MORE ABOUT ME:

In a sense i got into apparel because i love hip hop. I was getting out of high school and had no idea what i wanted to do. I was actually in a rap group at the time called Commonwealth. When I was 18 i met Alyasha Oweerka Moore who started Phat Farm with Russel Simmons and later founded Alphanumerics. Aly had me open to possibility in terms of a career. I saw designing streetwear as a job where you get paid form your knowledge of cool. It was so closely link with music & entertainment from sponoring groups to event to music videos. i decided that year to be a clothing designer.

I dropped out of college and i slanged a t-shirt line called Phive. Did that for about two years for 3 reasons: 1.) so i could have a working portfolio 2.) so i could learn my design programs and 3.) so i didn't have to get some wack ass job.

Eventually i got picked up at Osiris Skate Shoes. i started their clothing program back in 2000. The interview was kinda funny. First of all i didn't know it was gonna be a an interview but luckily i had some stuff to show. I was rapping out with Persue (the Art Director there/ dope graffitti artist) and Brian the Vice President walks in say he has 5 minutes looks at the work and says "damn, you did all this?" i was like "yeah." He goes "you're hired."

After i worked for alot of Hip Hop companies and freelanced for other companies for projects more for branding. In 2002 i started sewing because my design notebook was filling up
and i wanted to hand make a few garments. I started with custom pillows and bags. i started retailing them at urban boutiqes. One day i was like what is the toughest thing you could sew and my answer was jeans. After i made my first pair and wore them cats would constantly be like what brand of jeans are those? i'd be like Jon Phenom. They would go nuts that it was hand made. From there i made my first custom pair maybe a month later. They started at $250 and now i cut pairs for $450. Orders come from all around the world. In a sense clothing is a medium for me so it makes sense that it's a vehicle for my art.

www.JONPHENOM.com

-photo by Eric Chuang

UPDATES I'VE APPEARED OR BEEN MENTIONED IN:

COJO GOES BI-COSTAL- - -JON PHENOM "THE CUSTOM SHOW"