It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything about The Big Mix but that’s because the work for bringing the world’s first (and only) celebration of Southern streetwear culture to existance has been MUCH harder than I anticipated. Not SO hard that I’ve changed my mind about doing it but trust, it hasn’t been all rainbows and puppies either.

Besides, no one wants to hear about me complain. It’s not like anyone put a GUN to my head and made me do this. I said I believed in Southern streetwear, I said I believed that there was a need, so I gotta make it do what it do, right? Because I played quarterback from Recreation League through college I’m expertly prepared for the actual event itself–GAMEDAY if you will. I will take all the blame if this blows up in my face and all of the credit if it becomes half as good as I dream it can be.

But what I wasn’t prepared for was all the “No” answers I’ve received leading UP to March 25th. I’m thinking “Charleston Fashion Week + Southern streetwear + H1GHER LEARNING” who could possibly say no to that?

A lot of people actually.

In fact, I’ve been turned down by EVERY SINGLE POTENTIAL SPONSOR that I’ve asked to participate (actually, two have still yet to respond). Shot, I’ve even been shot down by a couple clothing brands too.

Some have had (in my opinion) really good reasons and some I felt were just blowing me off. Even with that latter group of people I think it’s more about their lack of faith in Southern streetwear than it is about me so I don’t take it personal. But still all this rejection has led me to face the cold reality that not many people believe in us. I’m not mad about it though. It is what it is. I take it as a challenge, one that I welcome with open arms. It has, however, allowed me to start thing about streetwear in the South in terms of “cause and effect”.

Because it seems to me that before we can defeat these obstacles and get people on our side, we have to first understand what the specific problems are.

Wouldn’t you agree?

NOT NAN PERSON PAYING THEIR RENT OFF SOUTHERN STREETWEAR.

Yeah. You see it. I said “not NAN person…”

This is probably the biggest reason very few of us in the Southern streetwear world get invited to Team Epiphany parties, Nike sneaker events, and the like. Why would anyone put money into anything that hasn’t been able to show an ability to sustain itself?

Good question.

I can’t really answer that without going in a long drawn out monologue about accessibility and infrastructural. And even though, my answer would come off as very competent, I’m not 100% sure I’d answer all the questions that come to mind.

What I do know is this: fashion, no matter the genre, is mostly dictated by people in New York, LA, Europe, and Japan (China ain’t to be slept on either).Which isn’t necessarily a problem until you consider that those people are NOTHING like us, basic human emotions and needs aside. Combine that with the fact that you don’t have ACCESS to these influencing agents and the road becomes very steep, very quickly.

New York City is 745 miles away from where I live. I only know like five people in the Big Apple. None of them work in fashion. Long story short, if I was depending on them to get me “IN”, I’d be screwed.

Now this isn’t to say that EVERY brand outside of the South is ballin’ out of control–because that certainly is not the case–or that just BEING in one of those locations I mentioned makes you a prime candidate for the big time but, seriously, allow yourself a moment to stop and take a good look at our beloved industry.

Ask yourself: Who runs this shit? What are my favorite brands and where are they based? Why do I see the SAME bloggers at the SAME parties and pushing the SAME items at the SAME time?

There is a “hidden” society of people and companies (#NoIlluminati) that makes the street culture world run ’round. The trick is not so much FINDING them but presenting yourself worthy of inclusion.

I know it sounds crazy and I don’t exactly have a pile of indisputable proof to back those claims but I think anyone that has been spelunking streetwear as long as I have could see that somethings afoot. There are invisible hands stirring the pot, bruh. I’m not mad at ‘em though. I just want to know how a brotha like me can get a spoon!

Maybe that spoon will materialize if The Big Mix is a hit. Maybe I just need to spend more time in NYC or Japan. Maybe I am right…we have yet to prove ourselves to be economically viable and because of that, no one is showing us love. Or maybe–and I know this might sound REALLY crazy–but just hear me out. Maybe the SINGLE reason no one believes in Southern streetwear is not because the Marcus Troy’s of the world don’t invite us to dinner. What if others don’t believe in Southern streetwear because…

WE DON’T BELIEVE IN SOUTHERN STREETWEAR!

Didn’t expect for ol’ Captain Seersucker to type that didja?

Yes, I fully believe that we are catering to demise of ourselves before we even get started. Think I’m over-exaggerating? Check this:

When you want to buy a new tee shirt to match your Jordans, when’s the last time you thought “Hey, I’m going to support a Southern streetwear brand today! Maybe scoop a We Are The Process tee shirt to match these Infrared 6s (goodness knows darn near all their clothing is black, white, and red).”

How many times have you said, even privately, “Man, I gotta get to New York so I can shop at Dave’s Quality Meats/Goliath RF/Atmos!” Why is it that we don’t seem to have the same enthusiasm for places like Wish, PhatKaps, Politics, or Flava Factory? Places that at least attempt to cater to our taste.

Instead of picking up that new Supreme tee shirt, support The Speakeazy. Like Supreme needs any more of your money? They doing photoshoots with Diddy and Lady Gaga, it think they’ll be okay if you don’t drop that $40 this one time.

Instead of buying BAPE (Rest in Peace) buy DOPE. Pick up a Realeyez tee next month instead of ANOTHER Ralph Lauren Polo Bear bedazzled garment. DISCLAIMER: I love Polo and I would never encourage anyone to completely give up The Horse but in the context of this narrative, it really is time to diversify your stocks and bonds.

GoodWood NYC is a perfectly fine company but did you know that there is a woman in NORTH CAROLINA doing the same exact thing (seriously, her name is JuJu and she runs a company called Woodville–you’ll learn about her tomorrow)?

WE ARE THE SINGLE REASON NO ONE BELIEVES IN STREETWEAR.

The point is we have options.

The unfortunate thing is that many times even the most well meaning Southern streetwear enthusist will exercise their option to pick up that new Mishka joint over the Honor Roll Clothing Group crewneck. It happens–Crooks and Castles is on Hypebeast and Karmaloop and JackThreads.com…they are already a part of our streetwear subconscious. And so because you have ACCESS to Crooks, you go with what you know. But mark my words, our success –if ever achieved in the sense that I image it can be–will be a collective one. And every time you decide to purchase a Flying Coffin fitted instead of a Jonathan Da Lynn joint you’re not exactly helping the situation.

This is NOT to say that you can’t ever buy anything other than FamCo. or Nameus Clothing, variety is indeed the spice of life, but consider this your wake up call to action. None of us will be able to pay our rent off this stuff we don’t start supporting each other. We can forgot those fancy invite-only parties and sneaker releases because we’ll never be relevant enough to get on the list if we keep up this pattern of behavior.

To bring things full circle, are people NOT sponsoring The Big Mix because you haven’t purchased Secret Scientist snapback? Well, not in and of itself. But seeing how, outside of MAYBE Atlanta, Streetwear is and unheard of thing down South, NOT purchasing it doesn’t help the cause either.

Yes, these brands are part of the problem too. They aren’t doing what the SUCCESSFUL brands are doing, namely getting their name out there, so some of the blame must be put squarely on their shoulders. I mean, how can you be expected to buy something that you know NOTHING about? I guess that goes back to my original point…we are our worst enemies right now.

So the question changes from “Why aren’t we on?” to “What are WE going to do about it?”

Well!?! I’m listening…