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Battle of the Brands - Los Angeles
Firme Clothing
/ Mala Suerte Co.
competed in the Battle of the independent clothing Brands that are in, and
around the City of Angels. We give thanks to all for another blessed summer
weekend, especially in regards to the show last Saturday (next to Downey Park).
Much respect to the owner of the spot that believed in the movement and allowed
Crank L.A. Clothing
to partner up with Ragd Clothing and use the grounds to throw the event. It sure
was hot! Literally a scorcher, but relief was found in the shade of the canopy
and the DJ StarChild (on the two tortillas) hosting a roster of emcees and
Musical Junkies that put us in a comfort-zone: Ears2theGround Crew, Atlast,
Self-Provoked and PawzOne to name a few...
As for the Clothing Companies- There was everything from fresh street
threads from Coup Street and Street Products to Crank L.A. Clothing and Fixie
Gear steering toward the bicycle-riding trend that's blowing up. Underground Hip
Hop Blog keeping that b-boy spirit alive, while Critical Acts got there early
and caught strategic advertising on the poles (we saw that). And Nonstop
Clothing had the pretty girls (we saw that, too). Shout out to Racks Clothing
and to the homie from Vndta Clothing that prints at the same place we do.
Instead of competitive animosity there was a lot of camraderie and networking.
We made new friends and reconnected with our old friend Big Herkulez Martinez
from the notorious Def-Kon Unit (back in the days he would rock stages with his
partner Strik9). It's been 10 years since we were in that underground music
circuit and now we're in another business- but the hustling never stops.
It was definitely a winning experience at the Battle of the Brands, even
though the competition itself was shrouded in controversy. There were little
flaws in the voting process (glitches in the program U could say) that left the
results of the tally undetermined, and still quite mysterious. But all the
companies that battled for the purse had originality. Just like every person has
their own strengths, each business has potential for success in their own rite.
If the contest wasn't based on vote counts, maybe we would have won for
ingenuity with our branch into the Firme Skate biz, or for showcasing the
"unreleased" stamped leather belts. Either way, the team to beat was Bare Arms Clothing
Co., as far as overall business operation and product display. They run a
tight ship and have their professional game up. I was talking to the guys and
they said it didn't happen overnight. Through trial and error, they gain from
experience and now have their booth action down-pat. We are not mad at them for
that at all...
The spirit of independent entrepreneurship is thriving
and there is always room for more. You see, we don't think like corporate
America (which seeks to cut their competitions' throats for huge market shares).
We are looking for our own niches in small markets, within markets. Most of our
operations are small enough to prosper on a moderately low production level. So,
nobody is really a threat to anyone else: business-wise. We have that
"everyone-is-in-his-own-lane" attitude and it shows when we come together. You
could see everyone working together; even lending us hangers, and letting us
hang our shirts on their partition. We appreciate that feeling of brotherhood.
Even though we are in the same game, we are not playing against each other.
There is plenty for everyone... and then some! We wish each one of you the best
and may hope, peace and happiness follow you.
Let's do it again,
sometime
ESkribe.Uno | Photos by Sal Rojas
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