Screen Shot: Summer Knights

City Based: St.Petersburg, FL

What inspired the brand name?

Summer Knights is a play on words for "summer nights." Summer Knights represents our collective lifestyle of the admiration of lust for nostalgic memories & pure beginnings. Inspired by those nights with pleasure of experiencing a thrilling adventure- which is the rest of your life. Wear the feeling of having your whole life ahead of you.

At what moment did you realize you wanted to start a brand?

In 2015, at the time I was in pursuit of being a stylist. I did a couple local events and for friends. I realized I wanted to create. To create a feeling, a vibe, to make people fresh. I wanted to capture the feeling and lifestyle of feeling the good times before they become 'the good times.' I knew streetwear was the space I wanted the brand. My own passion for streetwear dates back to Girbaud, Phat Farm, Ecko, and even the G-Unit Clothing brand back then. I had a pair of Bape shoes in 6th grade that I walked on my heels just to not put creases in them haha. I played basketball and had friends who skated. So the culture I was around was constantly skate or streetwear. I knew that being born in Europe and moving to Florida when I was 6, that I had an interesting take on streetwear fashion design from a young age.

What helps you get over creative blocks?

Really creative movies and music. I look at bunch of photos, illustrations, and research my own favorite brands in different time periods. Basically spam my brain.

What is the biggest mistake you have made?

I would say it was either paying instagram models for promotion not realizing they don't have much influence in fashion or streetwear. They had large amounts of followers up to 850k. But their crowd was not following them for the models influence in fashion. I wasted few hundred to a thousand dollars with little return except followers. I learned my lesson.

What is the biggest success you have had?

It was definitely my most recent 'Summer We Stayed Inside' Collection. It was the collection that really took it from a hobby to a business. I released the collection in June and gained a good amount of traction. It did not stop and I got over 400+ orders in the month of July. Which was our biggest month up to date. I also got YesJulz to post our shirt and shout us out on Instagram.

A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION PEOPLE MAY FIND WEIRD?

I have a mood board in my room and a digital one on my laptop. I would say inspiration some people may find weird are designs of buildings and interior design of homes.

Favorite color to use?

Blues and Pinks

ARE THERE ANY RETAIL SHOPS YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU BRAND IN?

PacSun, Zumies and a really huge one would be Self Ridges.

ANOTHER BRAND THAT INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?

Stussy, because I believe that the brand is a perfect mix of skate aesthetic and also modern streetwear. Stussy has been in the game for so long it is a household name. It is also a good price point for most people which is where I think our brand resembles.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND THE BRAND IN 1 YEAR AND 5 YEARS?

I see myself perfecting my craft for design even more. Started with screen print to designing cut and sew pieces from scratch. I see the brand more in the industry, more known around the right people in business. Ultimately in a few retail stores and also maintaining our online presence.

IN 5 WORDS OR LESS DESCRIBE YOUR BRAND?

Nostalgic moments expressed through streetwear.