Meet Tim “the GREAT” Livingston, Jr. | Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur & Mogul

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tim “the GREAT” Livingston, Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tim the GREAT, how do you think about risk?
I think if you can step outside the comfort of your own home (which should be your personal safe haven) no matter the reason, that is like taking on the wrld… Therefore, risk-taking for your own individual success should be just as easy. The way I see it, the wrld we live in is designed to shed light on those who are not afraid to take the GREATest risks in life. I believe that it is the role I was destined to play. My role in life is to leave behind a legacy like no other. This should be achieved by taking all of the significant risks necessary to provide influence, education, and opportunities for those who deem to be GREAT also. Because I too have been influenced by GREAT risk-takers in this life, my drive is to be able to shed that same light onto others younger or older than me. This is me speaking as an aspiring mogul, not an entrepreneur or a creative even.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Where do I even begin? First, I hate classifying myself within this “creative” box, but until there’s another word to really describe what I feel then it will be known to the rest of the wrld. This is going to sound silly, but I wish I could just classify myself as a Dreamer. However, I guess I will succumb to the term “Creative” for this very moment.

I have always idolized the fact that I had creative dreams and thoughts even as a young kid; it’s only right that most of my art is created directly from the mind. I started LivnGREAT at this event where I created my first product from the dome to “handcrafted” development (The “Signature” Top). That was the very moment I knew I had the capacity to carry out a brand that could break barriers in the game. By continuing this process in my first major drops, standing out will automatically come with that blueprint.

Trust me, standing out sounds cool and all, but I promise you it is not easy work. When you are accustomed to standing out, you have to be able to work patiently with your audience as they properly adapt to whatever you are presenting. Just to give a couple of examples that I have faced, I had to truly work through moments that felt like total failure (this can happen to anyone though), but specifically I am speaking on the thought that my idea is just “far too outside of the box” for the wrld to cope with. Another example is finding the proper way to communicate my understood value of my work to the audience. This is specifically done through your marketing channels, such as: social media and direct communication. Both of these examples takes time and patience with the mindset that, trial & error will be key for seeing what is working and what is not.

Lesson: No matter what you may think or believe about yourself or your work, a humbling experience is always waiting to knock you back to your own reality. Causing you to realize the true work you are going to have to put in in order to mark your own value and succeed with any of your dreams. Make sure you do not allow that feeling to discourage you for too long. Because if you even get the opportunity to witness yourself at that point… then you are already in the know that you are officially on a direct path to accomplishing your dreams. Turn up that pain into your passion.

I want the wrld to know that even though my designs are created directly from the mind and made by the touch, my heart is the real reason why I do what I do. This is simply the result from the pain this wrld has caused upon me. This explains my drive and passion when I am in work mode as well as when I am just outside of work, thinking on ways I can “create” a GREATer wrld through my art & entrepreneurship.

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.
Well I will speak on the city I am most familiar with and that I have been laying low at since the start of Covid, Charlotte, NC. If my best friend (which I consider family, I don’t have “friends” anymore) needed me to host the “GREAT” way I would include the fun centered around: food, vibes and GREAT people. I’m a huge fan of seafood and fine dining, but I would not overload that on my amigo/amiga, so it is imperative that I at least do one night at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Another one of my city favorites is Nakatos Japanese Steakhouse, so that is for another night of dining in. Midnight Diner for the after hour eats and that mouth-watering shrimp & grits. Lastly, I have to put them on my favorite black owned restaurant in the city, Cuzzo’s Cuisine for the famous Lobster Mac. Maybe one night of Tim the GREAT’s cooking powered by Harris Teeter Groceries! One thing about my circle, ever since college I have had members who are from all over the country and not at all hip to Bojangles, especially when it is from the heart of Charlotte. So of course that’s for lunch at some point as well, duh.

Dang, that was all about food??? Okay moving along to vibes, I am really not that big of a fan of clubs unless I am invited to them or it’s really giving that for that particular night. But from my recent experiences of going out in the city, I have enjoyed going out to little cocktail bars such as: Canopy Cocktails. Lastly, if we can’t solidify an official lounge to crash, we will always have the walk-in lounges like: Slingshot and Lost & Found to “people-watch” and fool around, because literally those places are all jokes and giggles on the inside.

Bringing them around GREAT people is essential as well, especially if you are my best friend. Meaning I would probably have a lot of family time and do some of the eating with my family as well. I do all things naturally and authentically, so I cannot leave family out of the itinerary here.

BUT BACK TO FOOD, I’m not done with you! I eat the best in one of our close beaches (where I also have a ton of roots at), Myrtle Beach, SC. To plug in my second business here, we would take a day trip (which is part of the company’s service line) to the beach utilizing my company (LivnGREAT’s BBT Private Chauffer Service, LLC) big black XL truck… plenty of room for a good enough crowd to tag along and ride in luxurious fashion. The beach is cool, but like I said, FOOOOOD. I have to swing them through The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood if we do not do anything else at all (all you can eat GREATness, never fails and the crab legs is the main event).

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?
My mother, Morehouse, and Charlotte deserves endless recognition for most of my drive and success. Starting with my mother who is being recognized for not only the way she has raised me, but for her will and drive to accomplish all of her goals. While being a single mother to myself, an entrepreneur, and a student to the highest degree all before reaching the age of 40. I mean, I do not have to say more. Being able to witness her journey all while I learn the ropes of life for myself has definitely molded me to become so passionate in what I want to do or believe in in this wrld. She has truly been the number one player on my team and I owe her all of my success in return for that. I say she’s my MANDA to Kanye’s DONDA.

I recognize my very near alma mater, Morehouse College, because this campus has provided the necessary life lessons for the tackling of obstacles I will constantly face in this wrld. One of my favorite staff members told me, “if you can get through Morehouse, you can get through anything.” Now is that a compliment to the school or not? I will leave that to those who understand the answer to that. Aside from education, Morehouse provided me a platform to grow and show my craft; realizing which path I wanted to truly take on in this life.

Lastly, I want to thank Charlotte for making me steadfast in valuing myself. To be more clear, growing up losing so many young talented people to this city, it caused me to safeguard my talents until I officially received the calling to expose it to the rest of the wrld. This city showed me how to appreciate livn a life that’s peaceful. It showed me how to honor all of the little things that brings me joy. Because growing up, it was never much when you really think about it, I realize now that all I really needed was family and solid individuals that are constantly feeding into my energy.

Website: LivnGREAT.co

Instagram: @bvsxd_ (personal), @thewrldwelivnisgreat (LivnGREAT), and @bbt.chauffeuring (BBT Private Chauffeur Service, LLC)

Twitter: @LivnGREAT

Youtube: First episode on (iiWii Ent) landing soon

Other: Shop high ticketed items directly from my wardrobe on my Grailed Account: https://grailed.app.link/ezsfmBlNhsb

Image Credits
Jamaree Woods, Justin “Preme” Bridges, Paul Person II, Tavis Thompson, Aryon Compean, Sean Shelton