“Figures of Speech”

we did a little Coca Cola thing on accident. We didn't even play it and she got on dickies. Give it up a sky, y'all. Uh. Next, I'd like to bring to the stage my brother from another mother. He is the creative director at Wish Renaldo Nehemiah, that Co five boy at Co five and last but not at least Uh. He's a legend in Atlanta as far as I'm concerned. The owner of motor for for a quasi bill qataria Um. I don't know if you all know everything about Virgil. If you know everything about Virgil, put

your hands high. You don't let me help you. Virgil A. Blow is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, artists, and DJ who has been the artistic director of Louis Vutan's men's wear collection since March. A Blow is also the chief executive officer of the Milan based label Off White, a fashion house he founded in Can you show them the original? That's an original? Peace, you're gonna stand up? Quasi turnaround? Okay? Great? Yeah,

that's his original. Oh uh, ladies and gentlemen. He is also a trained architect, I Blow who also worked in the Chicago street fashion scene, with one of his first offerings The Daily Making Dollars t Chicago's in the Building fashion gigs. Oh are you in the building? I got

this information? I got a cheat sheet. Uh. He also had his first collab with leaders Um, a famous street where movement out of Chicago, designed the chain Tea with his then company v A A L l C. Did anyone know he had a company called v A A L l C. We're learning tonight. This is gonna be a learning curve for all of us. Uh. And personally, what I'm most proud of is that he is the first American of African descent to be named artistic director at a French luxury fashion house. Give it up please.

Time magazine also named him one of the most influential people in the world. So how many people remember the first time they all Virgil or heard of Virgil? Not many. I'm loving this. Um. There was an infamous photo taken by a photographer by the name of Tommy Ton and it was outside of the Calm de Garson show and what is obviously wildly circulated on the net, and it featured can we get that picture up there? On the screen?

It featured Don c tesst Arnold, Chris Julian, Kanye West, Farnsworth Bentley, and then it featured an unknown Virgil a blow. Did anyone know that you ain't know ship? No one is scared of anyone in this room. For those who didn't know, now you know that started? Uh that's actually those yeezis or the Louis Vuitton yeasys that everybody was going crazy over when he did his Louis Vuitton offering, his first Loui Baton offering. So we're gonna start the first question, and I want to open this up to

our amazing panel. Um, what do you think Virgil's contribution has meant to Atlanta fast and culture. Um Virgil has made an amazing impact as far as like fashion and art and also has given the opportunity for a lot of people to actually step outside of box to actually make a difference in fashion and fashion world because you know, we're living in the days where people wearing more casual leisure were as supposed to wearing a suit, so now

everything's more so streetwear were although near Maya. The influence of everything that he has done for me as a young black male, you know from the South, it just is a young Black African American male period too strive to do what we was not supposed to be to do. Um giving me the inspiration to being a young black creative director in a city that's powerful and being powered out,

you know by African Americans. It gives me the strength every day to seeing the iconic things that he's doing for me to say I want to do the same thing, to take Atlanta to the world is well and speakful Atlanta to the world as well, and everything that I do, you know, being a creator direct their wish. So by him being that stap on, that trophy that I can look at every day and study. You know, it's my aspiration to you know, do that. Yeah, I think it allows us to be able to think outside the box.

We see someone who's doing something like that that looks like us, and now it allows us to think that it's tangible for us. Men and women are like black and brown. It's very important. Absolutely, I think. Um, I think he blew up because he made bigger clothes, bigger. I think there was a time when, no bullshit, I think there was a time where where designer clothes were

not made for black men. I think that there was a time, you know, even when I started Ryan Kenney, the problem we were having and we were the second black designers ever in sacks with the Avenue by the way, with Ryan Kenney, but go hello, what's Aaron? We need shots a Yama. Um. But I think he kind of he kind of hit the mark. I mean he he was making things that could fit athletes, that could fit

you know, oversized people. And I think that you know when you saw I mean, black men have shoulders, we have butts, we have guts, we you know abo And I think he literally coined it and hit a home run with it, because if you think of his first offering, which was pyrex. You know it was a whole you know, it was a whole thing, like you know they were. He took the flannels from Ralph Lauren he printed on the back of them. I think, Zoe, you told me there was a flash cell at Polo when that happened.

So where are you at flashal geek, Zoe? This is my cheek she Zoe, Stand up zo, stand up Zozo. He has geek out of Chicago. So the rumor has it that he there was a flash sell Ralph right, and he brought all the sizes and the painted pirates on the back, right, okay, and they had huge sizes. Okay, cool. I just I don't want to I want to have all facts, and we're gonna get to the facts. I want facts from coming in the audience with the microphone,

especially to the white people. Okay. Question number two, how do each of you characterize Atlanta Street where? Now? I wanna I don't want to set you up with this question because you're from l A. Originally, Dickies is an l A Atlanta thing, too, right, we share that, right, um, But how do you characterize Atlanta Street where? Because Dickies is totally Atlanta Street, where I just wore Dicky Suit

the cassette two weeks ago. So honestly, I think Dicky's is a as a it's a special special case because it's universal. This is this is like the poor man's uniform. That's what it started as. So it's not just an l A thing. It's not a Southern thing. It's a US thing. Um, everyone worthies when they when they went to work. So I don't think. I don't think everyone had the tailor to fit before Atlanta. I mean this is an evolved fashion has the tailors. Yeah, I mean

this is okay. But everyone can can relate to this in one way or another. Either someone's grandfather wore this to work or someone's panel speaker war to a panel. Um, that's sky alright, alright, Um, it's it's relatable. But it's also it's practical, and that's why I like it. That's also like why I like Dickies in general or anything like that's a gumpsuit because I can wear these to work. I can wear these in a set and then I can take my shoes off, put heels on, and go

to dinner if I want to. Um. So it's kind of universal and love your style. Ronaldo, creative director of Wish. I mean Atlanta, you know, it fluished me through my whole life. I mean growing up in Miami, Florida. I mean my favorite group, you know, Joan Bloods. I mean I tell everybody all the time, the Flyers. The Flyers guy that I used to look out too in Miami when I was growing up was Big gift Um. He was the Flyers of them all. I mean he he

was charismatic. He just like yo, listen, I got the attitude. I'm riding my box Chevy and I'm gonna, you know, still be me. And you know, growing up at Miami, that's what we wrote this Donks and box Chevys. I mean, I was like then in college, I go to walm up by my Dickies. Even though there was a size I was like a size eight back then, I was wearing a size thirty four. You know what I'm saying. So about that life right, it still is in a

more you know, curated way. But Atlanta always like, like you know, Andre three thousand said, the South has something to say, and every time you see somebody from Atlanta, it's an air about them all of my friends that are genuine from Atlanta that I meet, that I love and respect. This is confidence of like yo, listen, I'm from Atlanta from one six. You take old national role, you know, Metropolitan Stewart Avenue. This is what you're gonna get, Okay,

addresses um these in these streets though. Look look you know Ronaldo Style, some of your favorite rappers, um Quasi Before you answer, I just want to I want to give the people a little bit. Quasi started uh selling me close at Ralph Lauren and he took that knowledge of his customer base opened the store about the name

of motor for for which he has today. And the genius about this man is that, you know, when all these fashion houses from Europe we're making all these things that didn't fit high armpits, low waist jeans, he went out into the world and found the same silhouettes and cuts, but things that fit us. And I just want to commend you for that because it's unheard of for an independent owner to being business over fifteen years selling fashion. Well,

thank you, Kenny. Um. I want to also elaborate that the fact that Atlanta, when I first moved here in right after the Olympics was incredibly a city where it's growing fast. And I was living downtown Atlanta and loft and I noticed the style is more so the classic Cortez Nikes. It was like the dope boy fresh look

with baggy levies an oversized white T shirt. So we've graduated from that to the point where we have Virgil that's now making an amazing collaboration with like Nike and making of the cooler version of uh, what fashion is?

You know, so our style and motor fhul Force more so international where we actually reach out to the global market where if it's a Japanese style, if it's oversized, look, you can still have a cool effect where you're actually expressing yourself without thinking twice, you know, kind of like

growing out of bed and just point out a cool outfit. Yeah, and I want you to elaborate a little bit more because I think that you know, as I mean, being in business over two decades, basically a happy new decade to everyone. By the way, you know, this is not a new year, this is a new decade child. Um. But but seeing Atlanta go from you know, because when we moved here, you know, it was really you know,

the Southern music was starting to ascend. You had the face records, you had social death, rowdy records, you had all these things starting when you when you came, or starting to actually peak when you came. But um, I just want to talk about how you could talk through the history and the evolution of the fashion here. Sure, um spending time Atlanta's fashion. When I worked at Lenox Mall actual Ralph Laurence, my first retail job, everyone was

at Lord and Taylor. So UM at the time, I think for the most part, I was in college at Clark and I couldn't sleep see you. So Clark was very fashionable, and coming from New York to Atlanta wasn't was an amazing Um just changed in my life just for the fact that I went to HBC School, but um, the fact that I met some of the middles amazing

people there and to this day they all my friends. UM. I remember just you know, being in New York or wearing a lot of outdoor gear like Northface, and I've just kind of seen fashion Atlanta just changed to the point where we're more we're actually wearing more high fashion brands. So it's incredible, I think for me with with Atlanta fashion. I think it's grown into the metropolis that it is.

I think because of all the beautiful people that moved here to you to go to school, um, to pursue a loved one too, whatever you came last year in high school. I think Atlanta has built up of so many different cities, and those cities have poured into Atlanta and now has you know, attached themselves to not only fashion, but music and everything else that has to do with lifestyle. But you know, I remember coming here and it was

country like that. That's how people referred to Atlanta. They referred to everything Atlanta country, their style, their music there, whatever. And I had a certain affinity because of the tempo of the music. And I would go off the reservation because when I first came to school, Atlanta didn't funk with the colleges. It was like, you go to college, don't come over here. But because we were in the street a little bit, we were allowed to go play.

And I think when I first went to Cascade, when I would go out to Old National Highway to make my runs like I would just I was immersed into the culture and and to be honest with you, you know, Atlanta unlike any other city in the world, that was its own thing. And then as the people started coming in and making their families here and growing. Because I've been here almost three decades and to see where it's at now. It's a true metropolitan city. It's a true

thoughtful city, and it's offering. We're not only leading the music, We're not only leading in tech on a lot of levels. And with Paul Is bringing to the city, we're not only you know, we I mean, I would like to really dissect on who spends what I would believe Atlanta would be in the top ten in the world. So, you know, I just I like and I want to challenge everyone here, like, you know, how many people are residents here, live here? And how many of you are

not from here? Like this is your home? Wherever you're from is cool? Everybody on on this stage was not born in Atlanta? How many people aren't born in Atlanta? I want to see that, Grady baby, what Georgia? Okay, well, so there's another hospital. Sounds graty. We just learned, we just learned important. Where's that at? Okay? Well, the fact that it was another hospital makes me feel whold. I just because all you hear is grady. But I just want to say this is our home and keep repping

it the way we do. Um. I'm gonna get to the next question. How do you think having this exhibition? How many people have seen that exhibition upstairs? Okay, well those who haven't, after this you'll be able to see it. But how do you think having this exhibition effects or inspires the creative culture or trends here? Um? A whole lot, because if you look at the history of this Virgil Pick there is ever to be in Chicago first service

in his hometown, then anybody to Atlanta. He could have chose any city else in the country or the world to bring a second, and for him to bring his second that just shows the impact that we have that he the world is watching and people don't even realize it. You think about all the dope brands out of Atlanta, like Cease and Desist, Raunchy, All Friends, Welcome by the

Original Fani, you know, all of these brands. Yeah, you know, you gotta think about these brands that actually live in Atlanta that is moving throughout the world, that is influencing Because a lot of our rappers are wearing them. And if anybody don't think that these guys like Virgin Damn are not paying attention to what these young designers are

doing in Atlanta, you would be crazy. I I appreciate you saying that, I really do, because I think that he might not get the credit for that, and that is a very I mean, I'm sure he could have went to New York, or he could have went anywhere, and he brought it to Atlanta. Do you guys have

any more energy with that? Sure? Sure? Sure? Um. One thing I appreciate about what Virgil has done is to actually express himself with like um, the political aspect of life through his art and also the fact that fashion is at his best right now. Ever, where I would be in a thousand years because working at Rop Floren for me was soon talk kind of thing on a daily basis, but I started off at Polar Sport where

it was more casual. Um. I was actually shopping this past holiday at Louis Batton and I walked into the leaving store and I just noticed a scarf that was an American flag made out of fur with a Ghanaian flag, and I was amazed by it because it was like a piece of art. I was like, Wow, this kid

is amazing where he's actually expressing his native roots. Me being West African native, I was touched by it because, you know, as far as like the culture is concerned in Atlanta right now, we're like the most powerful state of emergency. Man, It's it's crazy. There's a lot of good things happened in the city. We have the typ fairy thing popping, we have music, we have fashion, and you have people all walks of life. So hey, let's get it guys. Sure. So I was just gonna say,

I think it's interesting. I think we all should need to consider the contents of the exhibit, like the pieces that he chose to display. I don't want to spoil it for those have not seen, but there's a whole bunch of rugs up there, y'all. It's um. It's quite vast, like he had covered a lot of bases um with this exhibit. And the fact that to your point, he decided that he felt Atlanta could appreciate all of the

different aspects of the exhibit is really important. Considering the fact that what you said earlier, Atlanta used to be a place that with a joke to people. Um so I think I think the city is finally is the post and I think it's important and people are paying attention to it. She ain't. La Poe used to try to hate on Atlanta all the time on the side side conversations. Um this, this next question is gonna resonate

heavy in here. And I'll be the first to say, I am one that really tries to find the value in Virgil and not that you know. Like I said, I'm most proud that he is the first American of African descent ascent, I mean decent to lead a men's fashion house in you know, French fashion house. But I mean, whatever it is, I said it earlier. We wanna take chapter. He is the first American of African descent to be named artistic director at a French luxury fashion house. Um,

but I you know, I had a bad experience. You know, I'm a host. I host all over the world, and he ran in the booth when he was gonna DJ after Q tipping Oye one time, and he was just so arrogant. So every since then, I've been trying to hate on him, but I can't. I can't. I try. I'm like skining. I'm a scorpio. I tried, and but I can't because I think his offering is too special. But I want to read this and then after we give you our opinions, I want to know your opinion

because I'm gonna fry him a little bit. Virgil recently made these comments. Uh, on days Virgils say wow, I would definitely say it's gonna die. He's referring to street where like it's time will be up in my mind. How many more T shirts can we own? How many more hoodies? How many sneakers? I think like we're gonna hit this like really awesome state of expressed. This is his words, expressing your knowledge and personal style with vintage.

There are so many clothes that are cool that are inventage shops, Like people don't already shop inventage shops, and it's just about wearing them. I think that fashion is gonna go away from buying a box fresh something. It'll be like, hey, I'm gonna go into my archive. Scott, I know you're a vintage shopper. Now this is true, not in ten years. Talk to your people. Well, first of all, I have I kind of have like two different opinions on I'm gonna pay play Devil's advocate on

my own opinion politically correct, I'll be the asshole. I I'm a little bit bit of an asshole in this situation too. Okay. I was a little a little disrespected by this because, first of all, you have the most popular streetwear clothing brand and you are saying that it's gonna die. So I'm just trying to figure out, are you just trying to push the culture for a second and then pull out, or like, where are we going with this? Where are we going? One side, it's just

one side. The other side, we're very excited to hear um. The other side. I have been shopping in thrift store since I was in a stroller with my grandmother. UM. There's no piece, no outfit that I go out and that does not have a vintage something a part of it. This UM. So I am personally excited that he feels like there is um a new hope for the vintage world, but it hasn't gone anywhere. There is an entire subculture of people that specifically go to thrift stores to find

personal pieces to accident outfits. So they'll go to Niemans and find an outfit, and then they'll go to a thrift store and find a brooch as an accent piece. So it's not we're still doing that. Um. But I guess I'm okay with him shutting some lights, Renaldo, for him to be boldly, to feel like you're bigger than what made you, it's kind of weird. Um. So that and for me personally, streetwear would never die because I was raised in the streets, and so streets is a

guy that is fresh cut. Your cameras on my my O g s and the guys that I looked too, you know, in Miami, we wore Dickie fits and Wallabies and Chucks and and Clark's and my uncle's and they told me, don't you ever get dirty. And I just give you money because all the girls gonna love as long as you look good and you smell good. And I live by that model. Is that true? So you want to thug? I know you. But I see all of this to say, a street where it's just not

one genre is like music. You cannot take away something that impact the world. And at the end of the day, Atlanta is a big representation of streetwear. Street where is just not Streetwears high ended me. Also, you get what I'm saying, the evolution that we're starting, And I'm gonna just say this to be honest at Wish, it's a new definition of what street wear is gonna be. We're

gonna raise that standard. So when he says that Streetwears did something, say, well, listen, when you come to rich you're gonna pay homage to Atlanta, hold on to say street where it is dead. You gotta be from the motherfucker streets. You cannot say I had to. I'm sorry. As long as there is it, as long as there's a middle class and a local class, there's always gonna be street This is my issue. I'm sorry. Cars, you

get some burnings up, that's fine. You know, we talk about culture vultures and we talk about them being white, but we have our own culture voltures. How do you create a brand called Pires? I got it on? Actually, how do you how do you create a brand called Pyres? And you can't tell me off white? Don't mean you hear me? And I'm just confused. How when you're ready to move on in the sin you leave a whole

culture behind. I'm sorry, you going? I got something else say after your qual well, I come from a different era where when you actually bought fashion, it was almost like buying a piece of art. So at this point, right now, three quals with you. You know, fashion is at the point where when you're buying a hoodie, it's almost like you're paying twelve hundred dollars for a hoodie, and then all of a sudden you see it on

self like three dollars. You realize that it's it's oversaturated, there's no more value to it, and everybody's gonna have it. So that's the game right there, right where mass production takes place. And then he he mentions that street was that because he's made his money. Now he's moving on to other things. But can I say one more thing to hold on? Come on, like skin brother, let me just say one more And then another issue that I had. You're not from Chicago? Hold on fashion? Is he from Chicago?

Is he? That's what I wanted to say that man out there, wait is the leg hold on, Zoe? Is he from Chicago? Because you know I'm from DC, but people from Alexander, Virginia say they're from DC, Oxy Hill, Maryland. Is he from Chicago zough so so. But I'm gonna tell you a quick story though. In Vegas almost fifteen years ago, I was in Vegas with my golfer, the John Monopoly and him and I saw this fashion geek ron Stone hoodie going up this escalator. I chased him

all the way down. It was like, you got to give me one of these. I never got it, because this is why he was ahead of his time. He was doing a rhymestone with the geek that Kanye Ward and everybody went crazy over. I sent him a text a couple of months ago, maybe a year ago. I said, brother, listen, you have to bring the geetback with the ron Stone hoodies. All right, Gee, I got you. Next month later, Chinatown Market came out with the same hoodie with the same colors,

with the Roon Stone. When I tell you, I called him and I was livid because he is the street where God to me, thank you for flying down here to give it up for Alonzo jact Right. You know, I had to have somebody from Chicago on here if I was gonna talk ship, and then let me talk about ship. So let's go back to him saying that Vintage will be the experience in ten years. It's because he's making all that big boxing ship that's going out of style, and this is we're self serving. Sue for heroes.

Get on my motherfucking nerves. You gotta always remember you from the Kanye School of University. Jear mean. But all I'm saying to y'all is as leaders in your prospective fields, as responsible humans, we have to deliver messages that are not self service. This is a selfless life, or it should be. And I think he said that my personal opinion. I don't know if any of the Fantastic Four Greek, but he said that because all the ship he making that is gonna be in the thrust though, say nobody

can want that ship and ten years. That's my personal opinion. Now, I'm amazed that he is the first American of African descent. What I say earlier, I want to say that again because I'm very proud of that, and that takes us further and further in our plight to get what we came for. I am saying, though, it is irresponsible for you to take streetwear culture, launch your career and then say nah, it's gonna be done. It's never gonna be done. As long as poor people have vision and want to create,

the streets will matter. And there's always going to be a disparity in class. You know this. So I just want us to be focused and hold people responsible but also giving their credit because again I am proud that he is the first American of African Dissett descent to be in the Fashion House. Now what I wanna do is I'm gonna pick a couple of people. Now, it's some free game going on in here. So if you have questions I've been getting d m s, please feel

free to ask them. But if you have a question and or comment, I just like you to raise your hand. I'm gonna send Aaron to you and you can get your things off. You got somebody already first and foremost, thank you all for coming. My name is Joshua Burrell and my Moorhouse College Junior Cinema, Television and Emergent Media Studies Major and Generalism minor from Maryland, Paris in Southeast Family already right front boat black bas lifestyle. But um,

all right, come closer to the stage. I want to see your face on stage. Oh, standing standing right there? All right, let's go, all right, so, um, considering all things considered, UM, how do you all think street street fashion would develop away from fast fashion or high fashion and take more of a local or regional urban influence. For example, a lot of my friends make clothes, and I'm thinking that, you know, we're gonna go from less

of Glucci and Proud and things like that too. Like, uh, my friend makes some nice clothes, I want to buy that off him. And I'm gonna represent myself through the people around me what they make, you know. So what well, I think when you have UM the great world and the great family over there, I wish UM were more in supporting the community in Atlanta, you know what I'm saying.

And my thing was, as I became a creative director, I wanted to take Atlanta to the world and to showcase young talented designers that deserve that right and to make them as high fashion respected as Gucci, Louis and all these other respected brands. And it all just come to the point that the community has to support y'all.

If I see a young designer and yourself is fired by it, I have them presented to the gods that maybe a wish to say, listen, I believe in this brand, that this brand deserves to be represented in our story. That the world looks at as an establishment of Wish because once the young designer gets into that store, that changes your life. So then when Barney's or somebody come talk to you, now you have the legs and that

this city and this foundation of Wish supported us. So the thing is that the community, we just have to get behind the young designers and push y'all just as well if we're gonna push anything else that is major. Yeah, Sky and I had the opportunity to come to Clark Atlanta University UM during the Revolt Music Conference and there was a festival of sorts really, I mean market Thursdays. See, she's not far removed from college twenty seven years off,

that motherfucker. But what you need to think about, young blood, you need to think about how can you put your clothes or your friends clothes on someone's back. I think a lot of times, especially in the city like Atlanta, people are like, how can I get on what? They walk through Lenox every day, They walk through phips every day to buy something. Run up on them. You see them little kids out there trying to sell water and canny and everything else. Gon't sell your clothes, and I would.

I would encourage your friends even on a market Thursday situation. You know, I remember when I was at the end of au See, the formally defunct Morris Brown. Anybody okay, great, but I would encourage the au See to figure out some type of unity or union rather where you can put those collectors together and have an offering like a market Thursday. I think it's a beautiful way. You're good, thank you for your course, and we got one more

course and coming. Okay, let's go. Hi. I'm Ada. I am the co founder of a brand called floor Plan, and we do thematic retail experiences that change on a yearly basis. And I wanted to know how um as, Macy's and other big box retailers are closing. How can new emerging retailers um help streetwear brands, beauty brands, um these emerging entrepreneurs thrive. Well, I have to So what is that to ask you a question? Right now? In

our new era this social media. So social media is one of the things where you can actually, you know, kind of promote your business. And for the most part, have you ever worked at a retail job at all pop pop hotels, pop up shop, popp shops. Okay, so um, you know with me, my personal experience started off with

my first job. Like I said earlier, it was Lord and Taylored, and then I moved on to J Crew and after J Crew was pulled Sport and once I stted into the rough Lauren world, it was amazing the fact that this man just created his lifestyle and I crossed over the men's suits. So um, I learned so much. It was like to go into like a school of fashion, you know. And as you know, fashion changes, what goes

around comes around. So um. For this particular question, I would say to actually keeps driving and don't give up and keep promoing your brand. And um, also be specific about your target market, you know, because a lot of times I've noticed in Atlanta people kind of think, oh, a sweatshirt and a T shirt, it's a cloth line. No it's not. It's a whole collection and there has to be a certain lifestyle behind it. Also, you know,

if you look at um, well, people don't know. Andre three thousand had a cold aline called Benjamin Bigby, and Benjamin Biggsby actually launched at Barney's and also launched it um Nemon Marcus, and most people really weren't aware of it at the time. Um, they actually pulled it because it was the cells are pretty low and it was kind of like a spinoff of Ralph Lauren. It was the Quesrian lifestyle where he sold you to for jacket,

the rugby shirts and so on. Um. So my thing is most boutiques and vendors wanted to actually see a lifestyle, you know, if it's like a question lifestyle, or if it's like a you know, if I don't have a cycling or something like that, if it's just a hoodie and a saying it's kind of like black you know. Um. But one thing again, the fact that this is a

Virgil show and we're honoring him. There's a lot of cool things that you well, to be honest with you, minimentistically, he's impeccable and he's done so me political things in fashion that if you're able to see it, you don't understand it. So it has to be a message behind your fashion sense, you know, because you gotta you can't think for yourself. Sometimes you gotta start slowly and gradually. Once people get ahold of your brand, then you can

express yourself freely. UM. One thing before the gentleman screamed out breaking mortar, I personally think that you don't need department stores. I think if you are in your perspective markets and you want to have a foundation by property and sell your stuff on your property, I think that you know, we to Quasis Point. We have an opportunity with social media that is unheard of, so there's an online component. But I think people want to see you. I think they want to see your brand. I think

they want to have an experience. And like the gentleman said, I don't know who said it, but I think that it should be some ownership in the properties. A lot of this rent and I mean you've been renting, you know for fourteen years years and yeah, but there's nothing like owning your property and paying it off and having your stuff for self. UM. Agree. I also want to let you guys know that you guys are doing an amazing job and like, you guys are absolutely amazing. You

guys just opened and you guys are making waves. So congratulations to you guys on that. Um, but also continue creating this world around the brand. The brand is new right now. But that doesn't mean that you can't create this like this world around it. So figure out exactly who who you're targeting and then push that create these pop ups in there, and then also move your spaces. Is is like concrete for now. But also you said

your background is in pop up shops. Do pop up shops in Atlanta that push your business back to your brick and mortar. That's fine. The city is big and it's also small, but people talk. So make sure you create this world and then also bring the business back. And I agree with the pop ups. I agree with

the problem thing that actually works till as visuals. You know, it's a lifestyle again, even when you're working at the workshop or getting ready to set up your shops, doing a short from a short film to kind of show the world what you're working on and people are really loving the nada's or even go live online. You know, just don't buy your don't buy your likes and their followers. We got some more dope people, dope questions. My name

is Anita Brian. I'm from d C, havingue okay, real d C. Yeah, what I wanted to ask you is n d C. There are designers that are trying to amp up the manufacturing and infrastructure. I'm wondering what you guys are doing to improve manufacturing of your products, to create jobs and give you all longevity. Yes, well, first and foremost, I was inspired from Washington, d C. To do fashion in general. When I was growing up. Do y'all remember EU the butt to younger? So there was

something they're not too young. Everybody know the butt, but there was a video that you might not remember, and they had this this this store called the Madness Shop. And the Madness Shop inspired me beyond belief because it was the neighborhood shop and they would always make clothes

to match back to your sneakers. I see, you know remnants of that in Chicago with fashion geeks O. Not that he got it from d C, but just the neighborhood shop is always respected um and value because you know, they grew up with the person, They know the person, they know the authenticity behind the brand, as far as as far as fortifying opportunities and you know, manufacturing for smaller companies. I think like my my son is for fifteen years old. He has a clothing I called b RNs.

His mom and I to your point of pop ups. Went to our friend on our first collection and he gave us his store free or charge. We made forty two tho allars two days. He didn't charge me. But I think those are the things that help business. We are a community, we are a village. It takes a village. If I know manufacturers, printers, graphic designers, I'm totally willing

to share um. And I think a lot of time as creatives, y'all, we don't want to share because we think that someone's gonna steal our swag where no one can do you like you. That's one and then too, if you're a real creative, a new idea comes up in the middle of the in the middleseconds. So don't be afraid to lend um your um, manufacturers, your distributors, your creative graphic designers, people that you know can help someone out because you know, just like the question back

to department stores, that's that's that those are dinosaurs. People aren't even consuming in stories like they used to. So it's gonna take new creative ways and obviously us helping each other to go forward. Anybody else, I gotta hand the MinC ring Okay, there we go. I would like to ask some clarity to a lot of the Atlanta questions. I'm from Atlanta to the west man, Um, yeah, Um. We were not a joke, Sky Yeah. And we were not country Kenny. We considered southern. This is just a

southern area. Hey, don't you ever despect your brother, your big brother in public? You you not being from You're not being from like being from out of that. I was providing clarity. Yes, So as streetwear designers, I totally understand what Bertha was saying because urban berth streetwear, and if you remember, urban doesn't exist anymore. So a hat streetwear has to birth something new, it has to evolve. That's what fashion does. And because he's in that position,

he's not leaving us my arm. He's telling us that we were designing thirty five dollar T shirts. Now we can design three hundred dollar shirts and a luxury platform. So if we follow the path that he's making, then we're able to put ourselves in a position to not only like thrive like ad is asking, or like young Man is asking, we can now make real profits and actually make a life from being designers. It's a very difficult path. Preach the math actually designed the first collection

for my son's first, second, and third. Thank you gonna say that, thank you, no, no, But I agree with um. We're gonna go to the next question. But I agree a dent where the evolution conversation comes in. But the word street is never going anywhere. Where is going anywhere. So however you phrase it, however you want to call

black people urban, all that ship is connotation. I'm talking about the spirit and the selfishness, sorry, the self the selfishness of the statement, and that that's where we now. This is the first American of African descent in the luxury house. You have the world on your shoulders, you have the responsibility of generations on your shoulders. You cannot discourage someone who is in the streets from creating. That's discouraging. And we'll go to the next question. But thank you

d Matt for clarifying all of that. First off, I am or everything you guys are doing. UM. I really love what you do. H Kenny um with just from college being the promoter all the way to what you've done now and the legacy if you created you Um. But my question is where in a moment did you guys, turn your passion into a legacy that you've created and a business for yourself. Um, because at one point you were just a fly kid in high school or you

were just a popular kid in college. Um, and that's kind of something that you know, I've always kind of thought about myself. That's a great question. Thank you for shouting me out. Um. You know what, who was popping

before Instagram? Individually? They put the motherfucking hands down. So for me, I think I realized my superpowers when it became no longer about me and the first time I got some real money, I took all of my best friends, gave him forty thousand dollars a year, and we moved to California, And I felt like growing up as friends, it was my responsibility because we said we were gonna do things together. When we moved to California, we started this record Labe. We had a girl group called Dream.

He loved Me. He looked okay, great, biggest debut girl groups behind Spice Girls. But when I started happening, everybody's passion and started to arise. I think, you know, in life, you think that you know your friends supposed to go with you they're gonna go with you all the way. I think for me that was defined the defining moment.

I knew I had things to offer. I knew that I can offer them to millions of people, and not just the tend that moved with me to UM to l A. But I think that was a defining moment. And then it was about teaching people what I know. You know, d Nice and I had this thing called the Nice and Burn Show, and we're creating a curriculum where we're gonna college and universities of because all history is his stories about things that happened in the past.

All English is are really kind of stories of things that happened in the past. And I think hip hop culture, uh, lifestyle culture now, um, black culture, UM, it's so important to share what we know. And I think that was the defining moment for me because I wanted to share what I knew. I had an unconventional story at a

non traditional blueprint. I was convicted fella in at eighteen, single mother, like the whole If if I was to post a child put on the screen and they don't have it, if I was to post a child for he ain't gonna make it it would have it had been that. So I just think that you know selflessness. Guys. This goes back to my dear from from d C. Like we have to share all the information, we have

to share all the information. We can't hold all the information so close to our chest that other people cannot benefit from because I think that we're doing a disservice. But that was when't I jumped off the porch my question to you. And of course I understand all of y'all of the business. I've been to your DMS before and act about three years about being a mentor. But Kenny, I'm asking you when up Ronaldo, why is we? Why is you? Why? But real talk on the most non

social media person. It's not respect. It's not respect. I ain't you know. I ain't throwing you under the bus place. That's what I'm shine. But no real talk though, um and I actually opened it up for all for you because the clothes mouth don't get fed if you will be open to a possibly mentoring me because I want to take my man at this point, I work with a mayor. I actually have a cultural fest day in my city and the Goustor, Georgia August Um, so we've

been doing. She shooting hold on, hold on, she's shooting the hell out her shot. Give her the mike, give mike. I'm gonna say this, hold on auto, and then you can defend yourself. I tell everybody that wants to be mentor, let me see your face in the place. If you're around me enough and we have a conversation, we connect. It's organic, it's easy. So don't nobody asked that ship the rest of the night. But but I'm I'm anyone in here that knows me. I speak to everybody. I

answered every question if I'm in the vicinity. But I think the best way for you to get on is to show people what you have to offer and we'll go forward. You want to find yourself, and she fried you a little bit. She's a she's a queen. I her bro. I don't go back and forthard On. But who got the next question? Y'all? Um, so can't you be my mentor? No? I'm just so I'm from Atlanta and went to Howard, So you know, you know, so coming from Atlanta and going to Howard, I feel like

that kind of made me think differently about fashion. Um, but I kind of want to bring the conversation back to Virgil and Eat and Dapper Dan, like why why is it that we have to attach to these high fashion brands? Like there's so many designers in Atlanta, d C l A, New York that have popping ship, to be honest, so it's like why does why do we have to attach to high fashion? Like why can't we seek out these people on social media and use that and then when you do get the platform. As Virgil,

people talk about his attitude all the time. I mean, I can't say which way, but Dapper Dan, even on the Breakfast Club, he kind of was on some I'm trying to be international. It's like, when you get to a certain level, you leave the community behind that basically gave you all your swag, everything that you have, all your making. Well, let let me just cut it out on the situation is not accurate. Dan. In the eighties he would still basically from M C M Gucci, but

he was the hottest thing cracking. So he got in some issues with that and couldn't really do it. But the God works some mysterious ways. He designed a particular garment that was his design, his pattern, his thought right Gucci remade it and didn't ask him, and then he went to Gucci and said, you know this man, seventy something years old, y'all took my design. I want you know what I'm saying, my hall of half a dash to get back pot and that that's basically what happened

to that. And I and I want to say this, that's rare in general, but for him to get his dude, please God give it all to him now because he he had a big guy from the eighties to the two thousand, nineteen eighteen before he really saw his dude. So you know, um, I just help people to do what they say. Don't talk about it. If you're gonna

support somebody. If a guy said you're my teasher called fifty dollars, bro, I'm not gonna ask you for no discount, but give the man his fifty dollars, you know what I'm saying. The same way, if your friend that's in this circle or anybody that's in here, just because you don't see a celebrity wear it, that doesn't mean that it's high it's not high fashion, you know what I'm saying. So it's like everybody in here put that same effort

and live by what you say. If you say that you want to support and get these young designers to this pedestal, that's what I do as a stolear for fifteen years. I could say in this room, I don't put designers on celebrities and gave them a look of life. You get what I'm saying, And I can stand by that and guess what. I gave the designers what they asked for, and I gave them the money to hould support you. Because if I didn't know you, I still

would have brought it anyway. So it's just like, you just gotta live bout what you You believe in what you say, and I come from a different code. So if I believe in you, I'm brock with you, even if you're sitting beside a Louis and yourself is in the same store. If I like it, I'm gonna buy you this first on my walk out. And that's what it has to be. But we gotta stop hating on each other. The egos gotta go out of the way. This is the problem people. Black and brown people the

biggest haters in the world. And until we support each other, like is there a baby. Is there a whole baby and it's my mother, give me, give me my baby. I thought I was hearing ship, But I think I think the problem is and the ultimate answer to your question is we would be better off from a you know, fashion standpoint, if we supported each other. There's a lot of amazing designers in the world that just don't get half the chance because oh now I'm gonna get that

balanc of y'all. I'm gonna go get that whatever. You know what I'm saying. And it's cool to have all of that. It's cool to be, but involve your community as well. Hi, how is everybody doing? Um? When you asked the question, you said, how does Virgil inspire Atlanta? Immediately my mind went to how does Atlanta inspire Virgil? Because at the end of the day, Um, I used to work at Louis Batton. I worked there for about two years. I've seen I'll call some people. I've seen

a couple of guys in there. Um, no, you only work with no but anyway, UM know, but I ain't working with any anyway. I ain't working with Claude no more. Claude is like a total sweetheart. Yes he does so Anyway, what I'm saying is we inspire the streets. We I mean fashion, the streets inspire fashion that happened even back from the eighties, even further than that. So you know what I'm trying to say is Atlanta Vaton is about

to go to two stories. Okay, this is before Virgil even got on, So it's not a coincidence that he has his exhibit here in Atlanta. Atlanta has the highest sales associate in the Louis Batton Company in in America. I mean, probably saying too much, but um, and it's he's in men's he's in men'swear. So, um, if you go inside of Louis Baton, are you go inside of a lot of those high end stores, it's streetwear, it's hip hop. It's a lack of people. So streetwear is

never going anywhere. Hip hop is never going anywhere, like people are never going anywhere. So you know, it's just kind of preposterous to me the way he kind of like, you know, said that. I just thought that that was just real. So to answer your question, though, he has people that's from Atlanta around him. You got in Connor, you got my brother Blue that with two change that

just did the virginal discount. You know what I'm saying, He has the South around him because we are everything from the back when James Brown and everybody stole his style. He is influenced because he's paying attention to Atlanta, because people from Atlanta is telling him what it's cool. Once you come to Atlanta, there is nowhere else in the world that like this. When you get off that off that plane, the energy that you feel here is never nowhere else ever in life, you know what I'm saying.

So like, even when I go to Paris on Tuesday, they represent with wish, They're gonna know that I'm just gonna drop that. You're right when they see me, they go and guess what, I'm wearing Atlanta designers the whole time I got my whole outfit. I'm wearing runchy the first day I'm when all friends welcome to the next day, I don't represent everybody. That's so when somebody watching they see me walking, They're gonna say, bro, whatre you I'm from Atlanta while I live in Atlanta. That's the best

thing in the world is that? So if you want this, you gotta come to Atlanta, come to Wish and we're gonna supply you, and then you go back home and you tell the world where you got it from. So trust me when I'm it's gonna be respected. That's why the outcast muror is over there a little five points, you know what I'm saying. So he is respected and and he has had an influence around him every day. Trust me. So it's all right, little baby, we got there.

All right. I appreciate you all. What's going on? How y'all doing South American New York? And I've been in Atlanta for about fifteen years. My question is it's gonna be a little off pointing, but uh, Nipsey hustle been getting that new legend non legend kind of status. But the same thing for streetwear. Um, I've been shopping that motive for for since it started. Since respect new buildings that Wish. I'm trying to get some of that Coca Cola, you know what I mean. I see you, I see you,

Kenny Burns. Um, But how can we give our flowers to the new street where the new street legend? Because I'm definitely a consumer. A lot of what I got on is just been paid for on the regular. I ain't designer, I ain't coming up. But how can we give flowers to the new street where the old street where? Or the Atlanta Street where as a whole I'd say,

go by their whole collection. Now every time they do a pop up, every time they dropped them, go by the whole thing Atlanta, Atlanta fashion is up for grabs, Atlanta Street where is up for grabs there? To your point, there's nobody leading the pack that everyone across the world has to have. I think it has to be supported

locally before can be supported worldwide. The efforts that everyone here, from Quasi putting in his store, from you know, Ronaldo putting it in his store, from Scott just being fly like, I think you have to literally support it and I don't know, you know. To to his point, yes, by it where it, But at the end of the day, tell people about it and you know, and that's the only way we can grow and own fashion like we

own music. And I think that also this is this conversation is coming full circle because it has a whole pop up like experience where the clothes could be in her store. When they're in her store, you can buy them and this is a cycle. So we have literally in this room. We have the designers, we have the brick and mortar, we have the promoters, we have the fashionists. Everybody is here. It's just about utilizing each other. Come on, we got three more questions out here. What name is

a mirror? I got a clothing line called a Miyor James. And my question is how do we develop a fashion house of our own to build that value for for black designers. We got a gang of talent out here. How do we develop a fashion house of our own to cultivate the talent to bring it up and through. Yeah, I say it's here. What we said it a couple

of times is here. But you know, brick and mortar is a smart way if you want a fashion house, to build your own fashion house, I don't I don't think that there's you know, there's a guy by the name of Howdiaki who does custom clothing, and I don't know if y'all know what he's doing, but he has five floors of awesomeness from lounges to be spoke areas, to get fitted to play pool wash TV. So I think you gotta build it. You build it they will come.

My name's LaToya. I'm from North Carolina and my question is for Sky, what advice would you give to other young women trying to enter into a Caucasian or male dominated field such as fashion and set design? And how do you enter into some of these environments if you're not really were I'm not really sure where to begin at. I've been waiting for that question. Thank you very much for asking. As the only woman on this panel right now,

I would like to to speak to my ladies. UM. It is quite difficult, and it takes a lot of time and perseverance and thick skin, and that comes from

being knocked down many times by many different situations. But if you have, if you know for a fact that that whatever you're doing is exactly what God puts you on this earth for, there's literally nothing that anybody else can do to you, Like you literally get knocked down and you wake up in the morning and you think to yourself, like, well, what else would I be doing with my life? This is what the funk I want to do? Right, So you should keep on going. You

have you can't stop. Um. As it relates to being a woman in a male dominated sector, UM. So I'm a set designer, A built sets for music videos, so to shoot TV shows stuff. UM, and I have been the only woman in situations many times. UM, but sometimes that's that's my advantage. UM. I can be the voice of reason in situations where there's a lot of male energy and people look to me for the to be

the voice of reason. So you just have to figure out how to use you and your talents to your advantage and then figure out how to work the system. So what exactly do you want to do what you do? I would love I would love to get your contact and UM, I would love to bring you onto a set with me the next time I have something. Look at God, I love your Scott. I would like to just say this. And I know I'm not a woman.

You know you can detect bad energy off the rip and I think there's a lot of the times we think we're supposed to put up with some bullshit to get something, and I promise you that is not the way to go. And also we tend to put our hopes and false prophets hands. We tend to put ourselves in people's way that really don't want to do nothing, but for themselves and I I've worked with everybody, and you can google me and look at the pictures in the history, but I want to really share that nine

of these people I wasn't trying to help me. I had to find a way. You're gonna have to deal with something in life because just shift around every corner, but you're gonna have to be able to detect the bullshit quicker than then before you get on your clothes. And I'm stressing this to y'all because I know we have a lot of entrepreneurs in here, and it's hard to go through life knowing that there's so many evil people and so many people that don't want to help you.

But you have to know that you are one of one, and that you are necessary and that you have a purpose on this earth. And you have to have that mindset when those doors get closed or those people aren't giving that help and hand up. And you have to be unapologetic about what you want. You have to And also we'll get to the next talk where is a difference between what you want what you need, but go after what you want because you seem like you're in your early twenties. I just want to add one out.

I want to add one more thing to that. So you said interior and set design, so haven't done. I've done both of those, interior for Club Daydreams and set designed for Trot Music Museum and Dinner. For having done both of those, people have told me to choose many many times. They told me, like, choose one thing and just like put all of your energy into that, which is valid. But if you don't, honestly, if you don't know which one you want to do, continue doing both.

It's gonna make you tired. But that's fine. You're young where it's time for you be tired. You can work, um, do both until you figure out which one weighs heavier, and then choose. Don't let people tell you that. Don't let people limit you, because that's something that I wish someone would have told me when I was younger. So that's very important. And if you work long enough, they'll pay you to be you. Trust me, We got right here, man.

I'm sorry, brother, I didn't mean to look y'all. I can't to the whole panel up there and expected my man right here, track star. I still remember those days and ken Burn, but but the retail model is about capital,

brand awareness, and distribution. Right, So where do you see Nipsey Marathon store fitting into that and being the distribution for some of these streets where brands coming up, if he's putting them into our neighborhoods, and the way I view it is kind of like the strip club where where Future and the rest of the guys will bring them mixtapes and put it out there. So if you have these distribution outlets like a Nipsey store and others where local people can bring their stuff and market it

into the streets, how do you see that working. It's just like wishure. It's just like we're talking about with these brick and mortar concepts. If you build a store and you want to have motiple, I mean, Amanre, I mean there's there's a lot of them, social status, there are a lot of them that are popping up. And actually what you're what you're saying as far as sadly enough,

the marathon thing, I think that's a phase. I don't know how long that would last as a distribution hub, but I do applaud wish I applaud aman yeah, Motor four for so just that these are the hubs you're talking about, and they should be just like Renaldo was just mentioning the hubs for Atlanta streetwear culture, for streetwear culture in general, if you have an opportunity to present that, that's the distribution you're talking about, and I think it's happening.

I think we should celebrate it more. I know my first trip is still to Wish for shoes. I go certain place forst certain things. I go to Quasi for certain So you know, I think that as they grow, the model should grow um and there will be more

distribution opportunities for street where brands brands in general. And I could just say openly that I'm approachable to any brand um if it's amazing our presented, especially the team and of you know us that wishes we believe in it as well as because we're gonna support everything that comes out of Atlanta. That anybody could pull up on me,

you know what I'm saying. If you've got a major dope brand and stuffing to pull up on me, meet me outside in the back of the parking lot and wish we're gonna talk people to pull up on you. This is the A but it's an open door house that you know, and it's a family. I wish that

we're open to anybody. If we feel like your businesses is in order, we going to support that because it is a business, like you said, and if it's not in order, I'm that's my responsibility to tell you this is what you need to do, so then I could put it in Wish so we could support you to

the world. And so like any brand out here, I openly say, feel free to come pull up on me, we have a conversation, have your line sheets and everything like that, because that's what wishes the family We're going to do is support in Atlanta and take it to the world because we want everybody just to feel like if they come need a brand, that they could come to Wish and get it only in Atlanta because it is Atlanta, you know what I'm saying. So I mean, we support it, you know, but just don't don't be

don't be scared, man, Just pull up. Man. If it's amazing, I'm gonna rock with it. We got one more question closing remarks to get over to this. Uh good evening. I appreciate you'll coming out. When I saw a T Street where it was gonna be here, and now I was like, I'm there. Definitely one thing like they're saying, is obviously a t L we have it. When I look at these brands, like on California, see how many people to each other. I know, I got people got

vans on. I look at Brixton, I look at our v c A, I look at Levi's, I look at the California Republic. All those are California brands coming out of Orange County. And when I look at those brands, I say, what are they doing? They capture like they're capturing the surf culture, the scape culture. We have our culture all right, and it's the music. So like they said, we got a lot of dope brands in Atlanta, let's remain to stick together, just like we've done in the music.

But as we stick together, let's make sure we've got our business type. One thing for me is, you know, when I'm looking at somebody like you know the Rocks, Rock Fellow, you know rock Nation, and what they're doing with planes, they're looking for ex strategies. They want to remain some ownership. But what I'm also looking at is we're here and I know there's a lot of entrepreneurs in the room. There's a lot of brands in the room.

But one question I haven't heard tonight was obviously we get to a certain point and we're like, all right, I spent this much money, I need a little push. Where's the invest Grisette, where's the venture capitalists? Set I'm down, raise your hands. I mean you've got the money or you're looking for investor. I'm looking for the investor. And

once again, I'm sorry. My name is Ann Mathis. I represent Atlanta Good Company, and if it's possible, can y'all invite some of the investors venture capitalists and stand up here before we leave to night? Thank you, my brother. No, I'm gonna tell you all this though. And to his point, money ain't hard to find. It's just what you're looking forward. And I promise you, good brother. There's so many people with disposable income in Atlanta and that come through Atlanta.

You know I would I would plot and playing a little different. I would look. You know. I don't know if you know about Paul Judge, but he has an incubator on the tech side that he puts smack in the in the middle of the city and they have every month they give away a hundred thousand dollars to a business in tech. Figure out you're at part of your clothing game. Trigger the system, get the bag, give me temper. Do we have time for one work? One more? Can?

Can Ronaldo get the Plague guy? You said you saw somebody Ronaldo? Yeah, I'm the Plaque guy. Hey, what's up you guys? Um Scott Freeze at Last Clothing six Feathers Clothing. I was born in Atlanta, shout out. I just want to say, Ronaldo and dude been following your curve forever and been going to Wish since they had the DJ booth up top motor forty four at Killers like an all homieh for for Kenny Burns a specialist anyway, man. Like. What I want to just say is how inspired I am.

But what I'm seeing tonight, it's it's amazing to see this amount of people here engaging and seeing streetwear culture and just fashion culture in general in the city. I've been here so long, I've seen since it was super country and the ship wasn't popping, and even if you were white and you hung out what black people people

would like think you were crazy. And so I'm saying you know, to see this and be part of this and watch what you guys are doing and see how you're pushing the culture and how long you've been doing it for. I've been messing with wishing since I was a little boy, you know what I mean. And now I've come up in this thing and we're doing some things, we're making some moves finally, and it's nice to be

part of this. And so what I wanted to stand up and say to everybody in this room is you're all part of this and we have a real opportunity right now to really take Atlanta to the next level. And I see it happening and it's so inspiring. It opens my heart, it opens my mind, and I'm just I'm so honored to be part of this. And I wanted to tell the people on the stage. I've been watching her for a long time and it's so nice to see you on that stage. It's so nice to

you to have this conversation. Yo, bro, I'm gonna send you a bunch of that. How about you. I got you, we got a studio down the road. I got y'all. But like straight up, like I have honor and what you've done and what you're doing, and it really has gone come a long way, and it's an honor also to be here at this growth in the city and everybody in this room who's part of this and pushing like,

don't be discouraged. I can't tell you how many times I've been hungry and just kept going despite everybody said that's not gonna work. And now we're at a moment when it's gonna work. The music popped, the film popped, and that's our turn to pop. And so thank you for what you've done in the community. And you guys right here, I'm not editing that out. Hello, this is crazy, y'all. I kind of I pay attention to everything. You Remember that one autist I told you that inspired me coming

from Miami. He's right here, to the right of me. I see him a gift, give respect times in the building, sir, listen inspired the whole fashion game for me, for your man out of the South. I tell you that already. Hold you put that image on the on the screen from the from Wish, from the back of Wish. So we're gonna give our clothes and remarks. Guys, um, I don't have too much to say but Atlanta, you know, thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for giving me

the opportunity. I want to be half a wish. We opening the backup February. We got some amazing stuff. Guy's about the change and pushed the culture of Atlanta to the sky. Um, all I'm gonna say is the both ladies truly gonna be mad at me. But we're building the baddest motherfucking store in Atlanta. The ship is gonna be incredible. I promise you. I'm gonna go broke because all my money gonna go back in the store. But y'all have a home to come to. It's going to

be experienced, man, and like feel free. Man out staff is amazing justin Malachi. You know what I'm saying, Ladies. You know we have an amazing photographer named Nikon p So guess what if y'all want to come model for us, we support it. If you wanna get your model on, you have a home. You know what I'm saying. Wishes there man, and we're supporting everything Atlanta. So just gonna pull up on them. You know, I sit outside with you in the back. You know, go to the Zesttos

or something. But thank you. I just want to say thank you so much for coming in, spending your time to listen to us ramble for the past hour and a half. Thank you for being a part of this conversation with us and pushing this culture forward. Um. And from a personal personal note, thank you Atlanta for welcoming me. I've been here for thirteen years and I truly became a woman at this at this city and my business group here. Shout out to the Trap Music Museum. See

y'all back there, I see y'all. Yes, indeed, thank you again Atlanta for coming out tonight. This is a big deal. And UM, I hope that we continue to actually have these type of panels so we can have some of input and also some feedback from you guys. And I wouldn't be in business for you guys for fifteen years. And I want to say thank you from the bottom of heart. Feel up forever. I love Atlanta. Or that was hard? Shout out? Are you into that player? So do y'all stand up with me on my last one?

First of all, I want to give a shout out to these beautiful human beings for joining me on this on this panel. I do want to say this. It's okay to hold your superheroes accountable. It's okay to ask questions. It's okay to have discussion, because see, the only way we can fortify our community is if we have conversation. We cannot point fingers, we cannot blame. We can hold people accountable. Though, So please, if you're going to join us in the hallway, we'll say hi and take pictures

and do all that. Aaron, are we gonna go straight over? Is everybody getting it free? Shout out to Aaron and everybody gets in for free. There's a discount at the shop. Everything is free, coffee, table books, Oh the shirt, no, God, bless you'll. We'll see you all upstairs. It's Ullio.