Meet DeMetrius James
We had the good fortune of connecting with DeMetrius James and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi DeMetrius, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My initial thought process on starting my own business was that I wanted to express myself to the broadest scale possible. Showing to the world that you could not only be apart of my expression but truly have your own unique expressive experience. I believe in giving others the opportunity to express themselves through each piece of fabric, garment, & accessory with my help.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I go by the name HOF, I am a stylist and content creator my art is dissecting uniquely different articles of clothing and building the most cohesive ensemble (outfit) to mold to an individual’s personality, heart, soul, & lastly body. The one thing that set myself apart from others is that I treat my art and craft like each opportunity may very well be the last chance to express myself. The sentiment behind it is that I do not want to regret not taking the risk of expressing myself to the fullest of my capabilities artistically while I’m still able to do so. I have such a great sense of gratitude to be given a gift and blessing. I don’t want to waste or squander such a blessing by not maxing out my full potential. I’m most excited about the journey ahead for myself, my career, & my art. I have yet to reach the heights that i am destined for. Im looking forward to go through the highs and lows for granted this beautiful journey that I will embark on artistically while striving to be the greatest version of myself as a human being but also as an artist. I am here today creatively and professionally because of God and perseverance. I am my own worst enemy and there were moments where I doubted myself and sometimes even not. The fear of failing creeps in my mind but I’ve realized that I must allow myself the opportunity to not only fail but to succeed. If there is not opportunity to fail then there isn’t an opportunity to succeed or grow from failure. I would like the world to know first and foremost that I DeMetrius/ HOF am a loving husband, father, and all around human being before I am an artist or creative. I am passionate about the art I create and the smiles I put on people faces when they’re discovering a new way to express themselves. I want people to know that my brand is about collaboration. It’s a mutual partnership to convey emotion, personality, & imagination into a physical portrayal. My story is that I had a great upbringing two parent household mother and father gave me everything that I needed and everything that I could’ve wanted as a child/teen growing up. I have a family of my own now and I want to give them what my parents gave me plus more. I strive To be the best version of myself mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and artistically to provide more opportunities for my kids than they could ever imagine. Im connected to fashion because I grew a genuine appreciation and love for the art, I’m very passionate about it and I just want to show them that if you do what you love rather than solely chasing monetary gain you’ll always have peace. I got into fashion when I was in a very dark place looking for ways to let the emotions I was feeling at the time out. I bottled them up and it was destroying me from the inside out until I discovered what fashion was. I studied and learned what it meant to take uniquely different articles of clothing, piecing them together to create my very own fashion Frankenstein to match an image in my mind. The end result turns out to be a masterpiece and a physical representation of one’s true expression and soul. That’s the mark I want to leave while embarking on this journey.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fortunately, for me My best friend is someone I consider my brother so nine times out of 10 we would probably be on the same wavelength as far as activities and things to do. First, I know that when we get together Having brunch is a must the first place I will go to would be the Honeyhole. They have some great food especially the chicken and waffles. The ambience in there is chill smooth the layout is very sleek and clean so it’s a nice smooth vibe. Next would probably be bar or like a day party just to relax and get a slight buzz before we really Get the day started. The bar of my choice will probably be the dugout and Katie because it’s interactive they have great food and then you can also like play a home run derby game also while drinking I think that will be not only hilarious but a fun way to vibe out. Where two active individuals so after a sports bar would at least like to do something that can get our blood pumping and kind of something that can get a sweating a little bit like hooping, flag football, or hiking. He’s a guy who I us for New outfit/ensemble ideas so going to Drifting conventions or Thrifting spots like racks thrift market or thrift kind or the thrift convention they have at Sugarland town Center that would be a dope experience for him I believe. I would definitely take him to go get tatted by my tattoo artist Ink2bonez At Art official ink It’s always a great time when you can subject yourself to hours of pain and come out with something Beautiful and dope. then of course we would have to hit a lounge or club type vibe. I’m not really a club or lounge person but if he’s in town, we definitely got to turn up a bit so I don’t have anything that I can really recommend because I’m not too sure on which ones are really fun and atmosphere have like real chill but we would definitely go to allow to bring our other friends and celebrate just life each other and where we are as not only friends but human beings adults and black men and America.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout Crystal James (wife), Willow & Bishop (daughter & son), Homer & Latrisia James (father & mother), Quincy James, Marquise Murray, & Corey Holmes (brothers) for one way or another giving me the confidence to go after my dreams and aspirations also being Guinea pigs for me at times that I have a new unique idea that I have to see physically. I’m just grateful of them lending me their time to style you or bounce ideas off of them.
Instagram: @Halloffamex2
Image Credits
Photographer: Christopher Clark
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
