For the winter Fashion Feature, AimerAmour produced a photo shoot for the collegiate clothing line, The UV Brand. Created by New York native, Najee Jeremiah, the serial entrepreneur has his hands full with graphic designing, creating several social networks, producing new pieces for The UV Brand and matriculating through Howard University as an Electrical Engineering major. Jeremiah talks to AimerAmour about what differentiates The UV Brand from other clothing lines, what he’s learned about the fashion industry and what to expect from his various company’s throughout 2011. (Visit the “Zippers & Buttons” Section to see the UV Brand Photo Shoot Pics!)
AimerAmour Models Quincy Greene, Jasmine Marie, Najee Jeremiah (center) Nicole Scott & Aston Travis
AimerAmour: What is the UV Brand? When was it started? Why was it important to you to start a clothing line?
Najee Jeremiah: The UV Brand is an urban clothing line founded in December of 2009 at Howard University. We also design licensed Collegiate Merchandise. I started the UV Clothing line because I believed that the clothes in my college’s bookstore were very generic and expensive. The importance and mission of the UV Brand is to produce quality and fashionable college gear at a reasonable price.
AA: With so many clothing lines on the market, especially a lot of students getting into this business, why should people wear the UV Brand? How is it different from other clothing lines?
NJ: The UV Brand is unlike most clothing lines because we have a smaller target market than most clothing lines. We make clothes specifically for college students. Also, our apparel is more than fashionable, we design clothes that actually identify with our customers.
AA: What are some important things that you’ve learned about running a clothing line that you would share with aspiring designers?
NJ: The clothing industry is ever-changing; there new clothing lines released every year. Retail Stores like “Up Against the Wall” and “DTLR” probably won’t do business with new clothing lines unless your brand is well established like “LRG”, or “Blac Label Premiums”. I would recommend bringing your products to independently owed stores and then working on placement in larger retail stores. It also important to focus on building your brand and your business will be more profitable.
AA: How was your experience with the AimerAmour photo shoot?
NJ: The AimerAmour Photo Shoot was excellent. The shoots two Photographers, Jeff Mindell and Emmitt McGee did excellent work. The team from the UV Brand, the assistants from AimerAmour Magazine and all of the models had a memorable experience working together.
AA: What is the company working on for 2011?
NJ: We have a number of things in store for 2011. We will be re-launching our website, UVBrand.com, with an interactive new web design featuring the UVBlog and also we will allow designers all over the world to upload their own original UV Brand designs. All of the Top Designs will be previewed on a new section of our website called, “The A List”. In this new section, our website visitors can rate the submitted designs and the top rated design will be produced and made available for purchase on UVBrand.com. Also, the wining designer will receive full recognition for their design, free UV Brand clothing and a monetary award.
AA: What are you studying in school? What are your career goals and additional hobbies?
NJ: I am currently studying Electrical Engineering at Howard University, but I may transfer to Graphic Designing soon. My career goals are endless, The UV Brand is only my first company, I’ve also founded two other companies. Blac Market Designs (http://blacmarket.com), is a graphic design company where I create custom logos, flyers, jerseys, t-shirts, etc for companies and organizations. I am also the co-founder and lead designer for YsUp.com, we are currently developing a social-learning network for college students, similar to Blackboard.com and ConnectYard.com. My career goals are simply to continue reaching new plateaus for all of my businesses. Hobbies include basketball, running track and of course, graphic design.
AA: Company contact information
NJ: For more information on the UV Brand (@uvbrand) please visit http://UVbrand.com, or email us at info@uvbrand.com
For more information on my Blac Market Designs, please visit http://blacmarket.com or email us at info@blacmarket.com
For anyone that would like more information on YsUp.com, please contact me directly at ysupinc@gmail.com