We recently connected with Taron Schumpert and have shared our conversation below.

Taron, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The creation of The Original People Fashion Brand (TOP) came about through the aspiration to educate our melanated population about the ancient empowering culture we derived from. I came upon the knowledge of our true culture while caring for my ten-month-old daughter at the time, In search of my divine purpose in life. During my journey I had sought many areas of practice from electric engineering to drafting in designing. Everything had not seemed to not fall in place for me. Therefore, I spent time researching, reading books. and equipping myself with knowledge of myself and where we come from as a people. I immediately felt the need to share this information with the melanated communities around the globe and I knew preaching and teaching to our people was not the answer. Throughout my years I have always had a thing for fashion, I love to look good and feel good. My wife and I spent many nights up late discussing our life, our culture as a people, and plans for our future and during that time we came up with our fashion brand. The Original People Fashion Brand, representing melanated people around the world and uniting melanated cultures across the globe. By creating this brand we are solving the problem of lack of knowledge within our community, Lack of knowing thyself, our cultural practices, and our purpose in life as a whole and individually affects how we raise our families, our finances, and how we treat and view one another. TOP is solving this issue by implementing our culture in our imaging, colors, patterns and designs. With every purchase we provide a printed page from a book for our supporters to read with reference to book title, the author and where the book can be purchased. This way we have provided fashion and knowledge in hopes to inspire our people to seek more knowledge and embrace unity within our communities. We believe when you look good you feel good and with a knowledge and wisdom you feel ten times better.

Taron, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Not only am I the CEO of TOP fashion brand, but I am also a father of three two girls and one boy and a husband to my outstanding wife Nadia Schumpert. I am a proud member of Black Men Group (BMG) and Co Host of Lead Your Lineage podcast; in these roles I am mentoring individuals of all ages and being a voice for those who aspire and desire to become an upstanding induvial in life and build our community for the greater. The Original People fashion brand allows me to express my creativity and love for my melanated culture and people. We provide clothing for women, men, and children. By providing a melanated owned clothing brand this allows our people to increase our economic position by keeping our money within our community so we can build things that benefit us and our children. What sets TOP apart from any other brands is that the brand is created to spread knowledge and unity. This brand was not created on a thought of how to make money or how to get rich quick, our brand is created from pure passion and genuine care for melanated cultures around the globe. We take the time to speak to our supporters about our purpose and spread the knowledge we have gained and learn from them as well. I am proud to have created this brand and continue to push the movement forward. The continuous work I put in learning the craft of fashion and learning more of our ancient culture and how we got to this point today, all while creating solutions within my businesses and groups for community. The Original People fashion brand supporters should know that our products are hand crafted and designed by us and for us and who wants to support while looking good.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My cofounder is my wife, Nadia Schumpert. We meet in junior high seventh grade. When we meet, we instantly a connection, we exchanged numbers and talked daily on the phone for hours. We became very close friends and had many life experiences together at an early age. We decided to date our sophomore year of high school not knowing that year what would make our bond even stronger. From that point on she has been my partner in life as a forever friend and lover.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During my journey with TOP I have gone back and forth with wondering if shoulder return to the working field. In 2023 my wife had become pregnant with our youngest child. I had to relearn how to work the 9-5 system all over again. My wife was off work for 10-12 weeks and during that time I had worked many jobs from delivery to campaigning for local politicians. The workforce had confirmed my purpose and role in life. The companies were not providing enough hours, promising pay rates that were not fulfilled, over working employees with return of little to nothing. Prior to my wife’s time off I would ask the universe daily to show me I am doing what I am supposed to do in life, and I surely got my answer during that time.

Contact Info:

• Website: toptegapparel.com
• Instagram: toptegapparel
• Youtube: The Original People