<\/h5>\n

This Iowa-based fashion brand is changing the world\u2014-one T-shirt at a time<\/span><\/h5>\n

Words by Lauren Reno<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Though Nike seems to have a monopoly on T-shirts that bolster motivational messages, Iowa City-based clothing brand, <\/span>Born Leaders United<\/span><\/a> is breaking into the business with a strong message about race and poverty. BLU is an inclusive brand working to make the world a better place by encouraging leadership and producing art\u2014whether it\u2019s through cursive letters on a crewneck or by way of BLU\u2019s upcoming movie about a star-crossed, culturally-charged romance, BLU\u2019s founder Andre Wright leads one masterpiece at a time. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wright, believes that everyone has something to offer\u2014and to deliver, all they need is a little push in the right direction. \u00a0He says that sometimes that push comes from something as simple as a motivational tee with a powerful message.<\/span><\/p>\n

We sat down with Wright, BLU\u2019s fashion designer, CEO, founder and executive producer, to talk about the brand, the movie and the message.<\/span><\/p>\n

Urban Plains: How would you describe Born Leaders United?<\/b><\/p>\n

Andre Wright: BLU is a men\u2019s and women\u2019s apparel line in the streetwear\/leisurewear sector. And our message and our mantra is that everybody was born to do something. \u2026 Everyone \u00a0is born unique and has their own individuality, and we are helping others discover that by creating a brand that expresses that exact statement. \u2026 We just help support people that are passionate about their ideas. And we try to encourage people to be leaders and just have hope about their ideas and what they want to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: So that\u2019s the leaders part. What about the \u201cunited\u201d?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: The \u201cUnited\u201d part came together when I decided that this is about all cultures. It\u2019s not about just the black culture or the white culture or the Asian culture. If you look at any of my pieces, or anything in my marketing, there is a wide plethora of people of different backgrounds, different demographics, heights \u2013 tall, small, it doesn\u2019t matter. \u2026 This apparel is a bridge for all. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: Your <\/b>team<\/b><\/a> definitely seems to reflect that. <\/b><\/p>\n

AW: Well, as far as my team, I meet with every model or team member individually. Traditionally, I wouldn\u2019t put them on my website, but I wanted to create a platform for them to be recognized this time around. I think it helps tell a better story and gives them some additional exposure. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: But you\u2019re not even listed as a member of the team on your website. Is there a reason for that?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: I didn\u2019t put myself on there because I truly was using this as a platform for others. Maybe I should change that tab to models? (Laughs) It\u2019s just a platform for the models that I get the honor to work with.<\/span><\/p>\n

UP: BLU has its own film coming out this year. What can you tell us about it?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: This summer or spring\u2014we don\u2019t have a release date yet. We are going to release a film that\u2019s called <\/span>A BLU Love Story<\/span><\/i>. This film has a lot of poverty issues, a lot of racial issues, social economic issues, just all kinds of issues, but at the same time, it has our clothing mixed in because we have a message of positivity and standing up for things. It\u2019s a really interesting film. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: Where was it shot? <\/b><\/p>\n

AW: I made it in Iowa. I did all the production, all the filming, everything was done right here, so that really makes it special and gives people something to hang their hat on. We\u2019re looking for some really big releases. We\u2019ll do one in Iowa City, Davenport and Des Moines; and then we\u2019ll do one in Waterloo. It\u2019s such a great story, and I\u2019m really excited about it, and I hope everyone comes to check it out. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: What would you say is the film\u2019s main purpose?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: I think it\u2019s just to show that there\u2019s an opportunity to really create something cool. It\u2019s just a bunch of us getting together and having fun, right? And ultimately that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing. We were just doing it to have fun, and I wanted it as a way to promote what I was doing as a brand designer and as a brand developer. For everybody involved, this was our first time doing this. I think a lot of people will be shocked by how good it came out. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: Do you think you might want to start on any other film projects in the future after <\/b>A BLU Love Story<\/i><\/b>?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: We are going to do other projects. I don\u2019t know if we will start a production company, but certainly have other projects in the works when it comes to documenting the movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

UP: How do the brand\u2019s Midwestern roots impact its story?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: It\u2019s unique. Think about clothing lines that are from Iowa. It\u2019s a lot of work. And we\u2019re all doing the work. We\u2019re on the front lines. We\u2019re doing all the fashion shows. We\u2019re in the schools. We\u2019re talking to kids about how to be leaders. We\u2019re not just making clothes. There\u2019s a lot of work that we\u2019re doing so people can understand that our brand promise is very real. It\u2019s not something that we\u2019re just talking about, or we\u2019re just making clothes, we\u2019re actually moving the needle. <\/span><\/p>\n

UP: Is it difficult getting attention outside of Iowa? <\/b><\/p>\n

AW: Well, it was pretty tough at first, but when we started to grow it got easier. With platforms like Instagram, it makes it easier for people to reach us and see what we have going on. I\u2019m excited about what we have been able to accomplish right from Iowa and the response we have gotten around the nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

UP: Why do you think it\u2019s important for a brand like BLU to exist?<\/b><\/p>\n

AW: Well, there\u2019s a definite need. I mean, with mental health being one of the biggest issues in the world, and people feeling depressed, losing their jobs, sometimes all you need somebody to do is just smile and that can change your day. Sometimes you just need to read something or see a word and that can change your day. And I believe that with enough of that, and if we can inspire more people to be like us and do the type of things that we do, we can get more people to have a better attitude about life. And the clothing came about because you know, you look good, you feel good, and you do good. You know, that\u2019s kinda the whole notion. Attitude makes everything.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Iowa-based fashion brand is changing the world\u2014one T-shirt at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n