FatBoi Fresh clothes: fashion-forward clothes for big and tall men

By Reginald Williams,
Especially for AFRO

During the day, professor Floyd N. Bronson is the coordinator of the restorative justice program. But as night fell, the 25-year education veteran turned into “The Professor of Fresh,” taking on the role of CEO of FatBoi Fresh.

Founded in 2023, FatBoi Fresh is a lifestyle brand that offers a selection of quality clothing for fashion-forward men with wide or tall body frames.

“Our collection features a unique combination of streetwear and modern elements for all seasons, making us the perfect destination for plus size men and beyond,” explains Bronson. “At FatBoi, we believe big guys want to look fresh too! As a large man, there are often restrictions with clothing brands that suit our body type and budget. That’s why we design our products with comfort, style and price in mind.”

Living in a society that is often seen as highly sensitive to identity labels, it is interesting that Bronson named his company FatBoi, a play on the term fat boy, which is used to make fun of men who are heavier and larger than the average man. type. Paterson, a New Jersey native, explains that the name stems from his childhood experiences and his growing sense of fashion. He turned that humiliating experience into a thriving company.

“As a kid, my friends would call me ‘FatBoy Floyd.’ Despite not liking the name, I was actually a fat little kid,” said Bronson. “Thinking about that experience, using my initials “FB” and my desire to maintain a fashion-forward wardrobe as a big man, I created FatBoi Fresh. I renamed “FatBoy” to “FatBoi”, the modern spelling of the word. The letter “B” in the logo is the silhouette of a large man adorning the crown.”

FatBoi Fresh represents one of the new emerging Black businesses. Research reveals that African American businesses nationwide grew by around 100,000 between February 2020 and February 2022. From 2014 to 2018, African Americans launched businesses at a rate of 20 percent, roughly eight and nine percent higher than the white and Latino population. . The more than two million small businesses owned by black people represent about three percent of all small businesses, generating about one percent of all gross revenue.

Besides creating clothing lines that fill fashion voids, Bronson’s larger mission is ownership.

Invest in yourself

“When you move, you don’t even have your time,” Bronson explains of work. “Because you don’t have time, you always trade time for money. My current situation [as an educational coordinator] forced me to be in a situation where many hours of work were dedicated, but I was just perfecting someone else’s craft. With FatBoi, it’s me taking ownership of my next steps. It’s not about FatBoi but, what is the result of FatBoi’s success. It’s building a legacy for my kids.

Although entrepreneurship in the Black community continues to increase, the rudimentary nine to five job offers continue to offer Black families economic stability. Regarding the 40-hour work week, Bronson believed black talent often provided their employers with a greater advantage.

Despite having $1.6 trillion in purchasing power, economists argue that the average black person owns one-sixth of the wealth of white Americans. The purchasing power of black people is equal to the gross national income for Russia and Brazil, and greater than that of Australia and Spain. The intersection between Black earning power and the deficit in the wealth gap serves as a source of inspiration for Bronson.

Recognizing the pre-eminence of African American entrepreneurs such as Madam CJ Walker, Jeremiah Hamilton, and Mary Ellen Pleasant, who understood the value of owning a business and its impact on Black families and communities. Bronson knew that building a company and following in the footsteps of his ancestors was not going to happen by trying to amass wealth through work or academics.

“I do not [put] education down. I don’t knock education, I’ve earned four degrees,” Bronson explains. “As an educator, I have always advocated education, but when I think about those four degrees, they are simply receipts of completion. They don’t come with a guarantee. I have invested $247,000 into the American education system. Imagine if I invested $247,000 in FatBoi Fresh. Imagine if I invested $247,000 in Floyd Bronson. Imagine if I had invested $247,000 in it [my children] Jadyn Bronson and Jordyn Bronson. Now I will bet on myself. If I invested that money, I would be looking at more than the six figures I earn a year as an educator, even by making business mistakes.”

Exhausting obstacles in entrepreneurship

The joy of trading is often met with roadblocks such as insufficient time, funds and unexpected setbacks that spur emotional pain. Many aspiring entrepreneurs view challenges and setbacks as the enemy of building a company. But Bronson sees these obstacles as part of the process.

In his bid to secure his summer line launch, Bronson suffered several unfortunate setbacks. Relations with his original vendor soured and delayed production, but he shared that the lessons learned were invaluable. Bronson invested thousands of dollars in finding new vendors only to get a product that failed to live up to his satisfaction. Even after finding the right vendor, he had problems receiving his products due to holiday delays, worship delays, shipping, and customs delays. Each obstacle causes the CEO of FatBoi Fresh to miss the delivery date promised to the customer and challenges his confidence.

“As a small business, there are setbacks and things have to adjust, explains Bronson. But that’s no reason not to see it. We saw all the high points and wins, but people don’t want to share the downside.

The FatBoi Freshs summer line had an early launch in late May. They are currently preparing for the release of their entire summer and fall lineup.

Bronson, whose fashion-forward mission is to cultivate a legacy for her children, Jadyn and Jordyn.

“With FatBoi, I position myself so that my children don’t feel the effects of what I feel [perfecting someone else’s craft],” says Bronson. “FatBoi is freedom: not just for me, but [for] my children.”

Reginald Williams, author of A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised & Demonized writes about black men and Holistic Health issues. Please email [email protected] or visit amvonlinestore.com for more information.