We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting out, I wasn’t sure on what I was really getting myself into. Growing up with a family of hustlers always gave me the idea of starting my own company, just didn’t know where to start at the time. I started to lean into fashion heavily when I realized that people judge & base their first impression— the high school hallways was my first fashion show.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
It was never in my plan to become a Creative, but without doing so I’m uncertain on where I would be today. Starting out, me & my two partners looked at this as more as a hobby, but once we realized the potential we have it turned into a passion while expressing our ideas through clothing. It was never about doing it to make the money but more so about creating the lifestyle we wanted to set for ourselves & others that can relate to it.

In the beginning everything was trial & error. We knew what we wanted to do so we did the research on clothing brand start ups & studied the formatting & systems of other successful fashion companies. Understanding that we were new into the business, we knew were bound to make mistakes or run into inconveniences along the way, so we prepared & overcame those situations when the time came.

Patience & consistency are two things the business has taught me over the time. Consistency will take you a long way. The more people see your work, the more familiar they become with it & it raises brand awareness which then creates interest. Along with being consistent it is important to remain patient. Moving too fast can cause miscalculated steps and future problems, learning to be patient & loving the process of it all has been a big lesson for me.

So what is “Dfrnt Hype”? It is an established upcoming fashion label that puts emphasis on being different from the hype. It is a mindset & it helps people realize what makes them unique within themselves compared to others.

Our designs and garment construction, display, & draw emotional connections without being verbally communicated this creates a “DFRNT” aesthetic. Encouraging our supporters to be more confident with their true selves. The company pays attention to detail, along with being transparent about how the brand operates.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The DMV/Metro area is always packed with events or has activities to get get into. A lot of scenery & nostalgic memories can be created here. Some of my favorite spots to visit is Georgetown in DC, Union St in Old Town Alexandria, Union Market/5th st in DC, & other events held around the area. All of these places have good pizza & Italian spots to eat at. The tri-state area has almost anything you can imagine doing whether its museums, amusement parks, clubs, painting etc. Never a dull moment in the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Looking back at it all & even now I pull a lot of inspiration from those closest to me in some ways. My family & closest friends have always given me the support & reassurance that I needed to push me be a better version of myself. Without them & the Man above, I would not be where I am today.

Website: dfrnthype.com

Instagram: @dfrnthype, @dfrnt.drew

Twitter: @dfrntdrew

Youtube: Dfrnt Hype LLC.

Image Credits
Photography done by @DrewVisualz & @J.erd_ on instagram.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.