Lust . Murder. Intrigue.
Cliff Jamel (20) and Leo Kahey (22) are waiting patiently with me for the photographer to meet up with us at the shoot location. The young entrepreneurs, who launched their street wear clothing line last year and are releasing a new collection of outer wear this coming fall, are in a jovial mood despite the delay and Leo shows me his fresh tattoo of a kanji symbol that represents Lust, “I’m working on a LMI sleeve for right now, but I have to pace myself. Every tattoo has to have a meaning you know.” The childhood friends are fresh faced, young and ambitious, and their positive energy is making me exhausted.
They both have the braggadocio of young rappers, and the desire to invest their creativity into their street wear brand consisting of t-shirts with Lust. Murder. Intrigue scripted over ice cream pastel colors. My personal favorite is a muscular angel carrying the weight of their brand’s symbol – an upside down half crest. When I ask them about the thing that will make LMI stand out in the sea of other t-shirt startups longing to break into fashion, and in spite of the knowledge of a saturated market, their eagerness becomes tangible. Cliff speaks confidently about their company, “LMI has based its business plan from pads of notes with past achievements and mistakes of successful brands” – which knocks me off my jaded horse.
These kids have done their homework.
The photographer finally arrives and before the young men promptly get into place for her, I ask Leo who he’d like to see wearing LMI. He responds, unexpectedly, with Bill Gates. “What would it hurt to get Bill in some exclusive Nike SB dunks with a LMI tee? That would be a hot look, Mr. Gates.”
Crème de la Crème Denim
1440 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-6330
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cherish
