Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Williams.
Hi Jeremy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Around 2008, my father, Joseph Williams, started creating custom apparel for his businesses and others in the Memphis community.
In December of 2017, during my freshman year of college, I became increasingly interested in starting a brand of my own and inspiring others because of the critical thinking and business-friendly environment my school Rhodes College presented to me.
Since then, I have continued to create apparel through various printing methods and have expanded my reach in the Memphis community and many other places through social media platforms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t. Being an entrepreneur is harder than people make it seem. Balancing your personal life with work life, organization, self-doubt, procrastination, and discipline are some of the key factors that come into play along the way.
Being from Memphis, a lot of the support comes and goes so you have to have a tough shell and not do things for the validation from others but because it aligns with your brand and is a stepping stone for a bigger picture.
You have to be outgoing and network a lot even when you don’t feel like talking to others or don’t know anyone in the room.
As you know, we’re big fans of Gorilla Savage Apparel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Gorilla Savage means to walk with your head up, your chest out, and go 100% through all the obstacles life throws your way. This is our mantra because we believe if you do these things you will not only be successful in life but a pillar to others in your community.
This ties into our apparel by the placement of motivational text on quality garments that push a message of betterment in mental health, physical health, and many more because we live in a society that is necessarily geared towards those aspects. What sets us apart is our willingness to expand our minds and think critically about important issues in society while using stylist garments that catch the eye.
We are very proud of the people we have impacted so far. We have spoken at multiple elementary and middle schools to kids about entrepreneurship and urged them to follow the right paths. We want people to know we care about your mental health AND the community.
We want people to be the best version of themselves as much as they can and ultimately be a helping hand to others once they get the message.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as the smile on customers’ faces when they buy and wear our apparel. Money is an addition, but the joy and happiness from customers are what drive and motivate me.
Success to me is being able to give back to the community and set the precedent along my path for others to follow behind me. If you aren’t giving back and teaching others better and more efficient living then what really is your legacy?
Lastly, success is being able to establish a long-term healthy and profitable relationship with the fashion industry. Being organized and strategic in your plots goes a long way.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.gorillasavageapparel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GorillaSavage
Image Credits
Brandon James, Ledaron bell, and Markell Henderson
