Kicking Off Season Two!
2017 was the year that pretty much set the pace and tone for Blaque Falcon Clothing and Publishing. The very idea of kicking off a clothing line came to fruition following multiple brainstorms, questions, set-backs and a whole barrage of emails sent to different suppliers and merchandisers. The result was our first collection of clothing and the brand’s publication of its debut novel, Drax. The experience itself was somewhat of an education for myself. To test the market’s waters, last summer I decided to rent my own pop-up shop, and pursue a very short career as a market trader. I traded in Chingford, Brick Lane, Battersea, Tottenham, Enfield and Battersea. I took every opportunity available to receive direct feedback and involvement in getting the brand off the ground.
With the first-hand experience and lessons learned during this in 2017, I knew that the intention for Season Two was going to be somewhat of a transitional one. I very much wanted to keep the brand’s ethos of regal sovereignty yet take the brand to a period of ascension; and to achieve this was to take Blaque Falcon to a new direction.
Usually when companies, brands, people of influence etc. announce that they wish to take themselves in a new direction, this usually results in the audience giving a somewhat nervous sense of anticipation of what’s to come next. I’d like to think the host of YouTube videos and other exclusive behind the scenes content on social media have dispelled any sense of doubt of what’s to come for Season Two.
Season One was, to say the least a warm-up to what we have in store for Season Two. I wanted to kick-start the brand by starting modestly – providing a simplistic, yet a quality controllable collection for both men and women. This involved a minimal line of T-Shirts, long-sleeve t-shirts, jogging bottoms and hoodies for both genders, as well as a unisex Sweatshirt. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of customers and supporters complimenting on the softness and comfort of the products – not to mention the positive reader reviews of my novel Drax. While this was all very humbling and of course exciting, this gave me a detailed enough baseline on where to take Season Two, namely keep doing what you’re doing but better.
The Season One photoshoots all provided a very urban theme to jump-start, which clearly worked, but to introduce a fresh new outlook, I wanted to bring in a more preppy-summertime theme in. We have a collection of Unisex Casual shirts, and knitted sweatshirts, a range of Mens Chino Trousers and Shorts, Polo -shirts for both men and women as well as some crop-top shirts for women - not to mention a range of unisex Bomber Jackets.
I have truly been blessed to work with several talented individuals to make Season Two come to fruition. It’s collaborations like these that personally confirmed to me that my entrepreneurial endeavour was very much the correct path to take. As mentioned on previous posts, the Falcon symbolises the visionary power necessary to achieve one’s goal, thus achieving spiritual sovereignty. We as Falconites and Falconettes elevate ourselves to see beyond the horizon, and when necessary, we swoop in for our prey with no permission while also eliminating all distractions en route.
Ikenna Nwimo