Meet fashion entrepreneur Blu Boy; founder, designer, and artist
According to fashion entrepreneur Blu Boy, creative clothing designing has always been his passion even from childhood. He is the founder and head creative designer for his fashion brand and clothing line ‘WNTD’
Born Hassan Secka, popularly known as “Blu Boy” he started WNTD Apparel in (2014).
“I chose the name WNTD as a double entendre, playing off the word “wanted” and working as an acronym for (W)hat (N)ot (T)o (D)o”.
He says this was to play off the fact he had no formal training or any kind of design education before starting the brand. But what Blu didn’t have in formal training he made up for with talent in visual art since childhood. At 17 Secka realized he had a passion for fashion, and not being able to afford to hire a team, he became a one-man army. To this Blu Boy day handles all creative and business obligations himself.
He stated that his mission from day one was to create a lifestyle brand for creatives. “I felt as though there wasn’t a clothing line that was exclusive to artists. So by building WNTD Apparel, I believed this would create the representation within the creative community I the thought was lacking”, Hassan said.
Blu says being a visual artist before he started his fashion brand, is what sets him apart from his peers. “Being a visual artist gave me an edge over other fashion designers and brands. Also focusing on millennials, gen Z and the urban contemporary market set WNTD apart from other competitors”, Hassan added.
Blu went further to say that his unique perspective as a visual artist makes him stand out. “On one hand I’m creating my world, illustrating my characters, landscapes, and traditions. And on the other hand, I’m designing my fashion collections, taking the time to understand the principles of fabrics and silhouettes too.”
Blu Boy believes that what changed the game for him was integrating his fashion designs into his visual arts. “I made art a key element to the design process of my brand and clothes. In doing this I was able to bring my art to life”.
Hassan says, this is something that has not been seen before in the industry and he carries great pride in being a pioneer.
The Atlanta, Georgia native says he is never going to stop designing for the creatives of the modern world.
