Meet Alex Nguyen of Prototype 306 in Central Dallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Nguyen.

Alex, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since I was a child, I’ve always loved the idea of manifesting your imagination and creativity. I could never focus in school, I would always be doodling or be in my world. My parents tended to think of it rather as a phase. Growing up with family members who wanted to become either someone in the medical field or even the finance and business field, becoming a creative was frowned upon. Somedays I would be lectured and asked, “What are you going to do with your life? Are you going to sit and just doodle all day, or are you going to be someone successful.”. Being Someone who essentially grew up around computers and working on them, my parents always thought I was going to be a computer science major. But that turned around as soon as the economy was crashing, I was 12 at the time. I had seen my parents go through financial trouble, and finally, it took me to realized what I wanted to do in life.

And at the age of 13, that is the start of how I became a designer. I wanted to solve major issues alongside using my creativity. I wanted to help minorities craft their dreams, and call it a reality. After years of helping others craft their visions, I decided to craft my own. Prototype 306 was founded with my vision of the world, and how everyone themselves is a prototype working for a better future. With inspirations from Anime and Futuristic SciFi movies, I wanted to create something that would reflect upon my vision. Prototype 306 is what encompasses my emotions and thoughts to life.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
From the start, I’ve known that I wanted to create something that would bring forth my emotions tucked in the back of my mind. But I had not known how to manifest it. As with any design, is it always critiqued, and misunderstood. But I knew that someone out there even if it is a 0.001% chance, would understand what my mind is going through. At first, I didn’t realize how hard it would be to produce a clothing brand. In the beginning, I overestimated the number of garments and pieces I needed. In doing so, the company was failing for a while and was affecting my mental health. As time grew on, I learned my mistakes, and I wanted to see my company grow. My mentors in the Dallas fashion scene: Aboo Nguyen, Enoch Odu, Edgar Miyamoto, ARS. Sight, DMKD, and Windfall had to teach me the ropes of what to do. And in return, I thank each and every you for that.

Please tell us about your business.
I like to think of Prototype 306, in the state, it’s in an incubator. An incubator for creativity. Prototype 306 is a clothing brand based on the stories of my life, and the emotional undertake I’ve had to endure and face. What we focus on is crafting technical and anime-inspired streetwear to the best of our ability. Whether it’s from unique and militaristic designs to your simple bomber jacket but with creative accents combined, I’ve always been proud of what Prototype 306 has become.

There was a point in time when I first started and feeling under the weather, I came across a stranger wearing a hat I designed, and I asked: “How did you find out about us.” He had told me about how he was scrolling online and found about us through a Reddit forum I had posted earlier in the year. And It made me so proud to finally see someone appreciate my design. After that day I have been working harder to create my next season. What sets us apart from other brands, is that I want to create a brand that helps push the world forward, and allows people to be comfortable in whatever situation they have to be in. Prototype 306, is for the people who want to keep working on themselves to manifest their destiny not predetermined from anyone else.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could start over, and I would apologize to any wrongs I have done and fixed them. I would learn more about the industry and teach myself about how fabrics and textures work. I would also be more confident in myself, and learn to fix my mistakes.

Contact Info:

• Email: Madebyp306@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/Prototype.306

Image Credit:
Vincent Dao, Enoch Odu, Tuan Ho

Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.