Today we’d like to introduce you to John Michael.
Hi John, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I first started Secluded Archive in 2017, but I was focused on creating the perfect pieces to drop so I waited till 2020 actually to drop something. The concept behind Secluded Archive was to create a brand that represented certain thoughts that go through someone’s head, but they are too scared to speak about it. For me and many people, fashion is a form of expression. With every piece I create, I create it to be something that people can actually relate to when they are wearing it. Secluded Archive is much bigger than just a clothing line. I want this to be a form of expression for people who feel stuck inside their own heads.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been a lot of obstacles along the way. I struggled with believing in myself with this brand. The self-doubt took over for a while so I never dropped anything. I am a perfectionist so I hold myself to a high standard which sometimes hinders my process but in the end, it always works out. I also lost my grandma who was my biggest supporter. I would show her every potential drop and she loved each one. This created a mental battle within myself because I wanted to give up and not drop but then one day I told myself I could look back and be sad or I could use it as motivation to make her proud. I decided to drop my first hoodie shortly after, which sold out on the first day. After this, I knew it was go time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well for starters before anything I am a videographer but I slowly grew into a designer/clothing line owner. I would say that locally I am known for both my videography and clothing. When people see me out in public, they either say that’s the cameraman or that’s the guy who owns Secluded Archive. I’m most proud of creating something in my head and bringing it to life. Yes, I’ve accomplished a lot but there is always more that I could do. If I spent time focusing on my accomplishments, I wouldn’t strive to achieve more. The job is not done in my eyes. This is what I feel sets me apart from others. I could be celebrating a sold-out drop, but then tell myself in that same moment that I shouldn’t t be celebrating because I didn’t open a storefront yet.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want the readers to know a few things before I conclude this interview. The first is that if you have a dream, just chase it. Do not let anyone tell you that your dream is something that isn’t worth chasing. The second thing is to have a circle around you of people that are like-minded and will tell you the truth not just what you want to hear. Lastly, I would appreciate it, if everyone viewing this could follow me and @secludedarhive to be up to date with what comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://secludedarchive.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wavylifeofjohn/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wavylifeofjohn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WavyLifeOfJohn/videos
Image Credits
Image Credits @jst.bxg and @codeseis
