”Their style caught my eye more than anything,” Brown said. “Some of the stuff [they were wearing] I would be like, ‘Man, I wouldn’t wear it,’ but it was cool to see how they were expressing themselves, one with the music, and on top of that with their attire.”
White Air Force 1s, Ed Hardy tees, True Religion trousers, and Hermès belts were popular items in Brown’s childhood wardrobe. Brown was not afraid to make a fashion statement, even though he followed current trends. He garnered attention in the gym with his short shorts, which became his distinctive style. Brown wore his basketball shorts way above the knee at a period when a baggier style was considered the norm.
Opposing players would mock his shorts, which makes Brown shake his head today, given that 5-inch inseams are widely accepted and short-shorts have become the new basketball court norm. “Now all the young guys are wearing their shorts all the way up, showing their whole leg,” Brown laughs.
Brown, a five-star prоspect, received offers from prestigious collegiate basketball programs across the country, including Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA, and Kentucky, but ultimately picked the University of California, Berkleley. He knew what he expected from his one-year college experience in terms of academics. And he did. He learnt Spanish, meditated, and spent many hours on campus speaking with his instructors, soaking up knowledge from many sources. Many of Brown’s family members, especially his mother Mechalle, have a background in teaching, and it’s easy to see how their influence has been handed down.
But Brown wants more than just to study; he wants to share his knowledge with others. After the Celtics chose him third overall in 2016, he began to consider how to forge his own path.
“People forget I’m the highest-selected player to enter the NBA draft without an agent,” Brown adds with a smile. “I did not have a public relations staff, an agency, or a manager. If I needed something done, I’d call and compose the email personally. I wаnted to be conscious and in control of my brand’s direction. I learnt so much in the process, including how to run a business, express myself, and be efficient with yourself.”
During All-Star Weekend in 2018, he sponsored a networking lunch event and invited speakers from the sports, business, and entertainment industries to share their knowledge with NBA players.
Brown’s increasing off-court portfolio includes his own apparel line, 7uice. Brown’s fascination with fashion has always been strong. He’s recently developed an interest in matching his eyewear to his clothes. Brown speaks about putting together an outfit as if it were an art work, but he also admits to being a creature of habit and someone who prefers comfort.
He still favors his white Air Force 1s and says he goes through 100 pairs per year to stay fresh. Despite arriving up to the tunnel before games in a variety of outfits, he credits Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and his famed uniform as another important fashion influence. “That’s something that’s always been dоpe to me,” he said. “As I get older, I think I’ll be able to mimic the idea of creating a uniform so that you always wear the same thing. There are so many things on my mind, and how much time I would save if I didn’t spend an hour each day of the week figuring out how I want to appear, what I want to wear, how the fit will be, what the lighting will be like when I arrive, and if they’ll take pictures. “You have to dress for the occasion, which requires a lot of effort and detail.”
All this to suggest that Brown values his time. As a basketball player in the prime of his NBA career, finding time to pursue his off-court aspirations can be difficult, but he has no regrets about entering the league and being the driving force behind the development of his own brand.
Brown has a team that supports him, both on and off the court, but he’s learned a lot of vital things all on his own, getting to where he is now – in business, fashion, and, of course, living a wonderful life. “The number one thing you learn is if somebody is beating around the bush,” he said. “Everyone on these calls loves to talk in circles. I am impatient. “It becomes boring.”
Brown was blown away by Virgil Abloh’s artistic direction at the Louis Vuitton show during his first fashion week in Paris few years ago. Brown then introduced himself. “I got to talk with him a little bit,” he recalls. “As a 20-year-old at the time, having that experience was quite cool. I recall telling him, ‘You don’t know how many people you inspire. He inspired so many individuals around the world, particularly in the fashion industry.”
Over the years, Brown has surrounded himself with many of the fashion industry’s heavy hitters, including Steven Smith, the well-known shoe designer responsible for the New Balance 574, among other popular sneaker models; Kerby Jean-Raymond, the founder of Pyer Moss; Samuel Ross, the founder of the luxury menswear label A-COLD-WALL*; and Verbal and Yoon, the couple behind the Tokyo-based AMBUSH.
Brown traveled to Tokyo for the first time this offseason and met with Verbal and Yoon. Of course, he did a lot of shopping. (After shopping at Dover Street Market in Ginza, Brown left with 88 things. “I set a record,” Brown laughs. “They took a picture of the receipt and said they’d post it on the wall. The receipt extended from one end to the other.”)
While Brown says he’s still learning how to establish his own brand, he’s gaining a handle on the practical side of opening a retail location and delving into purposeful and statement-making design through chats with new fashion acquaintances.
As sportsmen continue to mix athletics and fashion, Brown is approached by an increasing number of athletes, both young and elderly, seeking assistance. “I went through a lot of ups and downs, a lot of bumps and bruises, and being on phone calls that led to nowhere,” Brown said. “A lot of guys approach me and ask about my brand. I attempt to bring them from point A to point B without them having to suffer the migraines I did.”
Now more than ever, the Celtics star feels athletes should have a voice at the table when it comes to discussions about influencing others through design. “It’s been great for this prestigious world to combine with the world of basketball,” he says, noting that they weren’t always connected.
“Fashion is an art form and I’m constantly being inspired,” he said. “If you take the time to look around, you will find inspiration everywhere. There has never been a better opportunity to express yourself and what you stand for. I am continuously inspired by the world around me. We have a lot of incredible creative people wandering around the world, and just being around some of them has given me some great ideas and will continue to do so in the future.”
Brown’s aspirations grow in tandem with his reach.His mother, Mechalle, always taught him the necessity of speaking up for those who don’t have a platform to express themselves to the public, but it wasn’t until college that he learned more about social justice activism. In 2020, following the deаth of George Floyd, Brown jumped in his car and drove 15 hours home to participate in a nonviolent protest against police viоlence in Georgia. He emerged as one of the most outspoken advocates for police reform among modern athletes.
Brown recently established the 7uice Foundation, which has begun to provide educational opportunities for children from impoverished neighborhoods. Last year, Brown, along with teammates Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams, met with Department of Justice officials to discuss social justice concerns and criminal justice reform. One of the themes discussed was how NBA players can continue to use their platform to promote collaboration, conversation, and aid to implement change.
After signing his record-breаking contract extension this summer, Brown discussed his goal to address America’s wealth imbalance and finding a means to begin a project that would bring what he calls a “Black Wall Street” to Boston.
He pauses for a few seconds to consider this question. It’s difficult to deliver a concise response; plainly, Brown has a lot on his mind and a lot he wants to accomplish. “There are a lot of goals,” he replies, breаking the silence and hesitating again. “In short, I just want to make the world a better place.”