Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Ferrell.
Hi Jesse, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started my brand in 2016 under the influence of skateboarding. I was always into fashion and streetwear ever since I started skating so I decided to make my own streetwear brand. Before my brand Upland, I actually had a small clothing brand called, GoodVibes Sake Apparel I did it for a couple of years and that’s what really taught me about branding and really finding your style and niche.
GoodVibes was more of a beach brand which eventually I decided to rebrand and change the entire brand and start over because around that time that’s when the quote “Good Vibes” was really getting popular and people were mistaking my brand for other brands so I knew I had to go back and create something more original.
So in 2016, I rebranded everything into Upland Premium Streetwear and changed my focus to top-quality premium apparel with Cut N Sew pieces. It’s taken a couple of years of nonstop work to get the brand where it is today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road at all. Upland is an independent brand so I am the only person who runs my brand and that means I do it all.
One of the main struggles is the information you have to learn, there are so many areas you have to study, many people think it an easy cash grab, and maybe for some brands that’s the case but to start up a full line of apparel and work with manufactures or learning taxes or learning retail, it’s a bunch of knowledge you have to learn at the same time.
But for anyone reading this a little struggle never hurt anyone, don’t let the challenge stop you from trying to pursue your dreams no doubt.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So since I’m the only operator of my brand I do it all. I do the designs for the logos, I talk to the manufacturers about fabrics, I design every cut n sew piece, I do photography, I’m my own rep for retail shops, I handle my website development, I do the marketing and social media. basically a little hand in everything.
I’m honestly most proud of that not letting anything stop me from getting the job done, I spend many hours studying whatever it is I need to learn and then get it done. I have no college background, I didn’t even graduate high school so the fact I can figure it out is pretty cool.
What sets me apart, especially in Jacksonville is the attention to detail in the apparel industry, the small things, and the small quality aspects of apparel. And a full collection of diverse products, I make it all, from bags to hats to candles to air fresheners, etc. I’ve created a full apparel line in Jacksonville.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is deeper than just making good clothing its showing people that if you truly care about something you can actually achieve that goal with some discipline and some hard work. We live in a world with endless opportunities regardless of where we come from.
Contact Info:
- Email: jesseferrell@hotmail.com
- Website: www.uplandclothing.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
Image Credits
Wyatt Shaffer
