AN INTRODUCTION
Over the years amongst certain circles of those in the know, the name Good Bully has become synonymous with a certain style of design for musical acts. Projects ranging from the complete branding of premiere D.C. native Wale, to work for Mike Posner, The Clipse, Maybach Music Group, Roc Nation, and more.
But if you got back a little further, Good Bully actually began as an apparel brand I started way back in 2006, you remember 2006? The good ol’ days of dunks galore and baggy clothes…wait, is it 2006 again?
Anyway, it started as a joke. I had many nicknames, one of which was “Bully” for how quickly and aggressively I attacked my design assignments. That soon morphed into Good Bully and from there I created a world of mascots that embodied the spirit of fighting for the underdogs.
With nothing more than an art school education, tons of hustling my design skills to local clothing shops, and some help from some well-connected friends I launched this little one man band of a brand into few dozen doors of the late great Up Against The Wall chain and exceeded what I thought my little brand would do.
The clothes hit the sales floor on a Saturday and I was getting a call for re-orders on Monday because they had sold out.
That little experiment helped to launch my design career as I quickly found myself approached by all manner of brands from all types of industries, from music to consumer packaged goods.
But as the demand for my services grew, my poor little brand suffered from neglect and ultimately was put on hold.
GOOD BULLY SKATE CO.
Before I got completely sidetracked by the lure of the entertainment industry I had the privilege of collaborating with D.C. skateboard legend Darren Harper for a line of skateboards and apparel.
In a short amount of time we were able to do great things for the youth of the city. From being there to dedicate new skate parks and holding several events just for the youth.
Local skateboard shops were a blessing, welcoming us with open arms.
GOOD BULLY GIRL
Remarkably, the most passionate and steadfast portion of our social media community has been the women. Their unwavering engagement, consistent sharing, and enthusiastic word-of-mouth propelled our brand. In recognition of their dedication, we introduced "Good Bully Girl," a curated selection tailored especially for them.
To further honor and appreciate our female aficionados, we launched the "Villaintine’s Day" campaign. Each year, we’d craft an exclusive capsule collection unveiled specifically on Villaintine’s Day.
The Villaintine’s Snatchbox quickly became one of our most eagerly anticipated drops and coveted by our fan base.
IN CLOSING
Although Good Bully the apparel brand has been dormant for a while, I still get requests and inquiries about whether it can make a brief return.
I’ll never say never, but in the meantime I haven’t let my apparel design skills rust over. I still very much keep my eye to the streets and my finger on the pulse of new trends.
Helping to plot a course for up and coming clothing brands brings me a lot of joy.