BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

VALIDATED: DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST BECAME AWARE OF FASHION?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: IN THE 8TH GRADE MOM BROUGHT MY COUSIN EASTER CLOTHES AND SHE DIDN'T BUY ME ANYTHING. SHE EXPLAINED THAT I ALWAYS GOT THINGS AND MY COUSIN NEEDED IT MORE THAN I DID. I WORE MY UNCLES JEAN SUIT TO SCHOOL. HE WAS ALWAYS FLY, BUT I KNEW I COULDN'T COME BACK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT ANYTHING. THAT'S HOW I KNEW CLOTHES MEANT A LOT TO ME.

VALIDATED: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BRAND?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: MY CHILDREN, I WANTED TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM. I ALSO WANTED THEM TO HAVE A SINCE OF FASHION AND SHOW THEM THE INS AND OUTS ON AN INDUSTRY WHERE THEIR IMAGINATION CAN MAKE THEM SORE.

VALIDATED: HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: I STARTED BY PRINTING TEES FOR OTHER PEOPLE, THEN I SAID I SHOULD DO MY OWN THING.

VALIDATED: DEFINE FASHION?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: FASHION DEFINES YOUR LIFESTYLE, SELF IMAGE, SOME OF OUR SELF WORTH. FASHION IS A SIXTH SENSE.

VALIDATED: DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS.

SOULFUL JOURNEY: MY WIFE AND I BOUNCE IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER WE TRY TO MAKE 3 MOCK UPS AND PICK THE BEST.

VALIDATED: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AS A FASHION DESIGNER?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: SEEING SOMEONE WEARING MY PIECES AND CRUSHING IT WITH THEIR OWN STYLE.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE, AND HOW DO YOU RELATE TO IT?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: URBAN AND HIP-HOP HEADS, I LIKE TO PROVIDE GARMENTS I WISH WAS AVAILABLE.

VALIDATED: ARE YOU SELF TAUGHT OR DID YOU STUDY FASHION DESIGN?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: ALL SELF TAUGHT I READ EVERY FASHION AND BUSINESS BOOK I GET MY HANDS ON.

VALIDATED: HOW HAS YOUR WORK EVOLVED SINCE YOU BEGAN YOUR OWN LABEL?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: WE STARTED FEELING OUR WAY AROUND T-SHIRTS. NOW WE'RE CREATING SIGNATURE PIECES.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR COMPANY?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HOT DOESN'T MEAN ITS HOT.

VALIDATED: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG DESIGNERS?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: WORK ON YOUR CRAFT AND KEEP YOU CONTENT ORIGINAL. YOU CAN'T DO WRONG DOING YOU.

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO/RULES TO LIVE BY?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: LIFE IS BETTER WHEN YOU'RE LAUGHING.

VALIDATED: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF GETTING YOUR BRAND OFF THE GROUND AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: GETTING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A LEGITIMATE BRAND. WE ARE SHOWING THEM A CONSISTENT BUSINESS MODEL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL UP START BUSINESS.

VALIDATED: WHAT ARE TWO ASPECTS OF BUSINESS IN WHICH YOU BELIEVE A NEW BRAND SHOULD INVEST RESOURCES?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: GREAT PRODUCTS RESEARCH AND MARKETING.

VALIDATED: WHERE CAN WE GET OUR HANDS ON THE COLLECTION?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: WWW.SOULFULJOURNEYBRAND.COM

VALIDATED: CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BRAND IN THREE WORDS?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: EDGY, FUN, PROVOCATIVE

VALIDATED: IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON IN THE WORLD TO WEAR YOUR BRAND, WHO WOULD IT BE?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: NAS, HIS STYLE EMBODIES WHAT OUR BRAND IS ABOUT.

VALIDATED: IS THERE A PARTICULAR DESIGNER WHO INSPIRES YOU?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: APRIL WALKER OF WALKER WEAR AND KARL KANI.

VALIDATED: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PIECE FROM THE COLLECTION?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: THE BROOKLYN'S OWN CREW NECK SWEAT SHIRT. THE POCKET ON THE SLEEVE SETS IT APART.

VALIDATED: HOW CAN WE FOLLOW YOUR BRAND ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

SOULFUL JOURNEY: FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM @SOULFULJOURNEYBRAND AND TWITTER @SOJOPRINTS