Check Out Carl Jones and TJ Walker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carl Jones and TJ Walker.

Hi Carl and TJ, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Carl Jones: The story of Cross Colours started with a conversation that TJ and I had while working together for a surf brand that I owned called “Surf Fetish”. We wanted something for the culture and for people that were into Hip Hop. We launched the brand in 1989 however, we had started the development of the brand well over a year in advance. We took a trip to New York and would ride the subways in search of inspiration. We looked at the kids, how they wore their clothing, the colors they chose, etc. That’s how we found our inspiration.

TJ Walker: And what’s kept us going for all of this time is quite honestly the support of our community; our OG customers who’ve been with us since day 1, the celebrities that wore our clothing and still rep the brand, this new generation of hip hop and streetwear enthusiasts who align with our mission- that’s what keeps us going.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Carl Jones: The road was anything but smooth. We shut down the operation of the brand in 1993, and it was one of the hardest things that TJ and I have had to do. We’re talking about a business that garnered upwards of $100 million in annual sales, and suddenly it’s just over.

TJ Walker: Our biggest retail partner at the time, Merry-Go-Round, announced that they would be filing for bankruptcy. And with that bankruptcy went millions of dollars in products that we could neither receive payment for nor get back to sell on our own or through another retailer.

Carl Jones: It was jarring to think that after making such an impact not only in the fashion industry and in business, but also in communities across the country, that the business was over.

TJ Walker: Right! And once we were in a position to bring the brand back, we were tasked with reaching a new generation of consumers. It was a challenge, but it was one that Carl and I were up for tackling head-on.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Carl Jones: We do a lot, lol! Of course we design and sell clothing, but Cross Colours is and has always been about more than that! We speak out against injustices that impact the Black community, we mentor high school and college students, etc.

TJ Walker: We specialize in streetwear; that’s our lane. Again, when we started there were no other brands were creating products for Black consumers. We were the first to take that leap, and we continue to create products that speak to that audience.

Carl Jones: Historically, TJ and I (Carl) would collaborate on messaging together; my area of specialty is the art/graphic design, whereas Carl focuses on the business aspect of the brand; the merchandising, as well as presenting the brand to retailers.

TJ Walker: We’re proud of the fact that we built a brand that has withstood the test of time. It blows us away every time we meet a young person who tells us how the brand has impacted them- that’s what keeps us going.

How do you think about luck?
Carl Jones: When I think of the word “luck”, I go back to the idea that luck is really just the result of preparation colliding with opportunity. More than anything, I would say that TJ and I have been blessed with the opportunity to align with people who believed in our brand and our message. TJ and I work as hard as we do to ensure that when great opportunities present themselves, we’re ready for them. If some call the result of that hard work luck, then we’re not going to argue with them.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://crosscolours.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosscoloursla/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossColoursLA/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrossColoursLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiry1im1ItWIXq8H6W0qXPg

Image Credits
Mara Weinstein, Teaghan Rohan, Adrie Thom, Jayson Aaron, Brieazsa, Chloe Warren