We recently connected with Tareek Montague and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tareek, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

4L Brand LLC is a LIFESTYLE BRAND relatable and welcome to all. We are a Black Owned Brand based out of New Jersey with goals to spread a positive message through quality apparel worldwide. “4L” is a multi-acronym which stands for “4 Long, 4 Life, 4 Love” and that is a message that displays positivity and exactly what we believe in. LIFE is all about LIVING, LONGEVITY, as well as spreading LOVE daily.

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

My name is Tareek Montague also known as “OD REEK” from a square mile city in New Jersey called Hoboken. Growing up in a small but rough neighborhood I was inspired at a very early age to stay focused and on the right path, that has since led me to several different outlets over the years such as sports, music, theater arts, etc. From age’s 6 to 18 I was heavily involved in sports as a student-athlete within my community, I was a multi-sport athlete that participated in football, basketball and baseball. Throughout these years I was also a very well-respected musician/artist within my city, with a passion for music that began at age 10. Upon entering High School, I shifted my focus solely on football and left the other two sports behind but all that did was challenge me to use my time wisely and more productively. As a freshman in High School, I began my journey within the theater arts program. I performed in a total of four plays (one per year) and evolved my artistry. As a person who has always been involved in the arts, I knew my calling which led me and my peers to create an entertainment team in 2012 known as “Overly Dedicated” which was made up of musicians, management teams, and creative directors. In 2016 me and one of the creative directors which is also my cousin (MJ Lee) launched our very own “Overly Dedicated” headwear and it was a total success. After about 2.5 years the headwear business was discontinued for various reasoning, but the lessons learned simply added to my experience. Fast forward to April of 2021, I am back into my creative space and working independently within the apparel business. The coronavirus pandemic simply had me searching for needs of income and I had a lot of time on my hands, so I started brainstorming positive ideas daily. The pandemic also led me to be around my family a lot which ultimately meant I was consistently around love and good vibes. Which now leads me to the acronym “4L”, I not only want to enjoy LIVING but I want to LIVE a LONG LIFE full of LOVE hence the multi-meaning “4 Long, 4 Life, 4 Love”. This time around I wanted to be sure to do everything the correct way and use all the tools necessary as well as my previous experience, so I was sure to LLC my brand this go-around and reserve all rights. I am currently approaching my brands 2-year anniversary and I am loving every step of this journey. The brand is continuously creating and evolving, with a strong message for those worldwide. We like to think of our designs as basic but multicultural and a beautiful piece of ART. Check out our website www.the4Lbrand.com for everything “4L” from headwear to socks and everything in between.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

The funding process is by far the hardest part of being a sole owner of a brand. It’s a process that has its ups and downs, but it is 100 percent worth it. Initially the government funding during the pandemic helped me jump start the business and finalize all paperwork but currently at the moment I am funding my brand myself, no loans, no partners just my hard-earned efforts between multiple jobs. Some days are harder than others, but my positive mindset never alters!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

Our brand has its very own website that we use for all Ecommerce/Online Sales. The reason for choosing this route is simply the independence you have as well as the full creative and technical control. Also, I truly believe marketing is better reflected when you have you own website to present to customers, it also gives you a great sense of professionalism. I truly see this route as all positives and I cannot pinpoint any true “con’s” other than the tedious maintenance, but some people like myself truly enjoy that part as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: the4Lbrand.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4l_brand/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the4Lbrand/
• Other: Feel Free To Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram & Facebook (@4L_Brand), As Well As Our CEO (@OD_REEK).

Image Credits
Photos By Travon Merritt (@yaboi.travon) & Iziah McClintock (@zayfilms4)