We had the good fortune of connecting with Len Wealth and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Len, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I initially started my business, it was all about vengeance. I wanted to prove the people whom cast me aside that I was worthy. However, as I continued on my journey and healed from my brokenness, it became about helping people marginalized, disregarded, and broken. I recognized that my lack of preparation from being kicked out the nest at a early age was a generational curse. It plagued, me, my mother, her mother, and more than likely my great grandmother. What’s more, I didn’t want any other child or young adult to go through the struggle of figuring out how to make a life for themselves while also discovering who they are. Wealth Fashion is the sum of my experience.
With Wealth Fashion, it’s not just about athleisure apparel. It’s using apparel as the canvas to stress the importance of leaving a legacy and inheritance for our successors. Even more, inheritance isn’t just about finances. It’s also about not passing down heirlooms of pain, having hard conversations about what impacted the becoming of our lineage, and reducing health problems through proper healing practices. Although Wealth Fashion is the first apparel company to offer Life Insurance with each purchase and connection, wealth is also about positioning ourselves and others for emotional wealth. When thinking on wealth, we think about Dr. Myles Munroe’s 7 sphere of wealth. They are; “Spiritual Wealth, “Soulical” Wealth, Physical Wealth, Social Wealth, Influence Wealth, Community Wealth, and GENERATIONAL WEALTH.” Generational Wealth is last because if we are not wealthy spiritually, mentally, or emotionally, it will manifest physically as dis-ease because money is a magnifying glass.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart is that I’m a visionary. Most artist can draw, paint, or sew. For me, I have a vision in my mind, and I have to do whatever it takes to see it in my hand. Hence, why I love business, different colors and collaborating with different artist and designers. I honestly feel like you don’t have to be Supreme or Nike to collaborate. We can collaborate with others where we are. Which is why I was excited to do my first collaboration pieces with Art Trap by Tazi Cooper. We were at a market next to each other, and he upcycled this denim piece that was gorgeous. I told him then in November 2020 we should collaborate. Early 2021, we were at the fabric store talking about where we aligned picking out fabric together. At the End of 2021, I had 4 one of a kind upcycled denim pieces that we both contributed to.
Which is why I can’t take full credit for where I am today. I got where I am by God’s grace. People don’t like to make things spiritual, but I have no other way to describe it. I was out of my mother’s house at 19 living on people’s couches. Rejected from one space to another until my godmother Altheia Gross took me in. All I’ve had since then is this desire to prove my worth, books, virtual mentors, and my daily relationships. I gravitate to people who are wiser than me, but I’m still immature and egotistical in ways. Sometimes, I get in my own way, but when I sit down and really think about what people say to me, I take what they say seriously because the only way I can see myself is by looking in a mirror. Furthermore, if there were no mirrors, I would still have people and they can only tell me their perception which is never easy to hear when you have a ego.
However, I overcome my ego by being realistic about my capacity to impact others. If you think about it, anytime a person throws a punch it feels light swinging. Only the person or thing that receives the punch can tell you if it hurts or not because they experienced the impact. This has taught me to not be so quick to dismiss what I don’t agree with. Yes, I can share my perspective, but my perspective doesn’t permit me the right to dismiss someone’s experience or perception. Which is why when I meet people and talk about my brand, I ask that they answer in one of the three manners. They can either tell me their definition of Wealth; if today was their last day, what legacy have they left behind; or we can have 30 seconds of naked conversation allowing them to express wherever they are or however they are. I want people to be realistic about their impact, experience and take full responsibility for how they choose to exist because it matters to the tribe their apart of.
If people are only supporting Wealth Fashion because of the financial desires within, they’re mistaken. Wealth is about how we spiritually, mentally, and emotionally prosper intergenerational. Furthermore, the choices we make is based out of this core belief.
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.
If my friends and I are visiting the area we are on a early morning hike at Canyonback Trail. We’ll spend time at the B.L.K. Flea and Our Piece of the Pie Market because it’s the perfect time to support black-owned creatives. We’re eating at Trap Kitchen and going to the Art District for awe-inspiration.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am the sum of all my encounters and relationships. My parents, my grandmothers, my sisters, my aunties and uncles, The House of Wealth, Altheia Gross, Rhonda Marbury, Wealthy Neighbors, Wealthy Investors, and Rae. Thank you for cultivating me.
Website: www.wealthoutlives.com
Instagram: WealthOutlives; LenWealth
Twitter: LenWealth
Facebook: WealthOutlives; LenWealth
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-1FytRb3QI2dMNV6FaLjxA
Other: The House of Wealth, Inc. www.thehouseofwealth.com
Image Credits
Wiley Image, Dan Klinkert, Ade Ovall, Nolan Slay