Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Hayes.
Hi Isaiah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I initially started by customizing and selling sneakers throughout high school. When I got to college, I quickly realized that balancing life as a full-time student-athlete while working a part-time job left me with very little free time. Around the same time, the sneaker market began to decline, so I decided to invest my time and money into something that required less capital while still allowing me to express my passion for fashion.
People were always asking where I got my clothes. Growing up, I was often hesitant to admit they came from thrift stores because thrifting was considered “uncool.” By the time I reached college, though, I no longer cared about that perception. I was constantly receiving compliments on my outfits, and I even started selling pieces from my personal collection for significantly more than I had originally paid at those same “uncool” thrift stores. That’s when I realized there was a real opportunity.
In 2019, my college advisor, Sheila Howard, continually encouraged me to apply for an entrepreneurial scholarship. At the time, I didn’t even consider myself an entrepreneur. She had seen my financial struggles and knew I had built a small side business buying and selling clothing and sneakers to help make ends meet. She believed in me and saw the vision.
I didn’t take the application very seriously because, truthfully, I didn’t fully understand what an entrepreneur was. Ironically, I had been demonstrating those qualities all along. By God’s grace, I was awarded the scholarship and, in 2020, inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame (TBHF) Future Texas Business Legend program. Being recognized alongside renowned entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban, John Paul DeJoria, Gerald Smith, and many other accomplished business leaders was a life-changing moment. It was then that I realized I was capable of building something much bigger than a side hustle.
From 2019 through 2020, my business operated primarily online and through word of mouth. In 2021, I decided to expand by creating a more personal shopping experience through pop-up shops and local markets. After the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people missed the excitement of shopping in person. These events gave customers an opportunity to reconnect with their communities while allowing me to build genuine relationships with shoppers and establish a stronger local presence.
As my in-person events gained momentum and my social media audience continued to grow, I was fortunate to collaborate with well-known platforms and brands such as Depop and Whatnot. Those partnerships further validated my vision and reinforced my belief that a passion I once viewed as a hobby could become a thriving business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think there’s any successful business that hasn’t encountered bumps in the road. Whether that’s financially, mentally, physically, etc., there are going to be some bumps in the road. My toughest struggle personally was the passing of my Memaw towards the end of 2020. It was a battle mentally and sometimes still is to this day, but what has kept me going is I’ve always thought what would make her proud. And that has been really my motivation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Iso Supply aka I Stand Out Supply ?
ISO is an acronym for “I Stand Out,” a name I came up with while I was still in high school. I wanted a brand name that was memorable, meaningful, and represented something bigger than just clothing.
As a lifelong basketball fan, I drew inspiration from the term “iso,” short for isolation—a play in basketball where one player is given the space to showcase their individual skill. That concept aligned perfectly with the message I wanted my brand to represent: embracing your individuality and having the confidence to stand out rather than blend in. Combining that basketball influence with the phrase “I Stand Out” made ISO the perfect name.
One of the questions I get asked most often is, “Why is the gas mask your logo?”
The gas mask serves as a metaphor for the mission behind the brand. A gas mask is designed to protect the person wearing it from harmful substances in the air. To me, one of the greatest threats to individuality is the pressure and criticism that society places on people—the expectation to conform, fit in, or become someone they’re not.
The gas mask symbolizes protecting yourself from those negative influences. It represents filtering out the opinions, judgment, and expectations that try to shape your identity. At its core, the message behind the logo is simple:
Be yourself. Don’t breathe in the toxic fumes that society tries to surround you with. Stand out instead.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I vividly remember growing up feeling embarrassed to admit that my clothes came from a thrift store. At the time, thrifting carried a stigma. It wasn’t considered fashionable, and like many young people, I cared far too much about what others thought. If someone complimented my outfit, I’d often avoid telling them where I found it because I didn’t want to be judged.
As I got older, though, my perspective completely changed. I began to appreciate the uniqueness of vintage clothing and realized that the pieces I was wearing had stories, character, and individuality that you simply couldn’t find in a traditional retail store. Instead of chasing the latest trends, I found myself creating my own style by wearing clothing that most people would never own.
Ironically, what was once considered “uncool” has now become one of the biggest trends in fashion. Today, it’s common to hear people say they want to go thrifting or hunt for vintage pieces. What used to be something I hid has become something people proudly embrace.
That shift taught me an important lesson: trends come and go, but authenticity never goes out of style. Fashion isn’t about wearing what everyone else is wearing—it’s about expressing who you are. Looking back, I realize that thrifting didn’t just shape my wardrobe; it shaped my mindset. It taught me to value creativity over conformity, individuality over popularity, and confidence over approval. In many ways, those lessons became the foundation of ISO and the message I’ve built the brand around: I Stand Out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://depop.com/iso_supply
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iso_supply
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/istandoutsupply
