Desigend By The Streets
Material Goods/Craft/Flea/Art
Products
About
We do custom embroidery and embroidery art. We have a one of a kind machine set up, that allows us to dye the thread as it is embroidering. Since we get to dye the thread as it embroidering it allows us to save rivers and water sources overseas from the dying process and pollution it causes. With the special embroidery process we have we creative a clothing line inspired by the struggles of streets. We created a clothing line to inspired and show others there is another option than street life.
Programs and Partners
Location
Des Moines, IA
Manager
I was born into street royalty, and it was always expected I would follow that path. From the Southside Chicago, and as an 18 year old I knew I had to find a way out. Even though that life was full of a lot of bad stuff, my dad taught me to take care of others and be responsible for them. I saw my dad bail people out and buy houses so people wouldn’t lose theirs, and he used his connections and resources to help keep his neighborhood together. My debt is to make sure people are safe and taken care of, and that’s what motivates me to make art and create opportunities and second chances for others.
When I was younger, I played a lot of basketball, and I was lucky to have Craig Hodges from the Chicago Bulls coach my team. He taught me mental toughness and how to be a real professional. I learned to be disciplined and to take care of myself, and I realized that the same rules that led success in business were the same rules for success on the streets. The only difference was the product they were selling.
I’ve worked a lot of jobs and they all taught me something that has led me to being here in Des Moines with my own studio and business, Designed by the Streets. I managed 7 McDonalds restaurants in Aurora, Illinois, and I got free training at Hamburger University. That gave me the confidence to purchase a hot dog franchise. I moved to Ames where I set up hot dog stands, and got up early every day, talked with people, and learned humility. I realized that no one was wanting to fight me or prevent me from making art. Iowa gave me a place where I could use my creativity and business skills to do something different.
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