We had the good fortune of connecting with Extra Ketchup and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Extra, do you have a budget? how do you think about personal finances?
I live by a budget system. I believe it’s important to create realistic budgets in order to properly maintain and sustain your business. You have to study the market and be aware of changes and things that can infiltrate the budget and possibly throw your whole project off course.

In order to make the right spending decisions you have to first secured your personal financial budget. The cost of living monthly should already be accounted for before you allow yourself to play. You have to trust the fact that all budgets may be broken.

Through the course of spending when it comes to projects there will be minor inconveniences that might cause for you to spend more, or in better situations spend less.

If you have a business it’s important to learn financial management and have a clear understanding that your personal and business money should never mix.

When it comes to spending for the business or what I consider to be more of an investment rather than a spend, I only gamble with a percentage that I know won’t cripple the business’s financial state. When creating budgets for a project. I prioritize what is for sure going to be a necessity in completing of this project. If I have to outsource blank garments for samples I make sure to separate what it costs to produce the project from what it will cost to market the project. Production and marketing have their own separate budgets.

And like a wise man once told me. “The boss gets paid last”. You are not to pay yourself until the project is 100% completed.

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.
The type of art I produce is a form of street wear that I like to define as my truth. My brand has a core representation of what influenced me as a child growing up in The Bronx but also is a reflection of pieces I wish existed.

As a fan of the culture and everything that revolves around NYC culture. I like to define it as my truth because it’s my own taste on what these brands or artists who I admire should of released. I focus on the detail on what that brand or artist delivered and borrow from them but evolve it with my own style to it.

Something I’m most proud of is that the message is still being accepted and the support has stood strong since the beginning.

What led me to where I am now has honestly been my consistency and drive to continue to give my audience something new and exciting to wear but also reflect on what I have yet to touch base on and do my best ability to continue to rebrand and introduce a new way of expressing the same truth. This was definitely far from easy. This is something that requires a lifetime emotional commitment and requires you to have no fear with taking any risks.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout this whole journey is to never lose sense of your ability or allow yourself to put your vision on the hands of someone else. The way you see yourself and see your end result would only be understood by you since you are the creator of that idea. Help along the way is mandatory but never allow yourself to forget your power and capability. This is far from a race nor marathon. This is a full life investment. Sometimes breaks are needed and sometimes all your focus is required. You have to be willing to gamble it all in order to believe in your vision and allow all your mistakes to lead you within the right direction. Without risk there is no reward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As far as a full NYC experience is concerned. We skipping all them tourist attractions. I’ll let them venture out by themselves with those typical sightings. But I’ll actually give them a real experience. I’ll introduce them to primitive spots for each borough. If you’re in the bronx of course we will go to the stadium. But I also gotta take them on a stroll down Fordham road. Get a slice of pizza right off the concourse. If we in queens. We definitely gonna hit the blvd. We will explore many parts of queens such as northern blvd heck I’ll even bring them to farrock and let them see a beach in the hood. Everyone of course wants to shop so the lowkey stores all through out the lower east side would be a great adventure. Stop at Iggys off of Ludlow for a drink and a nice sandwich at Katz Deli.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out the community of supports who have been supporting me since the start. Would love to also shed light on my parents for being extremely supportive and encouraging, as well as all my students who I teach and inspire me to continue.

Website: https://www.extraketchup.store/?fbclid=PAAaZmdrVRar62YQh5FmtIbJf9LN6DK2ha_625RW_dt2X-Y9UUuUJACvUF3YY

Instagram: @extraketchup

Image Credits
@bluntbreakv2 @sinematic.studios

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