CELEBRATING CHARITY WITH STREETWEAR: TAP IN TO SFSXINC
#WEARTHECAUSE WITH THESE STREETWEAR JACKETS
Over the years we've covered quite a few dope brands, and it's always exciting to see how black designers continue to push the culture forward. What excites us the most -- even more than the designs themselves -- are the missions behind the brand. From that point of view, there's no brand right now that makes us more excited than SFSXINC. At a quick glance, their streetwear jackets are ill for sure, but the fact that their brand is rooted in charity is even better.SFSXINC celebrates charity with streetwear. Their brand helps amplify powerful causes, raising awareness and funding for charities by designing streetwear jackets that act as a symbol for their mission. They're not collaborating simply for the sake of aesthetic either: One third of all of their profits go toward the charities that they work for. In an era overcrowded with folks fighting for their voice to be heard, SFSXINC is creating more visibility for charities, one jacket at a time.We spoke to Saint, the owner of this exciting new movement for some added context on his journey, and the admirable mission of SFSXINC. Read up below. And get in contact with our video production company in NYC here.
THE CONCEPT OF YOUR BRAND IS REALLY DOPE. HOW DID THE IDEA OF MAKING CHARITY COLLABORATIONS A PART OF SFSXINC COME ABOUT?
Well, it wasn’t really a matter of making charity a part of the brand, it’s moreso that charity is the entire brand. There is no us, without charity. I’ve been in the designand music world for a few years now designing pieces in collaboration with different artists. One day I just realized, I could do the same thing with charities, and make amore meaningful impact on this world while still just doing what I love.
WHAT'S YOUR PROCESS LIKE? DO YOU HAVE A DESIGN IDEA IN MIND WHEN YOU LINK UP WITH CHARITIES OR DOES THE PARTNERSHIP COME FIRST?
We always seek out the charity first. My inspiration for each jacket comesfrom the charities themselves, so that’s a must. What sets us apart from other brandsthat are donating to charity is this very concept. I’ll sit down with these charities and talkto them about their mission, what inspired it, why do they do what they do, why is it soimportant, and from this conversation I sketch out a design that I feel represents theirmission. Our mission is #wearthecause, it stands for bringing charities into yourcommunities by wearing fashion that makes a difference. Yes, it’s high fashion, but it’salso a conversation starter. I didn’t create SFSXINC solely to raise money, I created it toraise awareness and make charity a part of the conversation to a younger generation.
WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT HXOUSE. HOW IMPACTFUL WAS THAT FOR YOU AS A CREATIVE?
HXOUSE was definitely eye-opening, there we’re only a few of us actually selected thatmade it into the program. So that was my first time really “competing” as a creative.Through HXOUSE and the stories and experiences I heard from major industry leaderslike Lamar, Errolson of acronym, Metro boomin, Bella Hadid, and many more, I reallysaw how far I could take my own craft and creativity. The passion and auras of thepeople around me at HXOUSE was the most valuable thing I was impacted by.
"I’ve been in the design and music world for a few years now designing pieces in collaboration with different artists. One day I just realized, I could do the same thing with charities, and make a more meaningful impact on this world while still just doing what I love."
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT PARTNERSHIP WITH SICKKIDS? WHAT STOOD OUT ABOUT THEM? WHAT WAS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND DESIGNING THE "KID" JACKET?
SickKids is an amazing organization. They have a huge impact and history in Toronto.Many of my friends, even my mom, all went to SickKids in their early days of life, someup to even their teens. When they gave us the permission to make a jacket inspired bytheir vision, I was honored. The jacket itself is inspired by youth, and what it means tobe a kid, and that through any circumstances, love, play, and comfort are what’simportant. It was meant to balance the line between playful, yet edgy. A young personall the way to an older adult could wear this jacket with pride, and that itself symbolizesthat we should never lose that inner childishness.
WE READ THAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT PARTNERSHIP TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR *CHECKS CALENDAR* ANY CHANCE WE CAN GET THE EXCLUSIVE NEWS HERE ON GRITTY VIBES?
We pushed back our next launch, due to covid-related reason. That being said, when weare ready to announce our next partnership, the amazing team at Gritty will be the first to know.