Today we’d like to introduce you to Ransford Nyamaah.
Ransford, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Icyy Brand has been a vision of mine for years in the making. Before it was a real thing, I had the idea written out on old sketch pads and napkins.
As a kid, I had a love for fashion. Back then, I remember getting in trouble for stealing clothes from my older brother only to go to school and stunt on friends and foes alike. In my early years in high school, I used to save up weekly allowances for popular brands like Evisu and Artful Dodger jeans. I only got a job in high school so I can buy clothes for myself so I wouldn’t have to ask my parents. There was a lot I wanted, but couldn’t afford, so I made do. I had to be creative. I use to distress my own jeans, I use to make shirts for myself. This was me expressing myself in the only way I knew how with what I already had.
Icyy Brand is all of this pent-up artistic expression fully manifested. I’ve always been a pretty reserved guy—never really offering enough of myself to strangers or people that could potentially become close friends. So naturally, starting my own clothing brand that was subjected to people’s opinion was nerve-racking because that attention is something I steered away from. But one day, I decided I no longer care about pleasing anyone. I needed a form of release—a way to express myself creatively through one thing that I love: fashion. A year later, here we are.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all. In trying to run a business, you’re going to be faced with struggles but it’s about how you overcome them. I’ve run into obstacles with numerous print shops, graphic designers, photographers, manufacturers you name it. Since I’m fairly brand new into this business people tried to take advantage of that. I would also say one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was myself. I’m my biggest critic. I was really hard on myself, didn’t think I was good enough, didn’t think my designs was tight but I had to overcome that quickly and live with the results. I would also struggle with the business side of having a clothing brand. Rich from Xpresscustomprint in Dallas was very helpful in that process and would help me get the designs I had in my head on a shirt effectively, shout out to him.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Icyy is a clothing brand that was created in the fall of ’18. I make the designs for all the Icyy gear we have such as shirts, hats, hoodies, jackets, etc. for men and women and coming soon, kids.
We have a wide array of designs on Icyybrand.com where you can shop for the items we have in stock. Anyone can also reach us on Instagram (@icyy.brand) or me personally for any other information (@Ranzdaman_). We usually post about upcoming events, drops and promotional items first on our Twitter page (@Icyybrand) or via email, so go subscribe on the website.
I’m most proud of how much traction the Icyy has got in less than one year. Even getting a chance for Voyage Dallas magazine to shine a light on my brand is huge. Thank you Voyage Magazine.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was pretty active, I played all sports in high school and it seemed that I would always find trouble or it would find me. I was smart when I applied myself and I was/am the friend that checks on my close friends consistently. I would say I was popular during the Myspace, Twitter and peak Facebook times. I know a lot of people and had made a lot of friends. Those relationships I made were critical to who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: icyyBrand.com
- Email: icyybrand@gmail.com
- Instagram: icyy.brand
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Icyy.brand/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Icyybrand
Image Credit:
Ransford Nyamaah
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