Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony “Fly Koolade” Temple.
Anthony “Fly Koolade”, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started AYV in 1999 as an outward expression of how I felt style should be at the time. The whole point of the idea of AYV is to “Accent Your Vibe” basically dress how you feel. We have been around for a lot of style changes in the industry and I think I owe the longevity to God first of all😎 and the fact that we don’t follow trends, we make them. That is our strong point and the foundation of what AYV is today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road hasn’t been smooth in essence. Fashion moves fast so there has been a couple of times that I came up with some designs or pieces that I thought would create a frenzy! But they fell flat and people caught on later. When you invest money and time into new ideas and they hit like they should, it can be a downer and financially hurt.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
AYV Premium Lifestyle Brand is an exclusive streetwear/lifestyle brand specializing in Street Forward Fashion, Limited Edition and bespoke pieces.
I am most proud of the brand long-lasting ability. We have gained a following that is going on three generations deep! And the fact that I aim to design things that aren’t available in mass markets, that sets us apart from the others in the game.
What were you like growing up?
I was always into being a little businessman and creator. I used to carry a briefcase to elementary school, not a backpack. My mother sold Avon when I was a kid and I used to ask for her cologne and perfume sample packets and I would put them in my briefcase and sell them to kids at school for a quarter. I was always into fashion and sneakers. I would take my sneakers off at recess and put them in the locker so they didn’t get too dirty. Then as a teenager, I noticed that a lot of my friends would always ask me about what outfit I had on or where I got the kicks that I had on from. I took pride in having shoes & pieces that nobody else had. That’s was a big thing for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AYVlifestyle.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ayvlifestyle
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ayvlifestyle
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ayvlifestyle
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