“We have our whole lives to be ordinary, and only a few fleeting moments to be extraordinary”, says Kwame Jackson, former finalist on Season 1 of NBC’S highly rated series The Apprentice. With his continued success as an entrepreneur, professional speaker and media personality, Kwame has just added designer to his list of accomplishments. Kwame took time out to discuss the development of his budding brand Krimson, and gave BRAG some interesting facts about his career.
BRAG: With such a successful career in business what sparked your interest in fashion and design?
Kwame: I don’t consider my career extraordinarily successful quite yet. I’m just like everyone who is reading this, but I just happen to go on a highly rated TV program and have a very high appetite for risk and challenge. I really just went with the natural flow; my parents went to college so I went to college. I worked for some great corporations and obtained my MBA from Harvard. I really kind of followed the standard education and corporate path up until my 30s.
While on The Apprentice people would compliment me on my suits and ties, so instead of endorsing someone else’s brand I decided to create my own brand specifically targeted towards the modern Generation X professional. That’s how Krimson came about. We test marketed the line at Rothman’s clothing store in 2004, but since I didn’t have someone to really run the brand and captain the project, I put it on the back burner to focus on my television and real estate projects. Since The Apprentice in 2004, I’ve been on the professional speaker lecture circuit completing more than 250 engagements for corporations, colleges, and civic groups worldwide, while speaking in Cincinnati, OHI was approached by my fraternity brother and seasoned neckwear entrepreneur, Corwyn Thomas of Corwyn Apparel, and we re-launched Krimson in 2007 with a luxury online boutique at
http://www.krimsonbykwame.com/ and national department store distribution.
BRAG: Tell us a little about your brand, any significance in the name Krimson?
Kwame: Krimson is considered executive neckwear, not simply ties. These are symbols you wear to close the deal or make something happen, your classic yet contemporary “power ties.” Young business professionals have trouble finding pieces that aren’t too avant garde or too over the top “urban.” Krimson offers them just enough unique edge and flare to show their Generation X personality, but still be suitable for the most conservative of boardrooms. The brand is Brooks Brothers Classic meets contemporary cool. Krimson focuses on being the brand of the modern man. The consumer is between the ages of 25-40, middle market, mid career professionals climbing the corporate ladder. As far as the name, the K in Krimson comes from my name Kwame. The color crimson comes from my days at Harvard Business School. The classic, dapper Harvard well dressed turn of the century students you see in the Great Gatsby or Harlem Renaissance period inspired the name. In addition, I was inspired by the rich history of well-dressed professional men of achievement and the colors of my fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, which includes great men like Arthur Ashe, Reginald Lewis, and Bob Johnson.
BRAG: You were known as the no nonsense team leader on The Apprentice, do you find yourself using any of the techniques you learned on the show in your brand development?
Kwame: Well, many don’t know that before appearing on The Apprentice I worked for Procter & Gamble and on Wall Street as a private client investment manager at Goldman Sachs. This is where I developed my marketing skills and cosmopolitan sense of professional dress. Having such men as Bob Johnson, Reginald Lewis, and Arthur Ashe as my fraternity brothers provided such a wonderful example of men doing positive things and projecting well heeled professional brands. Although I learned a lot from The Apprentice and remain thankful for that experience, it mainly provided me with two things: an international platform and a natural boost of confidence to become an entrepreneur.
BRAG: Where do you see the Krimson brand going in 2, 5, and 10 years from now?
Kwame: This question brings to mind the story I discussed with BRAG’S own JJ Thomas. Mr. Thomas recalls the day some 40 yrs ago when the young Ralph Lauren walked into the Bloomingdales store with just his collection of ties, and today Ralph Lauren is a multi-billion dollar global luxury brand. So my goal is to recreate that same magic with humility and hardwork, shoot for the stars and offer a unique customer experience and brand for a more contemporary professional. I’m a young, focused entrepreneur using his neckwear line to build a global luxury brand. Currently the Krimson line has been picked up by two major department stores, MACY’S and Belk. Within the next two years I hope to have the line in 10 major department stores. Within the next 5 years I want Krimson to have international distribution and recognition as a luxury lifestyle brand. Within 10 years I want Krimson to be a force in the industry. I want the brand to grow into luxury lifestyle products in men’s accessories, clothing for men, women, fragrances, etc. I want to emulate the success of upstart neckwear brands like Vineyard Vines. Two recent college graduates who started off in 1999 selling the Martha’s Vineyard lifestyle with just ties now gross $40 million dollars annually less than a decade later. I want to build a similar type of brand experience and expansion success.
BRAG: If you could give some advice to an aspiring “Kwame Jackson” what would that piece of advice be?
Kwame: I always say “I’m not where I want to be, but I’m headed in the right direction!” So from a humility standpoint, I know there is still much wood to chop and don’t consider myself as someone to emulate quite yet - we all have our mountains to climb! I recommend that you be yourself, do the best with the skills you have. You might not want to be a designer you may want to find the cure for AIDS, tap into your greatest passion. I always say “Don’t be me, be your best you.” Focus on your personal happiness. Be true to your own dreams, define your own happiness, turn down the noise of the haters, and learn from your mistakes. Vivian Stringer, Head Coach of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team said,”…In order to win, you have to be willing to lose!” Don’t be afraid to try, fail, and get back up again. Perseverance is key! I live and learn that everyday and pray that GOD continues to give me the fortitude (and assistance from BRAG’s retail influencers!) to keep going towards my dreams.
Join BRAG on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 for our general membership meeting featuring Kwame Jackson. You may log onto www.bragusa.org for more information or to RSVP. Or call 212-319-7751.
In a sign of the times thieves have been going for the gold. Thieves in California have been hitting across state an making off with gold. 
Posts
