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

Hi Ethan, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I have a vision of where I am supposed to be in life, & I won’t be satisfied until I’ve reached it. I see it clearly & I see it everyday. I truly believe I will get there, it’s just a matter of time & the work I put into succeeding. It’s like a mirage in the dessert. You can see it, it’s clear as day, and you just can’t seem to reach it, but you keep going based off of the hope that you’ll eventually get there. That’s the path God has for me & I won’t give that up. I can’t give that up.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was in a bad headspace when I first started creating my brand. I didn’t know it, but at the time I was going through anxiety and depression and I just wanted to distract myself from those feelings. At the time, my inspiration came from simply wanting to be a better person for myself and others, but I’m learning it’s about much more than that.

I never knew my true purpose until this year. I used to think my purpose was to create a clothing brand, become successful and live life the way I wanted. I realize that’s not true at all. I feel I was placed on this earth to inspire and influence a generation to do better & be better.

Everyday is a chance for you to grow, do better, be better, and become better. Not because you want to, but simply because you can.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I recently moved here from Indianapolis in May 2021. I haven’t gotten to experience nearly as much as I need to, but there are a lot of great places in the city.

Nova Sushi in Midtown, is a great place to eat and it’s some of the best sushi I’ve ever tasted. Grindhouse is also a great place to eat it if you prefer more of a sports bar atmosphere. The Battery & Ponce City Market are great places to go if you just want to hang out for the day (food, drinks, plenty of places to walk).

You have to see the High Art Museum, they feature different artists depending on the time of year & it’s very peaceful. Visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium if there’s a concert or event you’d like to see (I saw Kanye and it was amazing).

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 honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do in life until I went into my senior year of college. That summer, I met a young woman named “Kara”, during an internship in Nashville. We eventually became great friends. One day we were talking & she asked me what I wanted to do when I graduated college. I had general ideas: I wanted to own a sneaker boutique, but I couldn’t see a future for myself in that business.

At the time, I had no idea what I wanted to focus on. During our conversation, she asked me what my interests were and I told her, “fashion, sneakers, and sports”. She told me, if that’s what I’m interested in then I should go after it and do whatever I have to in order to get there. Kara told me she believed in me, could see my potential, and knew I would do great things in life.

That day, sparked something in me.
I had a flame lit inside of me that cannot be extinguished. Since that day, the idea of building a brand was set in my head. My entire senior year of college was dedicated to getting my ideas off the ground & beginning the process of starting a business.

I also want to thank my parents for believing in my vision, giving me their blessing & helping with start up costs.

Website: https://dobetterclothing.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dobetter_4ever

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dobetter_4ever?s=21

Other: I also run a vintage clothing website. shoparea95.com

Image Credits
Natoshia Damptey is the photographer of all photos included. Twitter: @ToshiaD_ Instagram: @ToshiaDVisuals

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.