About Us
Created to celebrate and inspire Black stories.
We started this brand because Black History is under attack. We rarely heard any Black stories in school and never heard them outside of Feb. The few Black stories we heard were on the news. Those were never good.
The stories we listen to shape the futures we pursue.
We soon realized everyone has a story. History was written, but our story isn’t finished. We can fight for our stories and inspire people to write new chapters filled with unity, hope, and love. So WE EXIST TO INPIRE PEOPLE TO WRITE (LIVE) A STORY WORTH SHARING.
Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, we must keep writing. All men (people) are created equally. Your story matters.
WHY FASHION?
“Our clothes should tell our story and not someone else’s version of it. This is why we are Equally Clothed.“
A father took his son to the mall to get some new clothes. The son ran into his favorite store and came out with bags of expensive brand names with modern designs and flashy patterns. When his father saw what his son purchased, he bowed his head slightly and shook it, and turned to walk away. “What’s wrong? You don’t like the drip?” the young man asked. “It’s cool Son.” the father replied. “But what you wear tells people who you are before they talk to you. What you wear tells a story. It lets people know who you are, what you believe, where you have been, and where you are going. When I look at these clothes, I don’t see you. I see who someone else wants you to be. Our clothes should tell our story and not someone else’s version of it. This is why we are Equally Clothed.
WHERE WE GOT THE IDEA
When I was about 17 or 18, I was in a rap group called the Unknown Poets. We thought it was cool at the time. One night while the group was hanging out freestyling at my house, I got an idea to use fashion to celebrate African American historical figures. However, I stayed focused on creating music, and the idea remained dormant.
Fast forward about 20 years. It is 2019, and I want to put energy into starting my own business and looking for the right idea. I remember that idea that came to me in a cipher in my mother’s den and began working on it. Shortly after that, Boom! Ahmad Audrey, Brianna Taylor, and George Floyd were all murdered in acts of racism. Then the desperate cry Black Lives Matter became led marches, led some to respond All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter.
Black history is not taught outside of African-American History classes, which are not mandatory to graduate from any level of academia, so it is up to us. It is up to us to research Black stories and share Black stories. To find the truth and let it prevail.
The truth makes all things complete, it brings things to fulfillment, and it brings things to an end. It completes the circle of life and reality. E. B. Staples
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
FOUNDERS
“IAMBLKHSTRY means that I accept the responsibility to create and tell a story that will inspire future generations.”
