Rising Stars: Meet Jason Robinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Robinson.

Hi Jason, 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?
Popularly known as Distinguish’d Jason. In circa 2011, I started a streetwear company named Distinguish’d Minds. This brand was developed on the back end of my college baseball career coming to an end and my stepdad passing away a few years prior, he was the man who taught me everything I knew about baseball. I was working at one of the Ecko Unltd stores as a young store manager and knew I simply wanted to do more for myself and develop something for myself and my family to have a foundation for the future.

I would say I was young but always looking towards the future to try to develop something strong for my nieces, nephews, and future kids (still pending) and just give my family a shot. The brand has had its ups and downs through the years learning and developing a brand and business completely self-taught, from design, graphic design, photography, and etc. to accounting, marketing, and brand development. We are now in a place we are very proud of but very much still just getting started.

Follow us on Instagram to see everything and more: @distinguishd_minds / @distinguishd_jason.

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?
The road has been unique, I’ll definitely say that much! I wouldn’t change it for nothing because I have met some of the most beautiful people along the way, especially when things weren’t going so well. The beauty is in the wisdom of knowing that it was just learning and development for future endeavors. Some of the main struggles were product development and finding the proper channels to develop what we wanted. Also, as with any growing business financing and budgets were slim to none. We had to be very creative for a lot of years to get products out at a quality level and find ways to reach the people. If I could give any advice it would be, be creative with your products, packaging, and marketing. NEVER LET BUDGETS BE THE REASON YOU DIDN’T CREATE. IN MY OPINION, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND RELATABLE THINGS COME FROM LACK OF RESOURCES. It’s just so much more raw and real, then take those things and refine them and expound on those ideas as the budgets flow over.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Distinguish’d Minds is a brand that prides itself on making high-end streetwear and contemporary products, decor, and accessories for the enthusiasts with a high taste level. We do this by sourcing some of the best fabrics and making unique patterns and styles out of them, and building beautiful collections. We also focus heavily on storytelling to help people understand the ins and outs of the brands while teaching people to “Distinguish themselves from the rest,” which is the brand’s tagline.

As a brand, we are very proud of the storytelling aspect and watching people learn and become more themselves. To me being yourself is the greatest superpower of all time because there is simply one you and everyone else is taken. We want to continue to grow through because at first glance at times, it may not immediately make sense to people, but when it connects to people, it stays with them for life. Again listen. Distinguish yourself from the rest; it literally means be loud with what makes you unique, be you! We try to give products that help improve that.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t think I’ve been lucky, maybe more bad luck than good luck to be honest. My entire life has been rooted in mishaps and lessons. But that has created so much strength. I would definitely say I am extremely used to overcoming and turning negatives into positives in every aspect of my life, so when it came time to do it in business, it was very much second nature. My only luck would be; being smart enough to stay connected to God and faith and continuing to put one foot in front of the other because if we would have quit, we wouldn’t be here today!

Contact Info:

• Email: info@distinguishdminds.com
• Website: www.distinguishdminds.com
• Instagram: Distinguish_jason
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/distinguishdmindsclothing
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/distinguishd_md
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JR717

Image Credits:
Instagram: @asvpyeezus