Meet Royce Porter of MercyMe in East Austin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Royce Porter.

Royce, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story starts in LA. I’m the youngest of five boys, all born to a mother addicted to crack. From the 80s through the 2000’s. By the time I came in 92′ my mother had me in a women’s prison & I immediately was put into the system. Raised in foster care, I felt I understood every personality type by 16. At 6, I went into business for myself selling my aunt’s cd’s & at that same time I also fell in love w/ Art & clothing. It was a sense of freedom in knowing “okay, this is what I wanna do”. I remember moments of who I would become like ironing my first jean jacket for an hour before school started, while it was still dark out. I’d be so happy in what I was wearing & I wasn’t cool so I’d spend my lunch’s in the art class. Reading & engulfing myself in books of art from Europe I explored my imagination through drawing. It was cathartic to say the least.

In hindsight there’s moments in my life that directly define who I am in my soul. But I guess in a more segmented way. Like at a certain point, I was selling candy & Pokemon cards, that was my business mind coming through. Then, at a different point I just created my artist side. Another time I was only about clothing, my design side. These things have cultivated in a balance in my life now. My point is all these elements make up a person. The polarity of feeling such a struggle & learning life’s hardest lessons alone at adolescent catapulted the desire in me to be valuable. So by the time I created my brand at 23, my clothing was going to represent a certain intangible quality. I’d speak through my clothing & in every collection give what I understand.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been an uphill battle for real. Everything has been tested. My faith, relationships, resources, security & stability. I truly put it all on the line for MercyMe. It’s been four years & were just now penetrating the market. I felt resistance & put my head down & worked. From releasing on def ears for years to being rejected from retailers & opening up our own store. All with our own money. I feel the key is always be a student. I’ve learned everyday. I’m a veracious reader & seeker of knowledge. Starting at 0 drove me to understand story, business, branding, budget, investment, community & utility. To fund ourselves my wife & I got into Real estate investing. We’ve learned, won & failed in entirely different industries based on faith in order to keep MercyMe pure. That’s what I feel our community gets, Authenticity. Pure game from experience but from someone who looks like you. Tangible inspiration.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with MercyMe – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
MercyMe as a clothing brand has evolved into a mentality. Clothing is 1 side but story is another. We have aspects like our podcast & bookclub as well as meditations & yoga. Also, our sustainable line dieumerci, which are home goods such as bamboo straws, vegan lotions & charcoal soap bars that reduce plastic pollution. I see Mercy as a universe. I think that’s what distinguishes me. We’re in a time where the most impactful brands are undefinable. Multi contextual. I see Mercy in the light of the All money Ins, the Roc Nations, Apple, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Nike. These companies come in a certain way then disrupt industry so much they become an industry. Ultimately it’s about being creative about how we monetize the connection. Exploring this liberates me to tell the truth. That’s what I’m most proud of. The freedom to speak from my heart. That’s the experience I want to contribute to humanity.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’m not in Dallas but I’ll take this question to Austin. Being here for 5+ years, I love the simplicity of the people. The receptivity & happiness people feel from not chasing anything. I feel that’s a southern quality that makes the south rich. I also love the opportunities here. Austin is growing at an exponential rate & in 5-15 years, it will become a metropolitan. The world is discovering Austin right now & us as leaders are defining what this city is all about. Lastly, I love East Austin. I moved here from Crenshaw & I feel the parallels between the two everyday. The Black & Latino community in all it’s economic disparity & displacement still finds a reason to love. & for that MercyMe belongs to East Austin. As far as we go, the community will grow with us. But there are deep nuances of racism here that are weaved into the fabric of the city. A tension that doesn’t exist in LA. But so subtle it moves through wealth. It doesn’t manifest first in social environments, it’s economic. Meaning there’s no representation in business & ownership so minorities don’t have environments that speak to us. But were working on that as we speak.

Contact Info:

• Address: The MercyMe Store 1630 E. 6th St. #1102
• Website: www.mercyme.online/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercymecommunity/

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