Meet Gerald Jackson & Andre Revell | FTK Co-Founders

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gerald Jackson & Andre Revell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gerald Jackson &, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We are entrepreneurs at heart, with a strong desire for following our passion of giving back to the community, and an affinity for fashion, art, and creating apparel with a message. We’ve held strong to the concept of ‘creating what you want to see in the world’ which drove us to create our first clothing line Gold Torch Apparel in 2012 which was a Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organization brand. When we decided to sunset that business we knew we’d one day re-enter the creative fashion space again, birthing The FTK Shop in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. During that time we were looking for an outlet to create apparel that served a greater purpose by giving back to youth, and doing it in a way that was unique to our core beliefs as individuals. In creating this business, and the apparel, art, and accessories we produce, our goal has been to unify people that understand and appreciate the value of community and our collective responsibility to pour back into the next generation a portion of what has been poured into us. This is why we decided to give back 10% of proceeds from each sale to youth programs, schools, and educators who are doing the real work everyday to foster a strong generation of leaders we’ll one day be following.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are both proud graduates of Historically Black Colleges  and Universities (HBCUs) – Hampton University (Gerald) and North Carolina A&T State University (Andre). Upon graduation we each entered the workforce and led successful careers within the government and private sector. We met and built a friendship through our membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Through that friendship we had opportunities to serve our community together, and ultimately built a connection through fashion, and a desire to see more fashionable Greek apparel…that’s where our journey in the apparel space originated. We ran our first business for roughly 5 years, and learned some hard lessons on what it takes to properly run a business. These lessons have been invaluable as we chart this new direction with FTK. As business partners, we share similar styles of music, art, creativity and messaging which comes through in how we design our apparel. Our goal, and one of the keys to our success, has been to create designs and content that make people connect with something a little deeper than what might be on the surface. Moreover, we were raised in the church which is probably where our desire to create something that touches people’s souls, and reminds them of the calling we believe everyone has to impact our community and uplift our fellow-man. We hope through FTK to inspire other individuals and businesses to find ways to give back as we all climb together.

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.
Simply put…Find the Vibes! In a week-long trip we’d want to incorporate some educational experiences that connect you to where you’re visiting. As residents of the DMV (DC metropolitan area) we’d absolutely have to find events or places like museums or festivals that give you an opportunity to experience the local culture. As a black-owned business, we are always seeking ways to support other black-owned businesses which would be a key driver in our choices in restaurants and bars in the surrounding area. DC has a rich history, and so does Virginia where we were both raised, so we’d be making a point to visit memorable places within driving distance that show the flavors of both areas. Essentially, anywhere that has a quality brunch menu (read: any place with good vibes and bottomless mimosas), unique cocktails, and delicious food set in a visually appealing venue. We are also both suckers for a unique speakeasies, and between VA and DC there are plenty of them, so visiting a few would definitely be on the to-do list. Finally, we believe good music is a huge part of finding good vibes, and would be looking for local venues with live music, especially to take in the DC originated Go-Go music and culture. Views and vibes would be the theme of the week, from wineries in the open air of Northern Virginia’s best wineries, to the vibes of DC’s nightlife, we’d want our visiting friend to experience it all.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We were both raised by mothers who were life-long educators. To this day, our mothers are still in the classroom either as retirees or current educators. It goes without question that education is fundamental to the development of our youth, but a lot of times the sacrifices of our educators gets lost in the conversation. Our education system is being held together by individuals who are usually underpaid, under-resourced, and still show up every day with the desire to make an impact. It’s one of the most selfless careers someone can have. For this, we must first give a shoutout to our parents who laid an incredible foundation for us personally, but also to all those working with young people to shape our collective future.

Additionally, we are both very family oriented, with a strong belief that none of us would be where we are without community members who helped plant and grow us in fertile soil. We have to give a shout out to our supportive families who have helped advise and refine our business and given us the flexibility to explore this path of entrepreneurship. We also have to shout out our friend circle who have showed up at every turn to support and promote FTK. We refer to these major players in our lives, and to those who support and shop with us as Our Village. Without them, there would be no FTK, and without their support it would be an even greater challenge to continue to give back in the way we have. So major shout out to them, and this platform for giving us and others the space to share our brand with the world.

Website: www.theftkshop.com

Instagram: @theftkshop

Facebook: For The Kids Shop