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

Hahson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

Recently I’ve been afforded the opportunity to work with some amazing kids, this opportunity, being 3-4 weeks in has inspired me in so many ways. It’s helping me become a better parent to my kid Leo also. So first and foremost I believe in providing more opportunities for people such as myself and others, also having the right people in certain positions that can allow us more opportunities and this is regardless of race and ethnicity, gender and religion. There’s an amazing amount of diversity among staff as well as the kids, so we can clearly see a collective of kids who are different in the sense of race, ethnicity, religion and gender, all operating with amazing abilities, learning and interacting with each other as one. With that said, I do wish to see more people like me with backgrounds in entrepreneurship and career, who can walk and talk the language of the kids. I remember my freshman year at Clark Atlanta University, starting the semester off with 18 hours, I was totally overwhelmed with schoolwork and being in a different environment, my grades going into the second semester started to fall, the school placed me on academic probation, gave me 15 hours instead, and I had to go to a class with other students in the same boat. Totally upset with myself and having to go to this class, I still managed to go ultimately realizing this was the best thing for me. I met my mentor, who was the instructor, he also worked in Enrollment Support. This guy changed my viewpoints with school, helped with other issues plus helped me with getting work study, in which I reported to his office everyday and he would give me small duties and errands to run around campus. I still had a few more hiccups in college but he really helped me through, with guidance, encouragement and opportunity.

There’s this redundant argument of implementing trades and hands on learning skills back into school curriculum. Financial literacy and home economics is important. And as much as we want to suppress the use of technology, social media etc, we need to figure better ways to incorporate it all in a seamless manner.

Hahson, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I alongside my brother operate Leopold Jacobs 1983, a sophisticated lifestyle brand that marries the rich heritage of Trinidad and German culture to create fashion pieces that narrate the unique journeys of its creators through art, travel, music, and style. With an emphasis on fostering upward mobility among professionals, our brand curates a diverse collection of apparel that includes an exclusive range of T-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, jogger pants, shorts, windbreakers, and a notable line of socks, all designed to elevate the modern wardrobe. Beyond merely offering clothing, Leopold Jacobs 1983 promises a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing, with 100% recycled packaging and high-quality materials. The heart of the brand lies in its mission to communicate and advocate for the values of its community, encapsulated through fashion. Emphasizing honest customer service and satisfaction, the brand extends an invitation to explore fashion as a medium of personal expression and connectivity.

At Leopold Jacobs 1983, we pride ourselves on using only the finest high-quality materials to craft custom pieces tailored just for you. In our commitment to sustainability, we prioritize the use of recycled packaging and uphold ethical sourcing practices to deliver not just products, but value. Rest assured, your items will be dispatched promptly to your doorstep. Above all, our ultimate goal is to provide honest and exceptional customer service to ensure your utmost satisfaction.

To speak to and for our friends through fashion is a cherished endeavor that holds a special place in our hearts. It is a meaningful way for us to connect with those we care about and to express our shared values and experiences through the artistry of clothing.

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

With opening a business you expect excitement from your family, friends and peers. You ultimately expect them to be involved with patronage, social media engagement and so forth. Rightfully so, it’s not a fair expectation based on the relationship being so close and personal. Just because it’s your cousin or friend doesn’t mean they have to patronize your brand nor do they have to help with social media engagement and marketing. They do not have to tell people about your brand when the opportunity presents itself, they don’t have to factor your brand into their own brand buying. However I truly believe that they should do all of these things because they do it so freely for other brands. It just seems it’s a disconnect when it comes to your brand. I’ve experienced this several times at the start of opening my brand, throughout developing other ways to help grow the brand and spread its awareness. I do have a great support network throughout my family, friends and peers, we as creators, entrepreneurs, dreamers… just want more people involved with helping to tell your story, because a lot of the family, friends and peers, are a great witnesses to the journeys.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m sure a lot of us experienced interesting times during the Pandemic. Operating a clothing brand we thought we would experience a drop in sales, and at that time our sales were low. I guess do to all the money ppl were coming across at that time, impulse buying, we saw an increase in sales. Around that time also we made some changes, the creative bug was at work, we found a new distributor, all helped us during that transition. My wife started a short term rental business with housing for travel nurses and vehicles for rent also. In business we have to follow the trends, or follow the highs and lows, stay up on your industry. We like to be proactive instead of being reactive, so opening new businesses and ways of additional revenue streams you make these decisions and pivotal changes for your businesses success. In addition with having these brands working simultaneously, my son’s education and being present for him I got this opportunity I mentioned to work with kids. Being more involved in my community has been a huge part of my life now as a parent. I used to joke around with my family and friends around the time he was born, saying I would become a police officer so I can basically help to protect my son as he grows. I’m just too old now… however getting into the educational system was another route for me. So this is a new experience for me, it’s helping me in so many ways. One of my College mottos is Culture for Service, so it’s almost my duty to be involved in social and community service.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leopoldjacobs1983.com
• Instagram: @legendaryalive

Image Credits

Images Courtesy of Hahson Askew