I like and I try to you know.

Yeah, but where the roots? The roots? Like you started them at fifteen?

Right?

So I started my company at fifteen.

And where were you then?

I was in Maryland at that time.

What were you doing there?

High school?

High school? Did you wind up there?

My family they all, you know, like they're from Liberia. So in nineteen ninety the war happened, you know, the Liberian Civil War. So we came back to Left Frek City where I was born, and I was living in my aunt's apartment, the same apartment that we live in now. And yeah, the neighborhood was really bad.

You know.

She had three kids and she was good about to have another one. And it seems like all the Liberians migrated to DC, Maryland, d C, Virginia, mostly Maryland, you know, so like basically growing up, everybody was Liberian. You know, like at least anybody I can hang out with because they were like, no, you can't, you can't, you can't, you can't. They're like our day Liberian. Then you can go over to their house. It's like very much. It's those are the rules, you know, that's.

How you grew up.

So then when when the fashion come, I'm sure you've told story before, but I just want to get my background on you.

I've always been interested in fashion. I never was trained, you know. I would basically take apart clothes and cut up people's jeans in middle school, in high school, and that's how I made my own money. And then when I ended up like figuring out what I wanted to maybe do, which was just moved back to New York because I kind of was just over Maryland and I just wanted to be in the city again, Like what I kind of remembered from like young.

Yeah.

So when I moved back, the first job that I ever had was like, you know, the same thing. I had made all these clothes like going into the summer of like senior year. So I started selling them on the Spring Street in Soho and people were buying like these Bob Marley T shirts that I had caught up from like you know, you should, yeah.

I mean, and bring them to the store.

You hear that. You hear that. We gonna have other T shirts though, lots of other T shirts. That's the shirt.

Bob Marley collaboration in honor of how you started.

And you know what I'm saying.

You know, I spoke we every day, so in honor of the marijuana that you smoke every day.

That I'm so excited for you though.

This has really come a long way, and you have been cooking for a significant amount of time.

This is my twentieth year and oh my god, you know, on the eve of the twentieth anniversary.

But it didn't cook out the gate right.

No, no, no, no, I've been like you know, kind of like fostering my own lane. You know, I didn't play by all the roles that you know, I'm an independent designer. This company is self funded, self funded, lots of hard nights, both like you know, doing other things because I used to be a DJ before actually not always kind of like to support any job that I've ever had, was to support this effort and doing this business, you know.

So that's inspiring because there's people that have like ideas or dreams or things they can't get out of a head of seed and they just can't get it off the ground. And the part of it is like you have to believe so deep, yeah, that it's like the center of your soul.

And that's the thing, you know, I have to sacrifice a lot, you know, I'm a Unisex brand. It's like, you know, whether you bought it or not or could understand what it was about, it's like it it had a story that nobody else is told. And it's not really like a thing that fashion was aspiring to be, you know, like you know Unisex, you know, a black

So why did you believe so much. Why did you know?

I mean, the clothes that I liked didn't exist. You know. It's like I had to look everywhere for the kind of things that I wanted or the things that were labeled that I could wear, you know, because I'm like, you know, I wanted to crop baby tea from like you know, Calvin Kleine, you know, or like to be able to wear things in a women's section and like be able to mix all that up and that's my style.

I thought it was interesting that because so many brands are like shying away from brick and mortar and they're just going online.

I like loitering, you know, loitering.

Your glasses are recording.

Right now?

You're on TV.

Shut up? Hello? Tell for TV.

Folks, Yes, say what's up?

Hi guys? So what are they seeing?

You know, so they see me?

You know.

Most of it is like aesthetic and then I record each day of my life. Yeah, so you see like each day of my life, you know, kind of like we cut in between it. It kind of goes back to this public access station that is a part of the brand, you know, because we like to talk to people directly.

I love that.

You know.

Did you used to watch those crazy old public access TV shows in New York?

Oh my god, Robins legendary? What happened to her?

I shout out to Robin Bird. I've seen her because you know, I've seen her on Fire and Beautiful Woman, Great job, Wild shout out to you for that TV. It's like you would actually see you would see all the things, you know, I hear all the things, and that was just on regular TV, you know what I mean. And I really want to get back to that kind of essence of being. It's like everybody could.

Be free being whoever you are.

And that's like that's what our customers are.

You know.

It's like a lot. It's like we are on the Internet brand.

You know.

It's like I still don't have it.

Did I just stell your glasses?

No?

Okay, no, I love this view. It's like they can see yeah. Yeah, it's like, you know, we go in between things.

I love this, I love this, I love this for you. Uh so we're going to see this when this is is not live, is.

Not live not yet technology for that Okay.

So you try to do everything right, you like, want to do content and do the store.

Right for me, ig the things that seem right for I met you.

You have ideas that are so wild that people would never even think about, like you probably.

Like a or no, you know, like but also too, there's a lot of room in what I'm doing right now to build That's what I mean. It's like a collaboration between people. It's not about me, you know what I mean. It's like about what happens with what we do, you know, together, and that's like the precipitation of I think, like how things are going to work at least I hope you know. Yeah, yeah, But it's like it's not about me.

You know.

What is the tell Far brand?

Like the tell Far somebody my name, that's my government name, te f clements is not.

But what does it represent?

First and foremost where it started? It represents me. Ever, event represents the people that are that build the brand, that are within the community. That's the t e l fa ar the capital one, you know, not the person, and then it means like the world you know, and kind of like you know, the things that I make, you know, like are made for people that kind of didn't exist before. And it's like, you know, people identify

You know.

It's like I've heard all different kinds of things. It's like when I put something out, there's like nothing but like on my Instagram just hate from here there, you know, like who's gonna wear this? You know, like that's not for me. So it's like I've heard everything and still persisted to do the thing that made sense for me.

You know, when did you know?

Because you had it all these years, it didn't take off right away. When did you have the moment like oh shit, here we shit.

I still don't know. No, I mean I'm going to open a store, which is a different life. I feel like, you know, being able to do things in person. Yeah, and you know, the world's unpredictable. You know, it's like and I just know that, you know, believing in what I've been doing and the hard work that my team's been like putting in to do this thing that is going to work out.

But you know, you don't feel like you've had success, Like I just don't look at it like that.

I feel like, you know, it could be you know, people can categorize that as like money. People can categorize that as like fame. It's like I kind of want to be.

Really really really like in tuned and proud and in control of like the type of work I do, how I do it when it comes out, you know.

So it's like almost been divorcing myself from the fashion industry. I don't really consider myself like how do they treat you? I don't know how to hang out with them that much.

But so you don't have you don't go to none of those like are you at the.

I played the game for a hot second and.

When you show up, like how do they treat you? Do they treat you?

Let's say, what's up.

Did they treat you like one of their own? Or they treat you like an outsider?

No?

I think like people are sweet when they're in your face, you know what I mean. And I know all of that. You know what I mean. And I know what my purpose was in that whole sphere of certain things. You know, like I don't I didn't need to prove myself to anyone, you know, like when I want the CFDA Award and different things. But it brought this level of esteem to this brand that I was like, also too, I was like, thank you, but also too, I don't really need that

You know, it's like this, yes, yes, yesterday, Yes, I saw her yesterday.

To adapt her as my daughter.

Oh yeah, yeah, she said, she's looking Yeah, it was tax break. She said she was looking for a mom she was forced to child. She's like, and she thinks that I would be the perfect mom for her.

I think you would be a perfect mom for her. She would be the perfect daughter.

She would adore.

She's so sweet, so sweet. And when she made that song, I remember writing her on Instagram and I was like, Yo, what's this song? Send it to us. She was like, no, you might have to wait. I was like wait, wait, like you know what I mean. And she dropped it when she wanted to drop it, and it just kept building up this momentum of like, you know, and you know, introduced a whole other set of people to was it. Was it tealthy, that's my telfie. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and

And you didn't know what was coming.

It's like a surprise. I didn't know what's coming. I keep up, you know, I keep up.

Wait a minute, you're in a bunch of songs. Where's the list? Like it's in the bag? Hold on, I'm gonna I'm gonna see if you know these?

Do you know?

Do you know?

All?

Yeah? I know?

I better everything.

So these are tell far bars, so far bars, tell far bars or bars by tel far okays, so elegant everyone che uh huh this whole coutour. I'm flaunting this tell far bag and ported Okay, I know that burkens them ships and story to get that. That is Beyonce Summer Renaissance. All right, here's another lyric for you. They playing right along. They ain't talking on the phone. We got tell far bags. What's your taste level on?

Oh wait, that's a baby cue baby?

Oh god, here goes another one. Don't you gotta get this one right? It's the good guy mixed with the American pimp ship. I got burke and money, but the tell far carry different. But what's your taste level on?

Huh, nas.

Queen.

You had to get that right, you know what I mean? That's good?

Okay, we got more. You're like on fire here semi automatic? How she busted when Nicole call of duty shooter? Keep it in the tell far what semi automatic? How she busted when a call Okay, okay, duty shooter, keep it in the tel far I bought her.

I don't.

Guess you way okay, because she has a whole video too, and the video that's beautiful.

Shout Ino's defense. I read the lyric poorly. You see, I would take I would take the credit for you missing missing the bar, tell far bar on that one to my delivery. You know what I'm saying, will I will take that one. And by the way, this is multiple choice. I should have gave you the multiple choices that the odds are gees see and this is the last one. And if you nail all of them without multiple choice, Oh there's one more.

Okay, because I know all the songs. I saved them on my phone. Yes, save them on my phone.

O new bag is a tell Far color. It is a death star parent teacher conference. I'm dressed like it's the met Ball.

What wait, multiple choice, multiple choice.

It is either Meg the Stallion, Cardi B or glow Rilla. What did you not know? This?

No new bag is a tell Far color. It is a death star parent teacher conference. I'm dressed like it's the met ball.

Damn. Okay, so this person has babies? Magis out?

Who the other one?

Cardi B or Glorilla Cardi B, Cardi by Cardi B sient me.

Cardi B said what song? What song?

Is this?

Hot ship? What we got?

Jo?

I missed this parent teacher colfriends?

Shall we find it real quick?

Oh my god?

Please, Cardi?

Here it comes.

Aga.

I love that party. WHOA welcome?

You're welcome?

Yes see?

I like yes, my was into the streets like that.

I got you, baby, I got you.

I love you, love your tell Far That's amazing. I love that for you. Okay, uh, there's actually three more. Let's do them all.

Okay.

She deserves a tail number and a tel far for real. You don't need a man, you need a manager. Hold up? What wait?

Okay?

A B S A is Cash Cobain, Meek Mill or Big Sean.

I think that might be cash Cobaine.

It is not Big Sean, Big Sean, big Sean, Who are you you didn't know?

No, yes, pull it up. I get bags, bars, I give bagstar bars, tail.

Fair, so Fair okay, big up to shop.

All right?

Two more big body range Rover not rented in my bag, My.

Maya, my Telly. Shout out to shout out. I'm here for.

Your mother.

This weekend.

Okay, like she wants some telfar. Go put some rick on it. A mg let us squeak in when I sit on it?

Who that is? Okay?

A b C?

Is d C the Dawn, Denzel Curry or little UZI vert?

Okay, so it's not UZI. I think it's Denzel Curry.

It is DC. The doll you see the dog. It's called telfar.

U up.

Light us. I don't know how bother like that?

Come on. The respect is of my dad.

You see the don whoa Okay, Okay, you did very well today.

Congrats, like I gotta tell yous.

I feel like I gotta see I gotta see.

You gotta because all these bars and you did really well.

And big shout out to everybody that I didn't know, because I'm like that's for me. That's a big thing. Like I was saying, Angie Martinez is one of my favorite artists all time. Yo, I don't even know did Animal House?

Did you have Animal House?

I had Animal House? But then the other one, the up closer person, the other person person that was my favorite.

That's something you were real? You a real one. He wants this.

Could I get in there on Saturday? The Bomb?

The Bomb, if it was if that album came out this year, I would have my telphar bars in there.

Okay, I mean.

The Bars.

I didn't even know about him early. I'm like, yeah, I'm thankful and grateful, speaks my name and pronounces it correctly.

I love, I'm so happy for you. I wish you twenty five more years and more and forever of this?

What?

What do people? What do people need to know? The news storm? Yeah, come on down, anytime.

Down anytime. The first day is going to be amazing.

Though.

There is a new bag dropping on the day that we open the store. It's a new bag. It's a bag that people have been asking for us to make for like a really long time. I get hate mail about it, you know, So I would just hint because I don't think I can say what it is. But it's in between two sizes. It's not too big and it's not too small.

Okay, and it's not old very mysterious, but it's not news.

But it is new.

Right before the holiday, right before the holidays, right before the store where people might run into.

You're gonna be there all the time. Yeah, yeah, like I'm gonna be working shifts there. You know, you might catch me behind the bag bar. Remember, you can get any bag that you want, any size, any color. Everything's going to be there, even bags that aren't out yet. And also too, you know, the close, the close the clothes.

Yeah, you know, I have the I have these James, well mine mine are a little different mine, not mine, not the over sized like over sized cute ones.

So you have the done On collection. There's gonna be new collections that come out. This is where I'm gonna have my next runway shows and come and be a part of tell for our TV. You know it's gonna be. There's gonna be that.

I can't wait to see it. Thank you for my gifts today, congrats on everything.

Thank you.

I don't want to come on.

You don't need to come to Persent

One time of tough On cleveing today, spout my boy, what