“We aren’t trying to sell clothes, we are trying to sell the ideas behind them.”
Classik brand launched from an idea Georgia State student George Baker III had when he was in the eighth grade. From the beginning, the brand was never about the clothes, but more about the ideas behind them: spreading goodwill and living well with not only clothing but also art.
Baker launched the brand in 2012 with little money in his pocket. What he did have were people who believed in his ideas and stood behind the brand’s purpose. Classik is held by a team of Georgia State students, former students and alumni.
“I felt like there wasn’t much positivity in clothing or within the arts, and I just felt like I needed to be there,” Baker explained, referring to Classik’s mission. “I honestly feel like people need to see that and want to see it.”
Baker began working out of friend Geri Carter’s room. She is now his personal relations director. Carter has stood by his side from the beginning and has always helped Baker out when she was able. She is now in charge of setting up interviews, spreading the word and handling PR tasks.
Jakalia Brown, Classik’s merchandising coordinator, handles merchandising and inventory. Along with the other artists, they all work as a team. If anything needs to be accomplished, the Classik Brand team is always ready to go.
Carter believes while spreading goodwill is good, he feels most successful when fans feel impacted by Classik’s mission.
“I want them to really feel it, like right here,” Carter said, pointing to her heart.
Since Classik’s mission is to spread positivity, team members are encouraged when they see people sporting the brand.
Recently, Brown was at her job when a customer came in with a Classik hat on. She ran after the customer, asking where he purchased the hat. He went on to explain it was at a Georgia State event.
“I’ve never seen that before. I was so happy because it’s such a good thing that we are doing,” Brown said.
Classik merchandise can be bought online, at Georgia State parties or at their brand parties.
Anyone is invited to Classik’s parties, and they encourage it. They do not want just one type of person supporting them; they want everyone to show their support and join the movement.
“[Classik] is just really fun; its like a movement that you can become a part of—this is something wonderful,” Brown said.
Baker is currently the designer for the brand, but creative director Micah Smith is slowly taking over in order to take some stress off of Baker.
Smith—who also goes by Marty McNasty—is also a local Atlanta artist, and will host his very first art show at Classik’s upcoming event on March 14 at Studio T-108 877 Marietta St, Atlanta, Ga. He said that his art is his passion.
“I work a job, but it’s to buy art supplies. This is my life. I just want to see how people perceive my art,” Smith said.
Smith likes to spend a lot of his time by himself. He gives credit to the Classik team for getting him to interact and to be more social. To him, Classik is everything the world should be.
“People should take the energy that Classik brings. Everything that is possibly good is in Classik,” Smith said.
Classik plans to have a new event each month that Smith will start off.
“Classik is about the people, it’s always about what people like and what people do,” Carter said.
For more on Classik, visit their site at thatsclassik.com
