Meet L.A. Brown | Founder & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with L.A. Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi L.A., can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
For me, the love for fashion has always been there. Growing up, I was big on two things clothing wise – sneakers because I hooped and t-shirts because I loved matching them with my kicks. That love never left so you can say it came full circle while I was in college. Like others, I was into the major clothing brands and labels, but it came to a point that I wanted something different. Seeing everyone wearing the same brands (myself included) motivated me to step out, tap into my entrepreneurial spirit and start my brand. I wanted something of my own, something where I could bring my creativity to life and display. That’s what led to the me creating the TasteMaker Lifestyle Brand.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

The TasteMaker Lifestyle is a brand has evolved to what I like to call a “Brand of Generations.” It’s a true lifestyle brand – it’s a brand of influence that appeals to multiple generations and ages through the lens of my logo the “TasteMaker Bear.”

The brand features high quality, vibrant and eye-catching apparel and accessories that’s suited for everyday wear. Whether you’re looking for a dope t-shirt, a pair of our logo socks or jogger shorts to sport to the gym; or one of our lifestyle t-shirts to wear to your favorite brunch spot or day party, there’s something for everyone. When creating, my goal is to bring to experiences to life that you can relate to. I love to capture moments that can bring a smile to your face or just a feel-good vibe. My vision has always been to create something you can connect with. Whether it’s sports-related, a current event or that feeling of nostalgia, I feel my company is the “go-to” brand to make it happen.

What sets my brand apart from others is that my brand is relatable and I’m going to go above and beyond to deliver the highest quality and value to my customers. I want my customers to get the ultimate brand experience and build a personal connection with the lifestyle. I love the fact that I’m able to interact with my customers and at the same time they’re able to experience the growth with me.

It has been a long road but what I’m most proud of is the consistency and the growth of the brand. I started with a dream and a sketch book filled with designs and notes and today I have formed relationships with some well-known celebrities and atheletes from the NBA, NFL and MLB that truly rock with the brand. It’s a great feeling when someone shares with me how much they love the brand or how they love a particular design. Things like that keep me motivated.

I’m here today because I wasn’t afraid to hear the word “no” and I always believed in myself despite what anyone else thought. Early on one of my goals was to have my brand carried in a clothing store. At that time, it was a big deal for me because I looked at it as an opportunity for my brand to be featured and sold in an actual store. Well, it wasn’t easy. I created a look book and approached multiple stores in-person, sent numerous emails and made cold calls about carrying my brand but I received little interest. I understood that I was a new brand and no one really knew me or heard of the brand, but that didn’t discourage me. I knew I had to keep pushing if that’s something I wanted to happen. I went back to the lab, created new designs and approached more stores than I did the first time. Well, I heard “no” plenty more times, but I also landed in about 14 well-known clothing stores and boutiques across the country in major markets like Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Miami.

What I’ve learned along the way is that you have to stay consistent, remain focused and don’t be afraid to ask others for help. Trust in your timing. It may not be when you want it, but it will happen when you’re ready. Just like the saying goes, “It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” There will be times when you want to give up and call it quits but one day you’ll look back at those experiences, both good and bad and be thankful because it’s part of the story that led to your success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I’m a foodie so we’re definitely going to eat good. I love brunch so we’re visiting restaurants like First Watch, The Flying Biscuit and I’m always looking for recommendations to new spots to check out.

If it’s during the NBA season, we have to go to a Hawks game for the experience and vibe. Going back to food (I told you I was a foodie lol), I would take them to ‘This Is It’ and there’s no way we’re in Atlanta and not stopping for wings at American Deli. I haven’t been to Slutty Vegan yet so I would add that to the list too.

For entertainment, the family and I would most likely take them to Dave and Buster’s for games, food and drinks and I’m thinking we would also hit up Top Golf for a good time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

There are so many people that I attribute to my success to. There is no way I’m in the position I’m in without the love, support and guidance of others.

Foremost, my faith and trust in God is what has brought me this far. I’m blessed to have a wife that supports my passion. Not only is she a listening ear, but she’s also there for me on the business side when I have multiple ideas on the table and need constructive feedback or when I’m in a time crunch finalizing a decision. My kids are my inspiration. They love that I involve them with the brand at their age. I ask them questions, gather ideas, feedback, and just discuss different things about the brand with them in general and they love it. It benefits them to see that although it’s business, it’s about having fun and loving what you do.

My mom has been my biggest cheerleader from the beginning. Early on there were so many things to grasp and learn and she helped me to understand the ins and outs of the industry – how to deal wholesale orders, understanding price points and what to expect at tradeshows since she had experience as a buyer at the MAGIC Tradeshow. She’s going to support me no matter what. My father and sister have encouraged me throughout the years. In fact, my father is the one who funded my first order of t-shirts to sell. That’s something I’m thankful for and will never forget because that was the jump start to me having an actual product in hand. When it comes to support, whether it’s spreading the word about my brand or hyping me up when I have a new release, my sister is going to hold it down for me. She’s always going to look out for her little brother and that’s something I truly appreciate.

There are a number of people that have been supportive in the process. Many thanks to my brothers from another mother – these are my close friends that have been down with the brand since the beginning, my teammates throughout the years, my frat brothers, my RAMILY (If you know, you know), friends and family that have supported, guided and mentored me and to all my TASTEMAKERS everywhere. I appreciate your support and just know we’re going to take this industry to new levels, the TasteMaker Lifestyle way. It’s our time!!!

Last but not least, a special thank you to my grandmother. Very few people know this, but she was the inspiration behind me choosing a bear logo. She loved stuffed animals, especially teddy bears and I got the idea after visiting her. She passed away a little over a year ago but she’s here with me every day and her legacy lives on. She inspired me to share something with the world that I never knew of at the time – the “TasteMaker Bear”.

Website: www.tastemakerlifestyle.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tastemakerlifestyle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tastemakerbear

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tastemakerlifestyle

Image Credits
Brandon Mitchell Josh Boone