Today we’d like to introduce you to Imran Ashraf.
Hi Imran, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Being a first generation Indian American I watched my parents overwork and do everything they could possibly tap into to create a better life for us. From working multiple jobs, buying picture frames from DTLA to sell at a swap meet to putting themselves through school later on so that they could scale to owning a restaurant and getting a job at the county. That work ethic and sense of wanting to build something of my own drove me to where I am today. The college dropout that turned into the owner of a clothing brand “The Nomad Movement”, Franchisee of a Mrs. Fields Cookies location, Co-Founder of the ever growing “Unreal Poke” Hawaiian food pop up and resource to anyone that I can assist.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 2015 at the age of 21, I quit my job working as an assistant manager at my dad’s restaurant. I really did believe what I wanted to do in the music space and with clothing could work itself out. Screen printing for clients and designing for other people’s clothing brands was difficult and came with many hoops and hurdles I didn’t anticipate. No steady income also was a much bigger adjustment than thought. Becoming a business owner was the very definition of feast or famine and I learned that very quickly. You could make two weeks worth of income in one day and then not have a paid job for a month. My parents and some friends also had a hard time understanding the transition. It wasn’t something that anyone was used to so there was resistance from all directions. All that aside, that time and relationships I cultivated during the process ended up being the foundation for everything I am doing today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally my title for each varies and as a business owner there are always multiple hats to be worn. But the clothing/production/media company is my baby so we can just hone in there.
For The Nomad Movement, I am the founder, creative director, head of production and head designer among other things. Our company is unique in the aspect that it’s so multifaceted – we are not boxed in or limited in any means. If we release a full clothing collection, produce a DJ driven event, drop a limited edition custom spatula with a well known restaurant and assist with a local artists album roll out with their merchandise, branding and content all in a single months span – none of it feels out of place.
We are a company that focuses on everyones passions and interests and pour into those knowing that we will never sacrifice our core values.
Quality over everything. Money isn’t everything. How you do things is more important than what you do. And most importantly, our tag line – Never Settle.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Honestly, as cliche as it sounds –
Don’t spend time comparing yourself with people and don’t worry about the end goal right away.
Your vision will never go the way you planned it so what matters more is how you manage the speed bumps and roll with the punches. As people, we aren’t designed to all win at the same times. Not everyone gets their dream job right after college or buys a house at 25. Focusing on your journey and your moments can be the most important thing for yourself.
I try to look at my day to day process with the mentality of wanting to get 1% better everyday. Whether thats in business or in my personal life – if you’re 1% better than you were yesterday, it’s only a matter of time before you find your pocket and the blessings will start to flow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thenomadmovement.com
- Instagram: @imraningthis
