Today we’d like to introduce you to Omeko Eromosele.
Omeko, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and immigrated to the U.S. after my father passed away in 1999. My mom wanted my five older siblings and I to have more opportunities away from the political hostilities in Nigeria at the time – the usual immigrant story, right – so off we went to live with various family members throughout the United States. Although our nuclear family was split up, we maintained strong family ties and vehemently upheld the values that my parents had instilled in us at such a young age – a relationship with God and education come first.
These teachings have stayed with me throughout my life and have been the guiding light in everything I do, from my personal life to my career and everything in between. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of others which has led me into the medical field. I’m currently an aspiring pediatric surgeon in my 3rd year of Medical School with the hopes that one day I will be able to give back to my community, wherever that may be and whatever that may look like.
Since I’ve moved around so much – from Lagos to Minneapolis to Atlanta to Chicago to Maryland to New York to Barbados, and finally, to Dallas – community and family have always meant something different to me, but what has remained consistent is the unwavering support of the people around me and my own unwavering faith in God. That’s what inspired me to start Godly Cru, a faith-first fashion brand that aims to inspire meaningful conversations while spreading positive messages through intentionally curated apparel.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My father’s death and the events that followed were probably one of the most challenging obstacles in my life. Having to leave my mother and some of my siblings to go live with relatives at such a young age, without any concrete understanding of past and future, was extremely disorienting. I found myself trying to put down roots to anchor myself everywhere I went. I’m thankful for the values and teachings that my parents instilled in me at such a young age which allowed me to be less of a tumbleweed in the wind. I had my faith and my values to give me a sense of stability. I had a firm understanding of who I was, even at a young age, which helped me cope through a lot of the trauma and allowed me to come out stronger and more resilient on the other side.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A central tenant of Godly Cru is that we can all be vehicles of change and positivity if we allow ourselves to be part of something bigger. No man or woman is an island; we are all connected, and we all affect each other. Whether we realize it or not, we are all a mouthpiece for something – the songs we listen to, the brands we purchase from, the media we consume, and what we wear, these are all ways we project our innermost self out to the world. We believe that since fashion is one of the most visible outward expressions of yourself and what you believe in, why not believe in something good and spread that good as far as you can, just by doing something you’re already doing.
Seeing a pure positive message on something as humble and unassuming as a T-Shirt could brighten up someone’s day without you even knowing it, and that’s kind of what we’re all about. The apparel is just a tool to spark meaningful conversations not only about faith but what faith specifically means to you. We believe our apparel goes beyond just being a fashion statement; it is a reflective piece, a conversation starter, a path of self-discovery, a way to plant inadvertent seeds of kindness, and a message of joy and light amidst the negative and meaningless noise we are surrounded by on a daily basis. With Godly Cru Apparel, you can boldly and confidently say “I believe in what I’m wearing.”
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I was in the middle of my 1st year in Medical School when the pandemic hit and I had to move back home to Dallas amidst the chaos to figure out where to go from there. I started Godly Cru during this time, so it was kind of like the phoenix that rose from the ashes, something good that came out of an otherwise terrible situation.
The lesson of gratitude really came front and center during this time; although I didn’t necessarily ‘learn’ this lesson during the pandemic, it was definitely cemented and stood out. The pandemic taught me that perspective is everything and that you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Things can change in the blink of an eye so hold your loved ones close and do your best to leave the world better than you found it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.godlycru.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godlycru/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godlycru
Image Credits
Jason Arreola
