Means Cameron is the proprietor of the clothes model BlaCk OWned outerwear. Since its launch in 2011, the model has been acknowledged as Model of the 12 months, High 3 Cincinnati Males’s Boutiques, and has had Nov. 16 proclaimed as “BlaCk OWned Day” within the metropolis of Cincinnati. Cameron and his workforce are utilizing the rising notoriety to create a model that transcends race, era and placement.
Cameron attended Black Tech Week and spoke with rolling out in regards to the clothes model and supporting Black-owned companies.
What was your imaginative and prescient when creating this model?
Again in 2011 after we launched the model, we needed to carve out area to be ourselves within the metropolis that we have been in. There are a number of Black folks within the metropolis of Cincinnati, however it simply by no means actually felt prefer it. It was additionally about possession and feeling worthy of who you might be, and we consider we will wrap that message in a clothes model, put it up for sale that method, and encourage folks to consider these issues. What would it not be wish to reside in a metropolis that had profitable Black companies and Black operations? That was the mindset we needed to create for our model, and we’ve been doing that for 12 years now.
What message do you need to get throughout with the model?
The message is within the identify, which is why we selected it. That’s the particular factor about BlaCk OWned, it’s not so that you can go discover that message, it’s proper there on the shirt. The message is BlaCk OWned, and the way we promote that’s by means of neighborhood, and we hope that the extra profitable Black-owned companies we’ve got, the higher the communities shall be that we reside in. That’s on a easy stage, however the message has at all times been about possession and for us to see ourselves in that gentle, and to know that we will and we’re doing it.
The place have you ever seen probably the most progress in Black-owned companies over time?
With social media, manufacturers can attain audiences a lot faster, at a less expensive charge, and it’s permitting a few of the true tales to get on the market. If you happen to evaluate it to music, you consider the underground hip-hop period. There are artists that have been necessary to the tradition, however they have been underground, and other people didn’t learn about them as a result of they didn’t have a platform. I’d say you’ll be able to take a look at trend the identical method. You have got these underground manufacturers like BlaCk OWned that will not be capable to get nationwide publicity, however by means of social media, we’re capable of attain wider audiences. It’s pushing new creativity. I’m even seeing a number of the larger manufacturers take concepts from smaller manufacturers, which signifies that one thing is occurring on this underground market.
The place can folks discover you?
You possibly can comply with us on Instagram @imblackowned and our web site is www.blackowned19xx.com.