Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezra Jones.
Hi Ezra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“I didn’t start The Fstate as a business, I built it out of necessity. I saw how often talent was overlooked because of how they were positioned, and I wanted to change that. What started as model management evolved into a Cultural Identity Operating System™️ focused on identity, perception, and cultural authority.”
In 2016, during a period where I felt stuck and disconnected from where I knew my life could go, I started the Fstate. At the time, I was working in retail, navigating job instability, and trying to figure out what direction made sense. After being passed over for an opportunity and eventually losing my position, I reached a point where I had to make a decision, stay comfortable or pursue what I actually cared about.
That shift led me deeper into fashion.
I came across a then untitled fashion show that would later be called Insta Runway and reached out directly. That one decision turned into a three-hour conversation with the production team, and shortly after, I was brought on to help produce the show. The show featured black designers and talent who are now globally recognized: Ese Azenabor, Jerome Lamaar, Korto Momolu, Venny Etienne, Greg Tarzan Davis, Christina Johnson, and it became one of the most talked-about shows in Dallas at the time.
After that experience, I stayed on to scout and develop models. That’s when I started to understand how the industry really works, not just talent, but positioning, relationships, and perception.
Originally, I intended to build a traditional agency. But after researching what it required, I realized that model management was a more realistic starting point, so I launched Fashion State of Mind, which eventually evolved into the Fstate.
At the same time, I was going through a personal transformation, rebuilding my confidence, reconnecting with my faith, and learning to move without needing permission. That internal shift gave me the clarity to build something that reflected truth, not just opportunity.
From there, everything grew through experience, working with talent, building relationships, creating opportunities, and understanding how to position people so they’re not just seen, but respected.
Today, the Fstate has evolved beyond what I originally imagined. What started as model management became a platform focused on shaping identity, controlling perception, and helping creatives and brands build real authority in the industry.
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?
“It hasn’t been a smooth road at all, but every challenge forced understanding. I had to learn how to turn access into structure, talent into positioning, and vision into something that actually produces results. That’s what shaped the Fstate into what it is today.”
There were moments where I didn’t have stability, financially or professionally. I’ve been in positions where opportunities fell through, where I was overlooked, where I had to rebuild from nothing more than belief and vision.
Early on, one of the biggest struggles was access without structure. I was in the rooms, around the talent, connected to the right people, but I didn’t yet have a system that could consistently turn those moments into long-term opportunity.
I also faced misunderstanding. When you’re building something that doesn’t fit into a known category, people don’t always know how to place you. That can cost you opportunities, partnerships, and even trust early on.
Another challenge was capacity. Doing everything: creative direction, strategy, production, relationship building, without the infrastructure to support it. That teaches you quickly that talent alone isn’t enough. You need systems.
And then there’s the internal side: doubt, pressure, and isolation. Building something from nothing forces you to confront yourself. There were times I had to move forward without validation, without guarantees, and without knowing how things would come together.
But every challenge taught something:
* Instability taught me how to build structure
* Misunderstanding forced me to define my positioning
* Limited resources pushed me to think strategically
* Pressure refined my faith, discipline and belief
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Fstate™?
About The Fstate™
At The Fstate™, we don’t just sell stories, we spark movements. Our mission is to amplify diverse talent and craft bold narratives that redefine culture, fashion, and media.
The Fstate™ is not a traditional agency, PR firm, or magazine. It’s a Cultural Identity Operating System™ built for founder-led brands and high-performing fashion talent across Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and global markets.
Most companies operate in silos:
* PR firms handle visibility
* Agencies manage bookings
* Media platforms publish stories
The problem is, none of it is connected.
The Fstate exists to connect it all.
What We Do
We build systems that turn identity into authority, and authority into income.
Our work is structured across three core functions:
1. Build the Story (Brand Positioning)
We define who you are, what you stand for, and how you should be understood, before the market gets it wrong.
Understanding creates value.
2. Distribute the Story (Fashion PR + Media)
We place that narrative across the right platforms: editorials, media, and cultural channels.
Not random exposure. Strategic visibility.
3. Convert the Story (Opportunities + Revenue)
We turn attention into tangible outcomes: brand partnerships, bookings, placements, and long-term positioning.
Visibility without conversion is wasted.
What Sets Us Apart
Most people are visible but not valued.
Or they’re seen but not chosen.
That’s not a talent issue.
That’s a positioning problem.
The Fstate is known for:
* Turning underpriced founder-led brands and fashion talent into authority figures
* Repositioning brands to attract premium opportunities
* Building narrative ecosystems that compound over time
We don’t chase attention.
We engineer perception, so the market responds differently.
What We’re Most Proud Of
We’ve created a system where:
* Creatives gain understanding about who they are
* Their story is understood at a higher level
* That understanding translates into real access and income
These outcomes aren’t luck. They’re engineered.
From Editorial placement in Vanity to model signings like Ayak Deng (@byayakdeng) and Akok Deng (@Akok___) signed through strategic alignment with Range Models (@rangemodelsny) at a casting hosted at fashion designer Tiffany S. Walker’s Pink Lucy Showroom, courtesy of a connection with Karlettè Jones (@therealkarlette) to onboarding Jerome Dotson (@iamjeromedotson), and Art Director Ronnie B. (@xronnieb_) both of which are making waves, this is structured execution, not chance.
The shift is real.
Jada Zia Sims (@jadaziastyled) moved from small-town in Arkansas. A stylist now turned Creative Director fast.
Ronnie B. named the room she wanted to enter, Harlem Fashion Row, and met Brandice Daniel (@brandicedaniel).
That’s the difference:
When identity is clear, access follows.
What Readers Should Know
Most people stay stuck because they focus on content, not control.
They post, but they don’t position.
They get attention, but they don’t convert.
At The Fstate, everything is designed to work together:
story + visibility + revenue
When those three align, everything compounds.
That’s how you go from being seen…
to being chosen. We design stories and narratives that, highlight your unique identity and shift perception and elevate your brand presence.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Most people think collaboration is access.
That’s the lie.
Access without alignment is noise.
The truth:
People don’t work with me for proximity.
They work with me for positioning, perception control, and authority that converts into real opportunity.
How to Work With Me
1. Cultural Identity Audit™ (Entry Point)
If you’re visible but not valued correctly, this is where it starts.
We break down:
Who you are vs. how you’re seen
Where you’re mispositioned
What’s blocking authority and pricing power
Outcome: clarity that changes how the market responds to you.
2. Cultural Identity Operating System™ (High-Level Partnership)
For brands, designers, and talent ready to move at a higher level.
We:
Build your narrative (what people believe about you)
Control your perception (how you’re positioned in the industry)
Distribute strategically (media, partnerships, cultural moments)
Convert attention into opportunities, deals, and revenue
This is not exposure. This is infrastructure.
3. Creative + Editorial Collaboration (Selective)
For aligned creatives, publications, and cultural projects.
This includes:
Digital covers + editorial features (The Fstate Magazine)
Cultural storytelling tied to real moments (fashion, identity, impact)
Strategic collaborations that elevate all parties involved
If it doesn’t move culture forward, it doesn’t happen.
How to Collaborate
Brands → Partnerships, campaigns, cultural activations
Talent → Development, positioning, long-term authority building
Media → Features, interviews, narrative alignment
Organizations → Culture-driven programming (fashion, community, impact)
How to Support
Support isn’t passive.
Share the message if it shifts your thinking
Bring aligned opportunities and introductions
Invest when you’re ready to be positioned, not just seen
The Standard
This is for:
Creatives with motion but no clear positioning
Brands making money but lacking authority
Talent ready to be chosen at a higher level
Not for:
People looking for quick exposure
Undefined identities
Low-commitment collaboration
Direct Path
If you’re ready:
Start with the audit
Or reach out for partnership alignment
Perception decides who gets paid.
If you’re ready to control it, we can work.
Pricing:
- Cultural Identity Audit $750
- Cultural Perception Engineering System™ starting at $4500 per month
- Cultural Authority System™ starting at $7500 per month
- Cultural Identity Operating System™ starting at $10000 per month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefstate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefstate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefstatec/about/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-jones-44423b11?
- Twitter: https://x.com/thefstatec
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeD2VowfqIPKwdpAcFj-1Og
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/thefstatemagazine
