Calvin Bennett | E-Commerce Business Owner & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Calvin, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Having your own business, especially one that requires you to wear multiple hats, can be very demanding and time consuming. The majority of my time is spent catering to my business. It has become important for me to make a conscious effort to spend time outside of working to do things I enjoy so I do not feel too overwhelmed by managing my business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My brand was started with the purpose of capturing the diverse and influential nature of black culture. My aim was to create clothing that potential customers could identify with. Some items made statements on socially relevant issues, some paid tribute to popular black figures, others brought about a sense of nostalgia. Designing clothing has its inherent challenges as it can be difficult to create something that people find visually pleasing enough to want to wear and spend their hard earned money on. This has always motivated me to challenge myself creatively and to constantly seek trusted opinions on my work. Getting feedback and accepting constructive criticism has been a crucial part of my process. I’ve learned to trust my creative instincts and to pay attention to every little detail when designing/creating. It is important for me to take my time to make sure I offer the best product possible.

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?
I would like to give a shoutout to all of my friends that have supported my brand from the beginning in 2017. They have helped me promote on social media, assisted me with photoshoots by serving as models and photographers, and offered helpful opinions on the direction of my brand. A special thank you to Vanessa Hill, Kellie Morgan, Aliah Jaundoo, Maikanh do Vilory, and Alexis Hudson!