We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Topshelf Kobe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Topshelf thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Yeah, everyday I’m grateful that I can make a living off doing what I love. Before I started my clothing line I was working at fast food. I never had in my head that this was something I wanted to do the rest of my life. I felt like I was bigger than a job and that I was wasting my talent by working a 9-5, I just had to find my purpose and take the risk that people were either going to be behind it or was it going to be a wasted investment. But, although I was working a job I still was testing the waters on how I wanted to go about it. I started off making jeans and that led to a lot of people telling me to start a brand. I never had pure intentions on starting a clothing brand from the jump. I wanted to be a model/stylist due to me liking a lot of different aesthetics and clothing I would wear at a young age. For example; Jeremy Scott, HBA (Hood By Air), Bape, Vintage Supreme, etc. I really stood out at my school and in my community because not many kids at the age of 15,16 was wearing the pieces and clothing that you would see on the average. And that’s kind of where I got that cult of people behind me. Just by me always being myself and being different. So once I started my first clothing line back in 2019 everyone was already behind me just off me being so young knowing how to dress. Everyday I’m grateful to have people behind me that sees the vision in my clothes. Because, I know I don’t make the average clothing with just a logo. Like the aesthetic behind my clothes really stand out, and I make sure of that. Because, it’s a lot of brands out here now and you have to make sure you are doing something to stand out if you want to keep that momentum going. I tell people everyday I get multiple dms, “Find your own aesthetic and stick to it.” A lot of people see other brands and feel like that’s how their brand needs to be, but we are in an era now where weird is normal, so the things people were fascinated with back then it’s normal now, so you really have to take that extra step in creativity. And never rush anything a good design can come from you doing or seeing anything. That’s why I enjoy traveling and seeing new things, because I always get inspired and I’ll turn it into my own aesthetic. With all of that being said when I first started doing clothes it wasn’t easy. I had a lot of family and close friends doubt me and told me to work a job because I was wasting my time and not making enough.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kobe, I’m 20 years young. I really feel like I’ve been in the clothing industry all my life. I can’t remember a time I didn’t like clothes or liked putting on clothes. But, I do feel like in 6th grade that’s when I started taking it more seriously just by off a lot of students & teachers in school telling me my style was different and it stood out to them.Wearing clothes was something I always liked doing because it boost my confidence it’s just something about it. I feel like stepping out with an outfit is like wearing your first outfit on the first day of school. I’ve gotten the discipline down pack from taking a lot of modeling classes back during summer in 2018. They would teach us a lot of things to keeping your image up to par anytime you step out because you never know who you might run into that would like to give you a business proposition or anything you never know. I provide high quality Streetwear that meets designer.The main thing that separates me and other clothing brand owners is the aesthetic behind it. And the pieces. I don’t even like to release anything I’ve feel like I even seen before. I want to be as original as possible with any piece, but you definitely can see the influence. I’m most proud of making all my designs on my iPhone. Only because I don’t meet people who designs their designs on their phone usually they always use procreate or photoshop. But, I never knew how to work that so I’ve always just used my iPhone.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Just by being myself and standing out from others.I used to have an old Instagram page with 125k until it got deleted a couple of years back. But, no matter the amount of followers I had I always would treat myself on social media as if I was already famous. Advice to anyone trying to build their presence is try not to look like your favorite artist, designer, etc. BE YOURSELF. It’s not much originality in the world nowadays it’s a lot of people trying to fit in so they won’t get embarrassed or laughed at. That doesn’t mean you can’t get inspired, but do it in your own way.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
CONTENT. People love to see what they are about to buy. A mock up does no justice anymore since the clothing industry is getting bigger everyday. You don’t have a lot of people who makes content for their products just the mock up and a website link. But, you have to paint the pictures to your customers how this came about, the quality, and the meaning behind it. You can show anybody a mock up. It’s about showing your future customers the quality, styling it, and especially other influential people wearing it that maybe they look up to. People don’t start to support you until they see it’s popular to support you.
Contact Info:
- Website: NothingMatterUSA.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Topshelfkobe
- Twitter: Twitter.com/Nm1of1
- Other: Tiktok.com/NothingMattersUSA