Urban Freedom Magazine The Anniversary Issue FALL 2017 | Page 8

Business & Technology
You Don’t Always Need Dollar before You can make Sense
DAYMOND JOHN FROM FUBU
TO SHARK TANK
By: Mercedez McIntyre
Credit Gary Vee Fireside Chat
Credit Shark Tank
S
ome of you presently know him as the quick-witted Shark Tank investor. Others
may remember him for turning his brand FUBU (for us by us) into a multi-million
dollar company. Many are still connecting the latter. No matter how you look at
it Daymond John is a perfect example of learning to start over, multiple times.
Hailing from Queens, New York John was raised by a single mother who showed him
the value of hard work. In return, he grew frustrated with not being able to end the
cycle of financial hardship. Like most of us, that frustration showed him more of what
he lacked than what we had. Feeling as if he had no musical, artistic or athletic talent he
racked his brain with “What can I do to change my future?”.
Daymond realized all the brands worn by him and
his friends were not by recognizable members of his
community. With that in mind, he decided to start his
own. All he knew was he wanted to create a fashion line
for urban men that was affordable and that his mother
had taught him to sew. With only $40 Daymond sewed
together homemade hats and sold them in front of
the New York Coliseum. Revealing what we now know
as FUBU (For Us By Us). In the first day making about
$800, selling for half the price of other vendors. From
there he connected with friends, and friends of friends
to the point he hustled his way onto music video sets.
8 | Urban Freedom Magazine - Fall 2017 Vol. 2