Today we’d like to introduce you to Manolo Prado Jr..
Hi Manolo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Im a custom clothing and headwear designer ( I design and sell different products but all typically fallunder the clothing and headwear category). I got my start in highschool, in the 10th grade Mitchell & Ness throwback jerseys were the trend, I was always facinated with sports apparel. Not being able to afford the jerseys I began creating my own using Dickies work shirts, which were always In style in Atlanta. I would hit Walter’s, Charlie’s Trading Post and Ross Unlimited for my Dickies, hit the local sporting goods stores for the correct materials, go home and get to work. Some of my work caught the eyes of Killer Mike when I was in the 12th grade. After that he introduced me to Tameka Foster ( his stylist at the time) and she put me to work immediately, Its like I became her “go to” for urban apparel within her Hip-Hop and R&B client list. Desiging and making pieces for names such as Timberland, Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, Bun B, Lil Flip, Cassidy, Jay Z, Big Boi, Killer Mike, Usher, Gunna, Jeezy, Jaquees, Lucci, The Game, T.i & Tiny etc. Moving into adulthood, I then decided to start an official clothing line all while expanding my client list on the custom clothing side of my business. After having success with custom clothing and an actual clothing brand, I then jumped into the headwear space almost by accident. Since it dealt with sports teams and logos, It was an accident I was happy to have lol. After seeing the success I had with Hat Club, Lids reached out to me and offered me a creative director position with a new activation they were creating callede LHD (Lids Hat Drop). When we launched we had IMMEDIATE success (my first release sold 6k hats in less than 2 days, that ecord still stands for any headwear designer in the fashion hat space) helping the company become a dominant force in a space (fashion hat community) they felt they were lacking in. Since then ive collaborated with many hat stores creating timless headwear with historical storylines attached to them, each hat sells out almost instanly. We was also able to team up with the Atlanta Braves to help design hats for their Napa collaborations. Currently Im still designing headwear, mainly with Walter’s Clothing and of course im still growing my custom clothing clientele, I just cant seem to get away from designing and sewing clothes lol, it’s almost a needed habbit for me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is ever smooth when dealing with clothing and coporations, but the struggles are tyipcal. You deal with lack of effort from factories; the challenging of your ideas within coporations; of course racism from community members who dont want to see you win in certain spaces. So just a general struggle list lol.
We’ve been impressed with Prototype USA, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Prototype USA is my brand, under the brand we design custom sportswear i.e Jerseys, Hoodies, Crewnecks, Jackets, T-SHirts etc. In addition to clothing we specialize in custom New Era fashion hats and headwear accessories. What sets Prototype apart from others is my story telling and the abilit to tell a story through headwear design. My proudest moment was introducing the Blip (bill clip) to the hat community, it became an instant hit and many companies and designers began to create their own versions of the Blip, also making the Atlanta Braves fitted hat a standout popular team in the hat space. It solidified my position and “legend” status within the community.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Being able to hand deliver a custom Phillies Dickies shit I made for Big Boi of Outkast (my role model at the time) at the age of 17
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prototypeusa.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: @prototype.usa & @manoloprado
Image Credits
Mike Lu Photography
Hat Club
Lids
