Good Heat

Photographer: Tracy-Ann Thorpr IG: Artcy_Ann Owner /Designer: Abdullah Jeffers IG: goodheat_

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Meet The Designer

Abdullah Jeffers

What is the source of your inspiration?

My sources of inspiration include my father. He showed me a lot of the skills that I use for my business. Another source of inspiration is seeing my ideas in the real world. It is very satisfying.

How did you start your creative/ venture journey?

I started with 24 T-shirts in 2017.

Using a few words, how would you describe your art/hustle?

The designs for my clothes are inspired by events and stuff I see in the real world. Some are abstract, and some have deeper meanings typically related to the African American community. I want to show the world that we can be a creative activists.

If you can have the power to share anything with the world, what would that be?

I would share food. We all have a human right to eat, and no one should go without food. We have plenty.

This past year was unlike any other; how did it affect you? good or bad?

It taught me how to pivot and work in a more challenging environment. As a result, I was able to increase online sales, and thankfully my business was able to survive the pandemic.

How is your support team on a scale of 1-10?

My support team is 1 million. From friends and family to random people, I received support from so many places, and it is what keeps me going and is why the brand has survived and made it this far.

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Have you ever thought about giving up?

In the early days, I did. When things flopped, I did. However, I always told myself that I was not quitting, so I was right back at it when the feeling passed. I stick to my plans and adjust them for failure or success.

Do you have a 5-year plan? If yes, what is it?

My five-year plan is to make a Spacesuit eventually.

You win a million dollars. What will you do?

If I won a million dollars, I’d buy a house with a garage to get to work on some more complex ideas.

What would you say to your 10-year-old self about life as you know it?

I would tell him that everything you want, you can have you just got to put in the work and believe in yourself.

Ok, so you’re in the zone of either creating or planning your next venture, describe the process.

Paper. I like to write everything down on paper. From there, I can begin to put things in motion. It’s like a momentum thing for me. When I get the idea worked out, I start booking or arranging dates on things, and from there, I make sure I meet them.

Can you improve that process, and how?

I could improve the process by starting earlier. The earlier you start something, the better it typically turns out.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion, to me, is a form of subconscious expression. It’s a mating ritual and a way to individualize.

What is a quote that you live by, and who said it?

“Smooth seas don’t create skilled sailors” - I don’t know who said it.

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WWW.goodheat.life

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