Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Rashad.
Hi Dominique, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a young boy growing up in Baltimore, my mom would drag me with her to JoAnne Fabrics store. She’d buy patterns and fabrics and take them home where she had a Singer sewing machine to make her own clothes. I remember her getting frustrated whenever the machine jammed or a needle broke, but she never let that slow her down. I’ve always admired her creativity and her grit. When I was old enough to get a job and make my own money, I always worked in clothing and shoe stores. My career path has taken me through the Education, Finance, and Information Technology fields since then, but I’ve never lost the love for clothes and shoes.
In 2018, my mom passed away rather suddenly. I knew almost immediately that I would pay tribute to her by building my own clothing brand using the creativity that she no doubt passed on to me. While on the train ride back to Florida from her funeral in Baltimore, I purchased a heat press, printing supplies, and blank t-shirts using my Amazon Prime account. Within a month or two, I’d used my background in IT and e-commerce to build a website and began selling custom-designed t-shirts, hats, and hoodies. I’ve since continued to use my decent drawing ability and basic knowledge of Photoshop to design socks, jackets, jogging pants, handbags, watches, and sneakers into a complete streetwear clothing brand.
The name for my brand is based on one of my favorite books, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. An ancient alchemist is a mystical chemist whose greatest feat was the ability to transform lead, which has no value into gold, which has great value. The other inspiration for the name of my brand comes from my love of hip hop. Like the ancient alchemists, hip hop artists have seamlessly transformed what is a perceived lack of musical training into an entire musical genre with a global cultural influence.
Urban Alchemist Clothing is over three years old now and is dedicated my mother, aka The Alchemist, Charlene D. Dedmon.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The fashion/streetwear industry has many major and well know brands. The biggest struggle for me has been finding a way to get people to notice my brand. I use social media platforms to post and promote the brand, but it’s not easy to gain consumer support and trust when major brands have a solid infrastructure, robust manufacturing, and large market budgets.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Urban Alchemist Clothing?
I am a designer of streetwear. I’ve been in business for almost four years. My website address is www.urbanalchemistclothing.com.
I design all of my own merchandise under the brand name Urban Alchemist Clothing. My brand logo is prominently displayed on my clothing. My brand of streetwear features practical everyday items like t-shirts, socks, hoodies, joggers, hats, jackets, handbags, watches, and what I am most proud of, sneakers.
Although the merchandise is everyday streetwear, my designs are unique because of the colorful patterns and symbols that are drawn from both ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Hip Hop.
With over 20 years of experience as a senior executive in customer service, customers will receive prompt responses to questions sent via email, chat, or phone call. I’m very meticulous about both my designs and the services I render to my customers.
How do you define success?
Success is defined by one’s ability to continue his/her journey despite the obstacles.
Contact Info:
- Email: drashad@urbanalchemistclothing.com
- Website: www.urbanalchemistclothing.com
- Instagram: urban_alchemist_clothing
