Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Walker.
Hi Jay, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started out as a kid with a dream that wanted to be a hip-hop artist. I was obsessed with it and I dedicated every second to making that happen. After a long successful independent career as an artist, opening up for major artists like 50 Cent, Jadakiss, etc., winning awards, albums/singles, numerous shows, magazine covers, radio play, etc., I wanted to eventually get involved with the fashion world and create something that would inspire and empower others to follow their dreams.
Along the way in 2006, I started Dimepiece Magazine which quickly became one of the top urban model magazines in the country as well as winning Best Independent Magazine at the Urban Model Awards.
In 2011, I taught myself how to be a director and shoot, edit, and direct music videos and started World Famous Films. My first big break was when Yung Berg hired me to shoot his video only a few months after I started. I ended up shooting over 300 videos and winning several awards for Director Of The Year.
So in 2017, since I understood how to build brands and businesses I finally created my first clothing brand “Independent Hustle Clothing”. I literally made all the clothes myself in my apartment. The response from everyone was organic and awesome. I knew I had something special that everyone could relate to. I had a few celebrities like Rich Dollaz (Love and Hiphop) and Gillie (Million Dollars Worth Of Game Podcast), and Gloria Velez (iconic model) rocking my clothes.
Now I’m growing even bigger and have manufacturers overseas and some locals ones here to put out my clothes as I’m now relaunching the brand as well as scaling it all back to my original classic collection and then periodically re-drop more designs and other collections that are part of the brand.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, when I did my first batch of clothes, I actually hired a local guy to do get the shirts and press them up. Then the next batch, I found out where he got his shirts and what he used to do them. He was nice enough to share that information. Most people wouldn’t do that. Shoutout to my boy Eric! So then I started to make my own in my apartment at that time. Honestly, the only real struggle I had was the labor. Pressing up shirts every day became very tiring and time-consuming. I wasn’t a fan of that part of the process. Hence why, now I have manufacturers.
Finding good manufacturers was the hardest part. There are so many overseas vendors and manufacturers to choose from. It’s hard to find the good ones without taking risks and spending tons of money. What I did was I watched over 1o0 different youtube videos from other clothing lines in hopes to find one that would share their manufacturer. Most charge to share that information as it’s gold to a clothing line. I finally found one that is legit and does amazing work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a true believer that “thoughts become things”. I am proof of it. When I want something to happen, I become obsessed with it until I get it. Except for females, lol. Most people know of it as the laws of the universe and some know it as The Secret. I have been thinking this way as a little kid and throughout my whole life before I knew what it was called. Thoughts are energy and energy attracts energy. That’s why you have to be careful of what you say and think because we are co-creators that create our own reality. I stay far away from negative energy and negative people. That is one of the keys to success and happy life.
My dedication to my dreams and goals is what have gotten me here. I have created my own story.
Along the way, I have found that I’m great at branding, marketing and building businesses. I have a great eye and ear and can quickly notice things that needed to change or stay the same for the betterment of the brand. I love to create new businesses. I am fascinated by everything around me. If you were to look around where ever you are right now reading this, literally everything you see another person had that thought in their head to create it and now it’s in front of you. That’s what motivates me every day. Truly is amazing! We take that stuff for granted. We are very powerful people but we have been sheltered from our greatness and potential. But that’s another interview, lol
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being clear on what you want to achieve. Envision yourself already achieving it in your mind and see the end game. Stay super focused and insert action. Study and learn!!! Become obsessed with it as I said before. Be around like-minded people. I always say you can’t want to be an astronaut hanging around a bunch of plumbers. The following quote is one I have made up many years ago that sums up my mindset when it comes to being accountable and owning my own destiny. “If I fall, it’s because I tripped, not because you pushed me.”
Pricing:
- Independent Hustle Classic Tees $25 (sale)
- Hoodies $60
- Snapbacks $28
Contact Info:
- Website: www.IndependentHustleClothing.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/independenthustleclothing
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/independenthustleclothing
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/indiehustlegear
