We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Austin Moua. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Austin below.

Hi Austin, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I remember it as if it was just yesterday. Growing up as a POC, if you wear or eat something culturally in grade-school you’re looked upon differently from your peers. Being embarrassed of your own culture and roots is something one should never be shamed about in my opinion. Also seeing my peers wear things I couldn’t afford as well, hits you differently when you’re growing up versus now, being that we’re our own person now.

Growing up I’ve never seen my culture being put into any apparel that you can wear subtlety but proudly. I was never a fan of loud (over designed) shirts, but simple shirts. Less is more. So rather than wear it loudly, my concept was to wear my culture not loudly, but proudly.

So since I was a youngin’, I’ve always had the idea and passion for creating my own apparel. An apparel brand that I and others can afford and be proud to wear being that we’ve been through similar situations. Being able to have ideas from others to myself, turning those into designs onto products and seeing the final outcome is what makes it worth it.

From there on out YEYE Apparel’s mission is two things, to Praise What You Preach & Remember Your Roots.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a youngin’, being that I’ve always had a passion knowing that I wanted to have my own apparel brand in the future helped fuel the flame in my career paths. Having my Graphic Design degree, I’m able to run everything on my own. From designing and sourcing products, to shooting and editing photoshoots for the brand. Knowing what my vision and how well I want the brand’s quality to be, I kept the team to just myself. Being that if anything was to go wrong, it would fall on me.

But to set my brand apart from others would be tough, but i would just say that I’m putting my best out there whether it be a product to a message. From projecting that certain products won’t sell to some selling out, being able to put my best out there, makes me know that when I see others out in the world repping my brand, it comes back full circle.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients has been from connections via social media. Say when a new product comes out, photoshoots are done beforehand. And to determine the models for the shoots, it falls down to if they’ll fit the message for the drops and who they know. As social media works, when your models share and repost your brand’s photos, their followers/friends will see it and support them whether it be to share the post(exposure) and/or purchase some products.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Might not be a lesson but one thing that stuck to me until college was social class. Growing up if you wear certain brands that means you’re in certain social classes. But after a while once you’re in the actual world you see the “Rich” wear simplistic apparels and the less fortunate wear designer. A lot of people dress to impress but if you go home eating ramen noodles every night to stunt, is that really worth living for? No. So, seeing that, I had to unlearn that lesson, being that social class is toxic and creates barriers among peers which is just not worth it at the end of the day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeyeapparel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YEYEapparel/

Image Credits
Austin Moua