Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Allen.
Eric, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My dad inspired my fashion style. He always had the newest Jordan’s with a fit that no one else could rock. His ability to put outfits together influenced me in ways that I didn’t realize until I got older. After high school, I decided to work in retail and noticed certain trends in clothes. With my discount, I found myself spending my whole paycheck on clothes that everyone else wore. I got to a point to where I felt like I was wearing the same clothes as everybody else, but I never saw myself being like everyone else. So that sparked my interest in designing my own clothes and creating my brand.
The name Knowname” was created by my dad, Thanks Pops. It originated from when Africans were forced to come to America as slaves and were forced into take their slave owner’s last name and eventually not knowing their names. This lack of knowledge progressed to being in tap with your roots and being who you were meant to be. If you know your name and stay true to yourself, you can overcome anything.
After creating over 50 designs, I decided to release the KN Flower Tee which exceeded the amount of sales I expected. Following that, I created two designs which started my rhythm and gave me confidence to drop on a more consistent basis. And from there, I fell in love with the entire process. From designing to taking pictures, to styling, every aspect of it. My designs are influenced by solutions to problems that I have faced and seen throughout my life. Seeing people wear my brand motivates me to take my creativity to the next level.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Struggle is an understatement. Having no experience, I had to learn through trial and error. Which basically means I lost a lot of money in the beginning. Also, I had to realize that a lot of people weren’t going to take me serious because of my age. From those situations, I had to develop patience and understand that other people’s time frames aren’t gonna match up with mine. But after learning and meeting the right people, I’ve found what works best for my brand.
Please tell us about Knowname.
Knowname is an urban streetwear brand based out of Pasadena. With designs influenced by current trends and issues troubling the world, we provide insight to solutions with our common experiences that the general public may want to express but can’t. Our items consist of Tees, Hoodies, Hats, shorts, and more to come. As a Black-Owned business, we are most proud of our wide range of customers. We take pride in being able to make an impact no matter the age, background, and area. At Knowname, our creative process and execution set us apart from others. One of our most popular items, the Morph Hoodie, is a representation of being able to adapt to any situation. The appearance of the hoodie changes when viewed at different angles. Knowname and I are excited to share our creativity and experiences with our current customers and the world.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
My marketing would’ve been more strategic. I would’ve liked to use my videographer and editor Garrit Green to create something more meaningful to have a bigger impact. I also would’ve liked to start with a collection that was more reflective of what the brand represents.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.knownameco.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knownameco/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/knownameco
Image Credit:
Garrit Green, Jarrick Wenslow
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