The Seed That Wouldn’t Die (1989 – 2021)
- BlackFolxsTravel
- Sep 29
- 6 min read
"..1989, the number, another summer, Sound of the funky drummer, Music hittin' your heart 'cause I know you got soul...Brothers and Sisters..." - Fight The Power: Public Enemy
“Some ideas don’t just live in your mind, they take root in your spirit.”
In 1989, I wasn’t thinking about business plans or product lines. I was just a young man soaking in the energy of Brooklyn..its sound, its style, its unshakable sense of self. There was Travel Fox, Ballys, AJ's, Girbaud, Spot-Bilts, Lottos, Fila and Cross Colours and Karl Kani, and then came Moshood and a Bunch of others.The inspiration was everywhere. If you know, you know.
There was something sacred about how we moved. How we wore our values. How we said what needed to be said without raising our voices. It wasn’t fashion...It was an Identity. It was Culture. It was survival and style woven into one. Back then, 'PronouncedBrookehluhn' didn’t even exist. But the spirit behind it? It was already there. I just didn’t know how to speak it yet.
As life moved forward, I wore many hats, father, creative, filmmaker, builder. I poured myself into other visions, some that flourished, some that fell apart. But one thing that never left me… was THAT idea. That feeling, that Brooklyn isn’t just a borough, it’s a badge. A mindset. A declaration.
'PronouncedBrookehluhn' isn't just a phonetic twist on my borough, but a full embodiment of the culture, depth, rhythm, and raw beauty I lived in every day. I didn’t know how I’d do it. I just knew One day, Someway, I would.
That dream lived quietly inside me for decades. Through the highs and lows of life, it remained tucked in the back of my mind, whispering occasionally but never screaming.
Fast forward decades later. Life had changed. I had changed. And one day, as I was reflecting on where I was and where I wanted to be, that old idea whispered back to me: “Now Is The Time”
I was in a very different place when that whisper returned, mentally, spiritually, physically. I had been working hard not just to rebuild my career, but to reconnect the joy I had been missing. I was searching for purpose. And slowly, as I focused more on healing, I began to remember him. the kid from Flatbush with big dreams, and A mind full of ideas.
What would it look like to bring this dream to life now? Could this brand actually become part of my own mental wellness journey? Could creativity be a way to not just express, but restore? The answer, I would learn, was yes.
I didn’t begin this process with a Production team, Investor, or a Blueprint. I began alone, often at nights. I started creating again. Writing again. Building mood boards and logos again. Traveling with my Mac Laptop, My Camera, My Phone(S22 Ultra), My Samsung Notebook and a Backpack full of accessories and ideas, designing quietly in hotel rooms across the country and abroad. From Atlanta to London, Paris to Miami, Brooklyn to the Dominican Republic, I took the vision everywhere with me.
I started with a blank page. Some were bold. Some were minimalistic. Some spoke to Brooklyn’s streets and Some spoke to universal themes of resilience and love.
On some nights, I created logo drafts while airborne. Other nights, I stared at a single design.. for hours, just asking God, “Does this feel like me?” But I kept going. The idea wouldn’t let me go.
Eventually, the pages filled up. I had over 150 designs, each one representing a different energy, a different message, a different chapter of my life.
The beauty of growth is learning to let go of ‘more’, in favor of ‘meaningful’. So from those 150 designs, I narrowed it down to 13 designs. Then again from there, I chose the final 7, Plus an Elegant Onyx Varsity Jacket in which I will launch 'PronouncedBrookehluhn'. With Each one, carrying its own weight, They didn’t just reflect the borough I’m from, they reflect the man I am and was becoming.
I’ve learned that the creative process can be deeply spiritual. It forces you to sit with your thoughts, your doubts, and your memories. It also makes room for grace.
I don’t take any of this for granted. Not the ideas. Not the sleepless nights. Not the divine delays.
The Most High has carried me through every late-night sketch session, every moment of creative block, and every quiet win. Her guidance has shaped this brand just as much as any pen or fabric swatch ever could. My appreciation to folks who spoke Life into me knowing what I was embarking on and the roadblocks that slowed me up, I say Thank You for showing me your Love, Your Friendships and Your Intimacy.
I’ll never forget the moment I saw my first shirt printed with one of my designs. It wasn’t just fabric. It was Evidence. Evidence that a dream from 1989 was alive in 2022. Evidence that my creativity still had a pulse. Evidence that faith, patience, and work produce results. I held that shirt in my hands like it was a sacred object. It felt like hope you could touch.
From the start, I knew 'PronouncedBrookehluhn' had to be more than just cool graphics on standard tees. It had to feel different, it had to be luxury with substance.
I began traveling to source the best materials. I studied fabrics, weights, and cuts. I wanted the shirts to fit with confidence, have a Classy feel to it, and, to feel like a second skin. Every detail mattered, from the tags to the stitching to the packaging. Everything.
Eventually, I found a manufacturer overseas who understood the vision. We went through countless samples and revisions until the quality matched the message. Even when unexpected challenges arose, like those F**king High Import Tariffs, I took them as lessons in patience and persistence rather than setbacks. I kept walking with the thought that "I knew the Most High Didn't Bring Me This Far, Just To Bring Me This Far"
The next phase was creating a world for the brand to live in. I designed and built the website, treating every page as a canvas to tell the story. The product descriptions weren’t copy, they were personal, it was a piece of my journey.
I did photoshoot and Shot commercials. Filmed editorial-style promos. I edited the footage, frame by frame, because this wasn’t just marketing, this was my calling.
Through all of this, I’ve stayed anchored in gratitude. There were moments of uncertainty, of wondering if I was out of my depth. But each time I doubted, I was reminded “..You’re on the right path.”
This brand has been part of my mental wellness journey. It’s taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of self-care. It’s been a vehicle for me to rediscover joy, not just in creating, but in living. 'PronouncedBrookehluhn' is more than apparel. It’s a testimony of resilience, creativity, and grace.
Now, as I stand on the edge of launching this brand, I feel a mix of Excitement, Nervousness and Humility. It’s been a four-year journey of travel, sketches, prototypes, tariffs, photoshoots, edits, highs, lows and prayers.
And soon, I’ll watch as 'PronouncedBrookehluhn' goes out into the world, not just as clothing, but as an invitation.
I hope it resonates. I hope it inspires. I hope it reminds someone that it’s never too late to bring your vision to life.
My Takeaway:
If you’ve ever carried a dream for years, maybe even decades, this is your reminder, it’s not too late. The idea God planted in you is still alive. And when the time is right, it will find its way to the surface.
'PronouncedBrookehluhn' was my seed. And now, by grace, it’s a tree.
From an idea scribbled in 1989, To sketches in hotel rooms across the world,To the final 7 designs ready for launch in 2025, This is more than a brand. It’s a journey of healing. It’s a testament to faith. It’s a celebration of resilience.
Thank you for walking with me. Thank you, God, for guiding me.
Check out the site www.PronouncedBrookehluhn.com
Thank you for Always showing Love and for your Support. Es
Size M please! Need T-shirts and Hoodies
#PronouncedBrookehluhn