Arif Ferdous built his self-titled brand by pursuing his passion for making clothes. He aims to send a message with his clothing and embroiders or prints quotes on his ready-to-wear clothing to do so. Below, we explore what drove him to start his brand and his motivations for becoming financially free.
Years have passed since the interview - Arif wants to emphasise his focus is no longer to become rich in materialistic wealth but to become successful, happy and at peace.
Baba: When did you realise fashion was a passion of yours?
Arif: When I was about 14 years old. I was always interested in clothes. In secondary school, I was always wearing weird clothes that no one else wore.
Where did you go to school?
It was in Essex, so proper white boys all wearing Ralph with jeans. When I came through wearing purple chinos, they called me gay. But you can look good without paying much. Even my rings, none of them cost that much.
Plain and simple is what matters. You told me where to get my rings also.
What made you start your brand?
I've always wanted to make clothes. I had a particular style that I couldn't buy anywhere else. I looked on a couple of clothing websites and realised that I couldn't find what I wanted to wear. So, I thought F it - let me try and make my own. I knew I was going to eventually but that was the trigger to start it.
I admire how you just went for it!
I wasn't thinking about the brand at the time. When I was younger, I had a general idea to make clothes, but not a clear vision of how I was going to get there.
What were you influenced by?
I really don’t know. I think it’s just part of who I am. I was always interested in style and clothes. I don't think anything influenced me to go towards clothes; it was just something in my DNA, I guess.
Who has more style, mum or dad?
I would say my grandad (mum’s father). He used to be a tailor. My mum learned how to sew and everything about clothes and style from him. She alters Asian clothes for my aunties. That’s why we have a sewing machine in our home. As for my dad, he always dresses well.
I know that I can’t live a normal life. That will make me sick.
What stood out to me about your brand is your use of quotations. My favourite one is referencing the man in the mirror as your greatest enemy. What’s the story behind having sayings on your products?
In my second year of college, I knew what direction I wanted to go. In the first year, I was making t-shirts and putting my name on them, but I wasn't feeling it. I didn't know what concept to go with - and you need a concept. I just kept looking and nothing was coming to me.
When I got to my second year, I saw this picture of a skeleton playing pool and I thought it looked awesome, so I made it my wallpaper. Then I thought what if I put this on a t-shirt? I made the t-shirt and put a quote about equality next to it. After releasing the skeleton t-shirt, I released a hat that said "Death is Most Certain". I wore it in college and people told me it was depressing but I didn't think it was. Rather, I found it quite inspirational, that you got to go and get it. The concept represents who I am.
From then I knew the concept was around quotes, death, religion, economics and things I'm generally into. As time went on, I started thinking about more quotes and concepts that match what I want to do but will still be attractive to everyone else as well.
Why did you go with a self-titled brand?
I wanted it to be personal. I put my name on it and knew it had that extra effect for me to go harder and grind more because it’s my name.
Many people support you too…
That’s true, so I know a lot of people like my ideas, the way I think, the way I move and the way I dress.
What motivates you?
That’s a sticky one. I know that I can’t live a normal life. I can't become an accountant, get a normal job, get married and have kids. That will make me sick. I know if I push my clothes as much as I can and become successful, then I can live a life that’s better for me and my family.
I live comfortably. My dad always made sure of it. He went hard and because of that, I want to go even harder for him. I hope to show both my parents that much more is possible, revealing another sort of life to them. All they know is in order to live a good life, you have to go to university, get a job, marry, have kids, and buy a house. But, in this economy, it's hard to "live a normal life". If you want to be successful and financially free, you have to be driven by passion. My business is my passion.
You started your clothing line at age 14 and your parents helped you. Why do you think they supported you from so young?
My dad is business-minded. He came to the UK when he was young and got married to my mum at age 23. He was working in restaurants till he could finally buy a house. Anyone could get a mortgage back then. He has a few houses now. He knows you can’t work a normal job and be rich – you need to buy houses; you need to buy a business. You need to do something. When I started clothes, my dad was telling me “push it, you need to be a businessman to be successful.” He knows the reality of it. But at the same time, he pushes me to go to university and get a job. I graduated in the summer and he's been bugging me to get a job.
How’s that going?
Ah, it's tough. I can't lie. My dad is more of a realist though. He knows if I get a job, I'll do my clothing on the side until it pops off. Then I can completely focus on it. He understands the idea behind it and the idea of what I’m trying to do.
Is there an achievement that you’re most proud of?
A couple of things. First is the amount of famous people I've seen wearing my clothes. My boy Junior helps me out a lot. He is a successful model and comes in contact with rich and famous people often. I gave him a few tees and he gave them to a few good people. I gave him a few of my tees and he gave them to several celebrities. Lancey Foux and his girlfriend Leomie Anderson were wearing my shirt! They’re not buying from me, but it's nuts to see influencers like that wearing my clothes. The crazy thing is, the first time I dropped hats, so many people were messaging me saying they wanted to buy them. The first person on my orders list was some guy from Texas. It’s amazing! Now, I’m getting orders from Australia, Paris, Germany, Belgium…
That must be motivational?
Yeah man, it’s just crazy. I was upset about my first release of hats because I thought it would sell out straight away. Before I released it, people were messaging me saying, "Ah bro, when are you going to drop this? I need it." When I finally dropped it though, no one was sharing it or showing me love. I was like what the f*ck? I remember laying in bed, asking myself, is this worth it? I spent all this time making a website and promoting it. Making it took f*cking hours man. I was grafting while completing university and spending all my student finance on making samples.
What’s your ultimate goal?
My slogan is "Here To Send A Message". That’s the main objective. I’m growing and learning new things that will develop me into a better person. I’m getting new ideas and stories to tell. Right now, it’s about just sharing a positive message, but without making it look tacky. I’m just trying to impact people.
You finished university with a first class. That’s not easy while running a brand. What advice would you give to someone going to university who also wants to turn their hobby into something bigger?
Man, you have 24 hours in a day. You can do so much with your time. Do your university work and do whatever you want to do as well.
People spend their free time playing fortnight and watching Netflix - which is cool because you need leisure time - but you got to make sacrifices. Without sacrifices, you can't do anything man. You need time to sit down, research, watch interviews of people that inspire you and think about what you want to do with your life. If you have a hobby, you can do so much with it and still get good grades at university.
For my final year, I put my clothes on standby. I had to prioritise. That’s a crazy skill to have. I knew I had my whole life to push these clothes but one year left to get this first-class degree I wanted - not a 2:1 or a 2:2.
Time management is a key skill; organisation is a key skill. You have to learn these skills and you can learn them through YouTube. You can do everything on your laptop and phone. You can learn everything you need for anything. It’s difficult to be disciplined but if you learn to be disciplined at a young age, then the rest of your life will thank you for it.
I had so much during my third year. Every night I was playing fortnight, but every morning I was up revising for university. Don’t let your friends peer pressure you into doing sh*t you don’t want to do. That's not only regarding drugs or alcohol, I'm talking about how you spend your time.
I have friends that will ask to go out to eat just because. Even though I have money, I tell them no because I'm broke. You've got to learn how to say no to your friends if it's beneficial for you and your life.
Overall, to be successful, you have to be disciplined. If you take anything from what I've said, learn how to be fucking disciplined.
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