Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antoine Ward. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Antoine , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Growing up black and queer in Baltimore, MD, my struggles were unique, to say the least, not to mention my mom passed away when I was nineteen, forcing me to step in and step up to help provide for and raise my siblings (I am 1 of 4 and the oldest.) Not knowing then that all of this was given specifically to me to use.

I grew up restricted and limited because the map to survival was not yet illustrated for me to do so. The generation that had come before me had a late start and wasn’t able to provide in the ways a young black future creative director needed. But there was something in me that couldn’t allow that to stop me, so I stepped out on my own.

At the age of 23, I moved away, deciding to change the course of my future and take ownership of my life situation, and accept that I would make a lot of people upset by finally choosing to put myself first. At this age, my becoming process started to happen, and soon I would realize the thing or things I was searching for or trying to find were already living in me.

The fire, the passion, the drive, to do and be, to create and developed and to be developed. I learned over and over again that it was me. “It”, a small piece of the universe, lied dormant in me to become part of a larger universe and connect with multiple universes; however, this knowing was only able to reveal itself to me once I was able to undo all that I have been in my life, and learn that life happened for me, and not to me, that my awareness of who I was not helped me transform myself into who I was.

We all are who we are, but we can’t connect to that source because we’re too busy trying to become who we think we are.

Which has become my mission ever since “The philosophy of this is wardbody is not a service of constant giving of oneself but one of participation. Through the power of self and social awareness, this is wardbody is dedicated to enabling members of our community to awaken their life’s purpose. We at this is wardbody believe life tends to be lived and vastly experienced once we are aware of what we are living for.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At 16, my discipline came from wanting to lose weight. I was chubby growing up, and I did not like it. So, I began training. I would run for 1hr every day at my local YMCA. From there, I got into weight training and other different forms of cardio. This form of disciplined, combined with the rules of the streets in Baltimore, MD. Specifically, the term “be a man of your word.” Together these were my foundations.

“How you do one thing is how you do all things” is what I live by.

During the course of my training in 2016, a light bulb went off, and I shared with some friends of mine that I wanted to produce active underwear for men that did not rise up. At the time, the underwear that I was wearing was cheaply made yet, sold by some of the big-name activewear brands. My mission was clear; I just needed to learn how to make underwear.

I did not go to school for fashion design, business management, or anything required that would foot me some sort of leg up when deciding to do this. However, I had street smarts. I look at what I was wearing and simply decided to make some improvements. By way of me learning how to develop my vision, I noticed how I trained myself to do this line of work, mentally but also physically. I would wake up every morning @ 4am, do some research, and by 5am I was hitting the gym, back home by 6am, doing more research, then out of the house by 8am, to be at my full-time job by 9am, then back home by 6pm, to do it all over again. I did this for nine years, consistently.

Today, I am the designer and creative director for this is wardbody. I make quality activewear underwear for men, telling stories by way of everyday athletes.

I am most proud that I kept my word to myself. I said I was going to do something and did it. I didn’t allow the lack of to stop me from becoming. One of the main things I want is a chance to be able to compete.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the lessons I had to unlearn was one about failure. The notion that if you don’t sell out, or sell consistently, or if you don’t receive the reaction you were looking for that you have failed.

I’ve had moments development my brand where it was time to launch a new set of products. The content was great, our consumers, peers, and onlookers loved it, yet when it came to the actual product some just did not sell. Resulting in a huge financial loss. For a first time entrepreneur, the feeling of losing quickly sat in. I’ve failed. I am nothing. My products aren’t good; are some of the things I felt.

These feelings are normal I must add. When you are new, and you are starting out, it’s best you learn how to offer yourself grace. I had to unlearn to learn you only fail once you decided to give up.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The easiest thing to sell is the truth. In my early days, before a single product was made, through creative content I found ways to be of service to my community and audience. Sharing my story, my hobbies, and tips on feeling and living happier and healthier.

I hosted a blog, wardbodynyc.com, where I blogged about things I’ve dealt with growing up, how I overcame them, food I ate to stay in shape, music I listened to, and books I read. It was effective and it was my truth. I believe this footed me the opportunity to then later write a book, then soon launch a brand.

In an attempt to heal myself, I gave myself freely.

Contact Info:

• Website: Thisiswb.com
• Instagram: @antoinewardjr
• Facebook: @antoinewardjr
• Linkedin: @antoinewardjr
• Twitter: @antoinewardjr

Image Credits
eCommerce (10x images) by Sean Howard Photo of Antoine Ward by Marlon Turner