Businesses in this modern day vary widely from one another. This is shown through Jezz Lee as the founder of “King Street Customs (KSC)”.
Mr Wood uses urban fonts on teenagers’ everyday clothing, for a business. Hot hip-hop dance group like Unity who were 2008’s UK and World Street Dance Champion has used KSC clothing style.
Mr Wood creates “Sick” fonts, upon any type clothing. The Fonts are boldly and brightly presented as well as displaying the words, “King Custom Street” or its unique logo.
Hey, how are you doing and welcome to YHP.
I am doing pretty good thanks; I just finished collaborating with the world street dance champions to design their costume for their latest show.
• Where did the “King Street Customs” as a title come from?
The Title came from three single meanings put into one. ‘King’ is what they call me, ‘Street’ stands for the urban art that the company represents and ‘Customs’ defines what I do for who ever request my unique service.
• How did you come up the eye-catching yet simple logo?
Well… there is no way to actually explain how, but it was developed in an evening with my graffiti black book and a number 2 pencil! After my final draft I realised my logo portrays two symbols; one is the meaning that it is intended to connote which is a crown with the King Street Customs initials above it. The other one is up to your creative eye and your inspired imagination.
• Who or what inspired you to start up such a business on the basis of “ghetto” fonts on jumpers, t-shirts....etc?
My main inspiration is graffiti. Over the years there have been a few underground graffiti artists such as Cope 2, Banksy, Neck and many more that have inspired me to develop street and wall art into garment art. This can be seen as a safe, legal and practical way to represent graffiti and urban art.
• As a designer, who are your ideal top designers?
There are so many talented designers in the industry and to achieve a title of an idyllic designer is as amazing accomplishment. To me in this day and age only two designers come to mind. These people are Cope 2 designer of the Adidas graffiti collection found in foot locker and Tomoaki Nagao aka Nigo the founder of Bathing ape.
• What is your favourite clothing brand?
Bape! If I didn’t wear my own brand I would defiantly wear Bape & BBC (billionaire boys club) all day, every day.
• Who is your role model?
I don’t have a role model because I believe that it is more important to develop my life the way I want it rather then watching and aspiring for what other people have in their lives. Besides I’m too busy becoming a role model for others!
• At what age did you encounter your first entrepreneurial experience?
When I was about 16 years old I got really bored with my plain clothes, so an old friend and I use to paint our names & characters all over them (I still remember my first garment I painted, it was a hat with a poor excuse for pink panther on it). Luckily she was there to help because she had experience with this and I was so clueless on how to start. After a while with practise, my friends started to take interests with what I was doing with my clothes and before I new it I was taking orders.
• What does your business aim to give its customers?
King Street Customs aims to give its customers the opportunity to transfer their own personal desires to their clothes to create unique, exclusive and fresh garments.
• You have acquired a business and in its early stage it’s looking rather successful. Where do you see King Street Customs going in the next five years?
Since I started King Street Customs so much has happened. I have worked with some of the UK’s most influential dance Groups (shout out to Unity dance group). Most recently I launched the official KSC website WWW.KINGSTREETCUSTOMS.CO.UK. So in the next five years I intend to get this website recognised globally allowing customers from all over the world to make orders. I also aim to open up an official KSC shop in London where anyone and every one can come in and actually see the process of getting their garments customised.
• Time is an important tool in this world of ours, especially in this generation. Does this business you venture, enable you with time for yourself, friends and family?
I’m not going to lie; sometimes I wish I could freeze time. I have so much other things going on right now, including my beautiful daughter who is going to become 2 years old soon and also getting my degree in creative advertising at university. So you can only imagine the struggle I cope with; but because my business is my passion I am able to mentally allow myself to deal with this pressure, I know one day it will all pay off.
• Describe any setback and how did you bounce back?
I have never been in any major setbacks but the only setback I use to get was allowing some customers e.g. friends & associates not to pay deposits or up front. This was a setback because I use to paint clothes for all these customers and then wait on them to find money to pay up or not pay at all. I bounced back by making a strict rule for all customers to pay a minimum deposit of 20% or upfront for small orders. Other then that I seem to have the useful ability to spot problems from far and deal with them accordingly!
• What are your advices for designers, who aim to be successful?
Follow your dreams and take all opportunities. Success is not a destination it is a journey!
For more information about King Street customs please contact me at admin@kingstreetcustoms.co.uk
www.kingstreetcustoms.co.uk
blog.kingstreetcustoms.co.uk
Thank you for your time Jezz
Interview & Edited By Honey Carew
