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Who are you?

My name is Omar aka Chilly-O! Got that name in VA back in the day from Mike G, a get money dude, he cracked a lot jokes. I think he was funnier than Robin Harris, you know hidden talent in the hood. Somebody has to give you nick name, can?t make it up on your own. Mike said, ?Damn O, you always on some cool shit, yo name is Chilly-O!? I guess you had to be there, I said it corny, Lol. He used to be like Chiiiiiillllly-O, motherF@#kas used to crack up! I was in college at laceName>NorfolklaceName> laceType>StatelaceType>, they had an open door policy which was a good thing, and they gave people a second chance that might have made a mistake on a criminal offense or low test scores. During that time I lived on Hanson Avenue, everybody in the city knew that block. I lived right in the middle of it. I had Madden back then so you know how the ?crib? looked, regular old hang out. All the hustlers used stay in the ?crib? and bet on games and then invite chicks over for the after party. The Shirt Kings used to live downstairs they kept the block jumpin?, they always had celebrities and New York DJ?s falling through from Queens and Harlem. Our block was a family, they never let me do the dumb shit, and I just peeped game. Those lessons carried me a long way. Shouts out to Big G, Smacks and Snakebite, if you were in VA 89?-93? you know who I?m talking about. The name stuck with me after all these years. I guess I learned humility early because I lived in a lot of cities growing up, and a lot of neighborhoods in each city. Never had a fair chance to grow up in one neighborhood because of family problems, but my travels made me wise. That?s why I can?t stand we people make from the ?hood look ignorant and savage, I lived in several ?hoods from the East to the West, North to the South and I was always surrounded by good people and good knowledge even they when wild stuff was going on. No other culture divulges their hidden secrets on public documents and the media more than you know who, talk about the important things for once, Damn! Anyway, I named my company Chilly-O not to pay homage to me but, to a cool lifestyle! Chilly-O is the name of the Century!

Why did you start Chilly-O Clothing?

Most people start businesses for many reasons. For me, I want to be free, financially free. I chose the apparel industry because I feel like its something I could manage and succeed; not only as a designer but, a businessman. I was burned out on my former career, which were human services. Although rewarding in some instance, I got tired of pushing agendas, so I made a life changing shift. People called me crazy for that. I never wanted to limit myself to just a ?designer? because I didn?t build the brand that way. If you?re in Atlanta when you here the word ?Chilly-O? something else draws you to the name besides clothing, only the people would know. So I picked up on that.

I saw a lot of room for growth and diversity in the clothing game as it relates to hip-hop culture and urban communities. I could have gotten into management in the hip hop game, but right now that industry is highly saturated and controlled with limited lanes and creativity. True enough, the apparel industry has its own politics and bullsh#t, but you don?t see a lot of young blacks with power positions like they have in the rap game. The way I see it, there is still enough room for growth and its just beginning thanks to pioneers, such as, Williwear, Maurice Malone, the Shabazz Brothers, DDTP World, Madness, the FUBU brothers, Dame Dash, Russell Simmons, Outkast, Jay-Z, Karl Kani, Puff and others. I like to continually pay homage to these guys, because they cracked the ceiling and raised the status quo. Even though some of these guys got into ownership issues, there is still more development in this arena and Chilly-O will be there every step of the way.

Did you have any formal training? If so? Where if not? How did u learn?

Unfortunately, I didn?t receive formal training from a design institution. My higher learning and training has been in Conceptual Psychology and Conceptual Art. Actually, our first shirts where done in paint, sand, and other materials. However, I had my own style of painting, our pieces looked like screen print to the eye. We have elevated since then. The ?Paint Craze? has always been very abstract, Miskeen-like; my style has been clean and conventional. Artistic-genes run in my family. My little brother sketches, my sisters went to school for fashion design, my father and brothers are graphic artist amongst other things. My talent lies within my travels, creative thoughts and manifestations, I like to think. ?I?m a F@#kin? Genius and a F@#kin Star, I can pull it off.? The training that I have received has been hands-on for the past 4 years, courtesy the apparel industry.

How can consumers purchase Chilly-O?

It?s funny you ask, because in the very beginning, I only sold product to who I wanted to wear it; people with complete swagger. At one point the only way you were getting Chilly-O was through me. I noticed people would go through other people to get the product. Ya?ll remember that! That?s when I knew I had something. Our moniker has been, ?Chilly-O, Hard to Get, Easy When you Know How!? That?s why when you see most people wearing it, they walk around with their chests poke out, and because they know it?s not readily available. ?You can?t tell em? sh!t, Lol? They are proud to wear Chilly-O, because the people made our brand, not a bullsh!t or sensationalized marketing campaign. Now, we are just beginning to sell to stores in limited amounts. We haven?t been in a rush to saturate various markets and set stores up for failure. We know the marketing isn?t as strong in certain regions as it is in others. People who are unfamiliar, let them find out what they have later. It?s always a surprise to them, when people walk up to them like ?Oh sh@t, where did you get that Chilly-O!? We are in about 11 states, 35 stores. Check out Chilly-O.com which is the easiest way to find a location near you, otherwise tell the exclusive spot in your town they need to be carrying Chilly-O!

What are the strategies and the challenges of marketing?

This is a very important question. After reading all the reference material, networking with other lines and reading other people?s interviews. One thing that that is always said across the board is ?what worked for me, may not work for you.? I used to be like, ?WTF.? Over time, I eventually saw what they were talking about. Each clothing line has a unique story, especially when marketing their brand. Your reality and success is not pre-determined off of their success. Who knows if putting your product on millions rappers will ensure success? Mature Street Fashion is the movement we convey which is a few key principles: ?Cool? meaning swagger and confidence, ?Talent? state of being outside the box or skillful, and ?Remaining above the Status Quo? embracing your individuality, edginess. Initially our approach was to keep the product exclusive. In the beginning we felt like it was important for everybody ?not? to be wearing Chilly-O. We felt the pressures of not making the capital we wanted, people called us crazy for this ideal. However, veterans in the game knew exactly what we were trying to accomplish. Initially, I didn?t focus on celebrities; I focused on neighborhood celebrities and communicators; individuals who showcased our product indirectly and fashionably. I selected individuals who were comfortable with wanting something different and didn?t conform to the trend. In most markets, people are trendy meaning they want what ever body else wants. I went after trendsetters, individuals who where confident and secure within themselves to make a bold statements. We then created a word-of-mouth buzz. It?s better for people to speak about your product as opposed to magazine ads, commercials, flyers. Don?t get me wrong those marketing strategies are highly effective but the #1 strategy is a ?Word-of-mouth buzz.?
How did u go about financing your clothing line?

Chilly-O at this point is completely independent. We have had multiple deals placed before us, but we haven?t aligned with investors who have the commitment and resources needed to make this project a success. Currently we are entertaining a couple of deals, hopefully something will manifest. Chilly-O is a serious business; this industry I would say is five times greater than the rap industry. From a company standpoint, we still feel like we have to show and prove our intensity until everybody gets it. We have struggled and stood the test of time by being patient, humble and assertive and our product and name is growing at a substantial rate for a start-up company. We started Chilly-O to succeed as a legal means of generating wealth and other opportunities. This is a difficult task in black communities because of a lack of financial awareness and institutions and economic and political force. The challenges we face are difficult, we are striving to create a mind set of instilling second generational wealth. It can be done. It?s a constant cycle of re-inventing the wheel for us as African-Americans and I?m tired. We have taken steps to generate short term capital through small business ventures, sold at local and national tradeshows, borrowed money from credit agencies and family members, sold products directly to consumers out of our trunks and at exclusive events. Doing what it takes by any means necessary from an economic stand point. We also have bartered services with media agents and promotional companies. As well as gone into term of agreements with screen printers. Term agreements are situations where they may give you 30-60 day net to pay off debt. Financial issues are on-going and often frustrating even within wealthy entities. You are always going to need capital and resource to take ideas further. My grandfather always said, ?Omar, when you poor you worry about getting money, when you rich you worry about keeping it.? We want to be able to hand wealth down.

Who are the partners in your company if any and what does you each do?

Chilly-O consists of a team of 3 administrative individuals, two which are partners. Once expansion occurs we will have a board of qualified individuals to help consul and offer resources for success. I am the founder and CEO of Chilly-O, Corey is our Vice President and Will is the Creative Director. There are additional team members who come in the form of media, models, junior marketers, designers and others who are on a consultant basis. We all wear different hats. I could not have built this company without the help of these two individuals, my family and our extended network. I felt it is important to involve people who have different skill sets to become a complete, efficient company. A mistake that many companies make is they involve people who are similar in their skill sets and they cancel each other out. Where is the room for growth? Personally, I don?t need people around me who can do what I can do, what is going to be accomplished. I especially don?t want people around me looking for an easy come up, lots of people around find out about that quick. This is hard work ladies and gentlemen. Our administrative team has been together since our conception. Corey has been a successful businessman for 5+ years and is responsible for fundraising, distribution, and warehousing and very hard working. Will was a member of the infamous Shirt Kings Crew from New York and is responsible for design, layouts, and research. I am responsible for ensuring the company?s vision, storyboards/direction, marketing and sales, and overall management of the company. Sometimes we have challenges and difficulties, but we work hard to get through our adversities. We all wear more than on hat and pitch in where necessary. Your company?s success truly depended upon the harmony your team.

What are some of your plans in the future?

Our company has set a goal to become a complete street wear line by fall 2007 including Fleece wear, knit tops, denim, hats, and t-shirts. We have showcased at the Magic Convention and local tradeshows several times. The industry is becoming familiar with our name. Chilly-O Clothing understands the importance of tenure in the game. Currently, we are a music-based lifestyle product for consumers who love hip-hop, we eventually would like to crossover into the action-sports lifestyle as it relates to hip-hop. I am known for having great relationships with many hip-hop artists. Very few know that, I spent 10 years riding BMX dirt, ramp and street with riders like Chris Doyle from the X-Games. I haven?t ridden lately, but I will. ? I would like to introduce a piece of our line to expose hip-hop culture to the BMX and Motocross communities. I would love to put James ?Bubba? Stewart in a Chilly-O. Also, Chilly-O has aspirations of crossing over into lifestyle products, such as, house ware and novelty items. Possibly create a BMX company under a different title, ?the sky is the limit.? Let?s open up some lanes, let?s go. I?m trying to infiltrate other sports like African-Americans did Basketball and Baseball. ?Were the whiteboy sports back then, when they wouldn?t let your ass in!?

I see u have your clothes on celebrities how did u go about that?

Sometimes people are watching when you don?t think they are. I have strong reputation as a hustler, a grinder, and diligent, hard-worker. It took a lot of hard work to earn the respect of the many celebrities and my peers and we still have a ways to go. Respect doesn?t come easy, there is no overnight process which is often packaged and sold to the youth. Many celebrities are very approachable, some aren?t. One thing I know is most celebrities are people too they are just blessed with talents for the masses. I have received a lot of referrals from street team members, A&R, barbers, fellow hustlers, financiers as well. Oh yeah, and you got love Atlanta, this place is definitely home to many celebrities and progressive thinkers.

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs coming up in the clothing industry?

If your going to do this make sure that you are prepared for the work that comes along with it. Even though this business can be fun with the endless parties and networking, respect the industry and the industry will respect you. It?s not a 9 to 5, this is a non-stop hustle. Burnout often occurs, but it?s the days that you see sales evolve or a particular person or consumer wearing you pieces that is rewarding. Keep your niche and believe in your product. You know what the say ?If you don?t give a f@#k, no one else will.? There is going to be a lot of people who say you can?t do it, don?t get sensitive and perceive it as hate, they just can?t see what you see. It?s easy to be negative, always remain positive. I personally have to remember that sometimes.

Website
www.chilly-o.com

Myspace Page

www.myspace.com/chilly_o

Google Buzz Words

Chilly-O Atlanta, Chilly-O Fashion

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