Juwan Harris August 20, 2026

Conversations with Juwan Harris

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juwan Harris.

Hi Juwan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Charleston, West Virginia, but my mom moved me to Atlanta in 2001. Growing up in Atlanta exposed me to an incredible creative culture. I watched brands become symbols of their cities, and designers like Joe Freshgoods showed me how powerful it is when you build something that represents where you’re from. Seeing brands like HollyandRoo celebrate African culture also reinforced that idea for me. It made me realize fashion can tell the story of a place and its people.

When I returned to Charleston in March 2025, I felt like Atlanta already had so many people proudly representing the city through fashion. West Virginia had talented people, but I didn’t see many brands intentionally building collections around the state’s identity. That’s what inspired TopLife WV.

I wanted to create apparel that celebrated West Virginia’s history, schools, athletes, neighborhoods, businesses, and culture also pieces that made people proud to say they were from here. My goal wasn’t just to sell clothes. It was to help put West Virginia on the map through fashion and show that our stories deserve to be represented just like any other city or state.

Looking back, it’s exciting to see how much momentum has built in such a short time. The growth of TopLife WV alongside the New Chuck movement has shown me there’s a real hunger for people who genuinely believe in West Virginia and want to help tell its story. That’s what keeps me motivated every day.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building TopLife has come with plenty of challenges. When I launched TopLife WV, the response to the hats was bigger than I expected, and I quickly found myself trying to keep up with a flood of orders. I’ve had manufacturers deliver products that didn’t meet my standards, causing delays and forcing me to start over. One of our community event shirt orders even came back with the “e” missing from TopLife. I’ve also had fashion shows canceled after months of planning and even dealt with my website being taken down over merchandise inspired by certain cities.

As frustrating as those moments were, I never let them stop me. Every setback taught me something that made me a better designer, entrepreneur, and leader. Like WV rapper Influ Burrows says, “The poverty been gettin’ worse as the years go, but that pressure turns coal into clear stones.” That line has always stuck with me because it perfectly describes West Virginia and my journey. I’ve taken losses, made mistakes, missed deadlines, had products come back wrong, watched opportunities fall apart but I never stopped. And I never will.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a fashion designer, creative director, and brand builder. Through TopLife, I specialize in creating custom apparel, logos, branding, merchandise, jerseys, and marketing concepts that help people, businesses, schools, artists, and organizations tell their stories. Fashion is my foundation, but I see every project as an opportunity to create something that represents a person, a city, or an entire movement.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just design products I build identities. Before I create anything, I want to understand the story behind it because I believe the best designs create an emotional connection, not just something that looks good. I don’t chase trends I chase legacy. I want every project I create to mean something long after it’s released.

One of the things I’m most proud of is using TopLife to help celebrate West Virginia through fashion. From the TopLife WV collection to collaborations with artists, schools, businesses, and community organizations, my goal has always been to create pieces that make people proud of where they come from. Watching people wear designs that represent their hometowns, schools, neighborhoods, and culture has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

Looking ahead, my vision is much bigger than clothing. I want TopLife to become a global lifestyle brand while continuing to help put West Virginia on the map through creativity, collaboration, and culture. My goal is for TopLife to be one of the brands people mention when they talk about West Virginia’s creative renaissance like a brand that proved world-class ideas can come from anywhere. If my work inspires the next generation of creatives to believe in themselves and invest in their own communities, then I’ll know I’ve done my job.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is patience. As a creative, I have ideas every single day, and early on I was always chasing the next one before giving the previous one a chance to grow. I had to learn to trust my ideas, trust my designs, and let them cook instead of constantly moving on to the next thing.

I also had to learn how to control my creative chaos. My mind is always thinking about the next collection, logo, business, or collaboration, but I’ve realized that having a hundred great ideas doesn’t matter if you don’t finish them. Learning how to compartmentalize my ideas has allowed me to stay focused and execute at a much higher level.

A lot of that mindset came from watching Myles T. Seeing how patient and intentional he was with his work taught me that you don’t have to rush great ideas. Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down, keep refining, and wait until it’s truly ready.

Today, I focus on quality over quantity. Not every idea needs to be released today. Some ideas need time to grow, evolve, and become something even greater. I believe that’s how timeless brands are built.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Eud2ZqYh9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram: https://Instagram.com/toplifeworld
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LuzifHfHC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Other: https://dearestdub.com/?country=US

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