As we continue our Interview series, today’s spotlight is on Drew Joiner, the creator of Edward Joiner alongside another person and how he not only started his brand during quarantine but his piece of advice for anyone who had an idea like he did in the back of his mind and how it became a reality. It’s not easy starting a brand especially in an industry like today, but Joiner proves that moving past self-doubt and working hard everyday will only get you closer to your goal without paying mind the negativity in life.
With people also making the move to move sustainable practice when it comes to their wardrobe and everyday lifestyle, Joiner’s brand has you covered. Read on for more about Joiner’s life, where he grew up, his hobbies besides social media and working, as well as some exciting things to come for the future of where Edward Joiner will be going towards. If you would like to make a purchase to support this small business, please visit edwardjoiner.com.
- Can you tell us a little bit about yourself. (Where you’re from, your career, etc.)
- D: My name is Drew Joiner. I was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised right outside the city of Denver in a suburban city named Aurora. I am a recent 2020 college graduate from the University of Denver. In college, I was a division 1 basketball player and a Marketing major. I started my lifestyle brand Edward Joiner at the beginning of 2020 to fulfill my dream of owning my very own brand. I along with one other person run Edward Joiner and it is my main career focus right now.
- Since our blog is called Glamour and Guide, what are your favorite go-to brands at the moment— whether it’s clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc.?
- D: New Balance, the New Balance 990 v4 is my go-to summertime sneaker right now! I absolutely love this sneaker and it works in so many situations. Saint Ivory NYC, this young streetwear brand is one of my favorites. They are a female-centric brand focused on uplifting achievement specifically made by women.
- You have a lifestyle brand called Edward Joiner. How did you get the inspiration for this? Where were you and how did you realize that you wanted this idea to become a reality?
- D: The idea for Edward Joiner was something that I had inside me for a while. I finally decided to start the brand at the beginning of 2020 because I felt it was right for me. It is hard to explain, but I have this love for creating, streetwear, and art. The inspiration of the brand comes from me wanting to be less of a consumer and more of a creative. I was a huge fan of brands like Aime Leon Dore and JJJJound and I wanted to create my own version of these lifestyle brands.
- When you were in the start-up process of this brand, did you face any doubt and moments of fear? Whether it was about other people’s opinions and judgement, or the fear of failure and how did you overcome this?
- D: When I started Edward Joiner I felt some fear and had some doubt. Starting your own brand and being a fashion entrepreneur is lonely, especially in the beginning. One of the things I told myself especially early on in the brand was to keep working every day. In the process of creating my brand, I have taught myself how to not fear judgment and not fear failure. Every brand has failures and no matter what you do people will judge you. My mindset has really helped me overcome any fear or doubt.
- What is some advice you would offer anyone who would like to start their own brand? Anything that you learned after being in this industry?
- D: The #1 piece of advice I could give to someone who wants to start their own brand would be to be authentic. There is no better story you can write and tell than your own.
- You have a digital publication and podcast called Beyond The Garment. How did you get the idea to create this? Was it created before or during the development of Edward Joiner?
- D: The Beyond the Garment Publication was something I always wanted to be a part of Edward Joiner. I enjoy writing and telling the stories of other brands, creatives, and artists. The Beyond the Garment Podcast is an extension of the publication. I was having these amazing conversations but they weren’t being recorded. It just seemed natural to create a podcast to give more insight into the conversations I was having.
- Aside from social media and posting content, what are some of your hobbies?
- D: I will always love playing basketball. I haven’t been able to play as much due to the pandemic, but once things improve I will definitely get back to that. I enjoy ink drawing and reading and I do both of those things whenever I get a free moment. The book I am currently reading is “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.
- Do you have any plans or current ideas that you are working on for the expansion of Edward Joiner?
- D: Edward Joiner is gearing up for its Fall/Winter Collection. We have a lot of fun things in store for the brand! The way we plan to grow is by providing our audience with value and by being as authentic as we possibly can be. I recently bought a Canon M50 and will be using it to create a Youtube channel focused on the brand.
- How is sustainability incorporated into your brand? What makes EJ stand out from other sustainability and lifestyle brands in this industry?
- D: Edward Joiner pride’s itself on being a sustainable brand. The three things that make Edward Joiner sustainable are its packaging, where it sources its products, and its carbon footprint. All Edward Joiner products are packaged in 100% recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable material. Our garments cotton is sourced in the U.S and crafted in Canada. Our products are made in highly regulated sections of the world and we make sure that everything we sell is made in a sustainable and clean way.
- Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Is there anything you want to improve on for yourself or goals you want to achieve?
- D: In 10 years from now, I hope Edward Joiner grows to become a recognizable brand. One of the biggest goals I have for the company would be to collaborate with New Balance or Vans. These are two companies that I hope one day we can work with in the next 10 years. Personally I want to grow as a man and a creative in the next 10 years. I hope that my brand influences others to chase their dreams and to do things with care for the people around them and the planet.
- Being stuck in quarantine for so many months has had everyone learning and picking up on new skills. Is there anything you did during that time which you learned, or started doing more?
- D: I started my entire brand during quarantine! Haha! So I learned quite a lot. One of the things I learned about was being patient when it comes to manufacturing a product. There were a lot of things that I couldn’t anticipate which slowed down the production process of our Premiere Hoodies.
Glamour & Guide 