Today we’d like to introduce you to Chisom Kingston.
Hi Chisom, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a clothing designer. I officially started my clothing brand “Mafia Scheme” in 2017. However, I have been working on clothes since I was in middle school. When I think about how I started making clothes, I like to think back to my early days, before I really understood how significant and impactful fashion can be. Growing up, I did not have a wide selection of clothes to choose from like many of my peers. I had to find ways to reinvent the clothing I had and make it new in a sense. This urge to reinvent my clothes simultaneously sparked an interest in fashion. As early as 13 years old, I was stitching, distressing, painting, and bleaching my clothes. At the time, I was doing what I needed to make it seem like I wasn’t wearing the same clothes to school every day, little did I know I was developing skills that would be useful down the line. Fast forward to today, I have made and sold hundreds of original pieces from my brand and that early interest in fashion has turned into an honest passion. Although I started my clothing brand in 2017, I did not release my first collection until 2019. In-between the years I spent time studying the fashion industry, creating samples and mock-ups, and marketing for the new release. I would not have got to where I am today without the support of my parents, my team and my community who show up and show out every time I drop new clothes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to entrepreneurship is never smooth. I started facing struggles the moment I decided to start my brand, with the first struggle being a lack of finances and information. I knew I wanted to create clothes but, in the beginning, I was not sure where to start. Who can make my logo? Who can print that logo on a t-shirt? Where can I buy that t-shirt blank? What is an MQO? These are just some of the questions I had that halted my initial process. This lack of information created bumps in the road which over time made it challenging to produce the clothing I wanted. With the help of Google, I got all the information I needed only to realize I did not have the budget to mass-produce the clothes. In 2018 I was living on my own, attending Georgia State University, and working for Delta. My finances were stretched between tuition, bills, and the MARTA train. I simply did not have the budget to meet the MQO’s (Minimum Quantity Order) a lot of manufacturing companies had. However, if there is a will there is a way. I eventually mustered the courage and saved money to buy the equipment and mass-produce the clothes myself. Over time I learned a lot about the business which in turn made some things easier, but I still face a fair share of challenges. These challenges continued through 2020 but, while dealing with these struggles I have finished school and graduated from Georgia State University as well as continuing to produce clothing, increase sales, and grow brand awareness. In every aspect of life, I feel like you will face challenges, the difference is how you handle those challenges.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Inspired by the ways of the world, what started out as an idea slowly became a lifestyle. Officially founded in 2017 “Mafia Scheme” is an Atlanta-based streetwear & lifestyle clothing brand. I want the readers to know that before the start of the clothing brand, Scheme was a just group of friends. We were a collective of like-minded individuals to say the least. Our freethinking approach to life allows us to take inspiration from the world around us and apply it to traditional streetwear. I would also like the readers to know that Mafia Scheme is a multifaceted company. We offer services in graphic design, audio engineering, photography, creative directing and even Airbnb booking. I specialize in photography and graphic design.
I am most known for the clothing that I have been producing and releasing over the past few years. I believe what separates my brand from other brands is the fact that this is not another fast-fashion clothing line looking to make a quick dollar. Each piece is created by hand and curated specifically for like-minded individuals. I also believe what separates my brand is the family-oriented feel behind my clothing. Purchasing Mafia Scheme clothing feels more joining a club rather than just buying a new shirt or hoodie. I am most proud of the overall growth of the brand. When I first started selling clothes, the only orders, I would receive were from close friends. I spent a lot of time working on brand awareness and reaching different demographics. Eventually, word of the brand spread and orders increased. I just recently shipped my first international order, and it feels like the first milestone of many.
What’s next?
In terms of the clothing brand, my plans are simply to create more and grow brand awareness. I am focused on spreading the message, reaching new demographics, and overall, just growing the family. I am looking forward to creating more pieces from streetwear fashion to high-end fashion. Eventually, I would like to do it all, Mafia Scheme hats, posters, bookbags, shoes, wristbands, phone cases, etc. In terms of the company, we have plans to open a Scheme recording studio as well as many other business ventures. The future is bright.