Alfred Julius: Music

OutKast - Growing Old

This is easily one of my favorite songs of all-time. With every listen the song encourages me to keep going, because no matter what the current state is in my life/career, change is inevitable. It’s up to me to make that change a positive one. Thank you OutKast and Dungeon Family, respectively. 

May the day bring you joy, 

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Business Relationships

   It’s quite simple. You never know who you might meet or might need for assistance in your business career. Some say never burn a bridge.... I say never expect someone to re-build the bridge for you. I will forever be humble and respectable in business and personal matters. Remaining humble allows for any and all relationships to be mended and once again profitable. I’ve learned this through experience, not just conversations.



May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Vision

vi.sion [vizh - uh n] noun : the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.


     As a business person, not only in the creative world, one needs to have a vision on how they want their company to convey in everyday dealings. This is something I take very serious and in recent years have truly understood better with my dealings at my day job. When I interact with clients for suiting or custom bowties, they tell me their respected companies expect them to be an extended visual part of the brand in or out of the office.
    With Alfred Julius, I want to continue to help make the vision clear. The brand represents quality, luxury, creative, and a long lasting product that will only enhance the wardrobe. This is a lifestyle. As a team I want Alfred Julius to be an introduction of Masculine Gentleman.
  
       Alfred Julius as a man never cut corners and the brand, Alfred Julius, is no different. We at Alfred Julius will present only the finest fabrications with the most thought out designs and presentations. Please join the journey and enjoy every stitch and tie.


May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu,  founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Testimony

“Thank you for the bowtie. Now I’ll have my summer swag rriiiiggghhhttt. “ - D’Brickashaw Ferguson






A strong supporter of Alfred Julius recently tied the knot and it was only right for us to show back the support he has shown to us. We sent a custom piece to friend of family, D’Brickashaw Ferguson on his special day. In response he sent an appreciated testimony on his cotton bowtie.



May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Yin - Yang

    I’m still working on perfecting my sewing and shape. One should never stop learning and growing. The black was a commissioned piece, so in response, I made a white one to keep centered. Both are made from a beautiful lambskin leather.




May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: 100 Years of Kappa

   The idea to release a limited edition bowtie for the historically recognized fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, was originally brought to my attention by my business team. Although I don’t belong to any fraternity, my business Alfred Julius team does consist of men from Kappa background. I am also aware of the appreciation the Kappa fraternity has for bowties, so it was a natural fit.
      From there I began swatching and deciding what fabric best represents Alfred Julius and Kappa at the same time.  Using classic seersucker cotton with the color way of Crismon and White, it really represented my Southern roots as well showing homage to the men of Kappa. It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to have my work on display in Indiana this past week for the Kappa Alpha Psi, 100 year Konklave. It is actually also my first national debut outside of this web space, so I’m nervous and excited to see what the feedback will be from the team in our next conference call.
      While I’m still working on finding a manufacture that meets my requirements, I actually made all bowties by hand with love and care. That ’s 14 limited edition cotton gingham seersucker bowties for the great men of Kappa, and 4 pigskin leather/suede bowties for my Alfred Julius team. It wasn’t easy, this is the most I’ve ever made at one time, but I’m very proud of the results. Hope you enjoy!



May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Coming Soon

More Information coming soon... 

May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Manufactures

   

man.u.fac.ture : N: the making of articles on a large scale using machinery

      Every designer starts from square one. Creation. You have an idea and you want to figure out how to bring it to life.... Well that’s how it happened for me. From 9th grade, I’ve been making things on my own. I won a $500 Hobby Lobby gift card (local craft store) and I’ve been hooked ever since. 

    

    Over time I’ve only taken that initial love and let it lead me into a career of creation. In this career, also known as fashion, the highly successful brands are manufactured. This is where a factory, from here or there, make your dreams come to life at a mass amount. The more I continue to push the limits of what I want my designs to be, I am also faced with the opposition of “The Man”ufacture. 

   

    I have to continue to remind myself, there are limits to what can be massed produced. I make all of my samples and commissions by hand one at a time with a little bit of soul. So every time I meet with a new company that can eventually be the factory for me, I hear many of the same things. “...you are very ambitious...” or “...you made this?!”... and my favorite “... you can’t afford for me to make this for you...”.  

       Well as a young designer you can’t allow this to discourage you. In fact it has only pushed me. I want to continue to have ideas that make manufactures blush. Actually in my last meeting with a manufacture I was asked if I could show how I was able to cut, sew, and tie a leather bowtie, as if I forever changed this owner’s perspective! LOL... Loved that moment. He still wasn’t able to make them for me, but it felt good to make his day.

      

      The decision I’ve made is to just keep growing and building and asking for God to continue to bless me with the ability to make my ideas come into fruition. Until I can find a manufacture that is willing to take on a brand that is prepared to push the envelope at every opportunity, my journey will continue from my apartment in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

May the day bring you joy,

Chike Atu, founder and head designer

Alfred Julius: Where have you been???

  
Dear Alfred Julius Supporter,

     Its been a little over 2 weeks since my last post and hopefully you have been wondering, "Where is Alfred Julius??”. Well in the last 2 weeks I been working... working hard to achieve my dream of making my dreams, a brand. I have earned my “Button, needle, and thread” tattoo, sewing literally every free moment I get until falling asleep at night. Working a full-time job isn’t easy when trying to find balance for your own business venture.
  
     I had meetings with manufactures, designed new bowties for upcoming events, and have been commissioned for custom pieces from non-relatives (family always supports). I will be giving you individual updates on all those things in the near future... Like today!
  
     I am truly encouraged by the growth that I have achieved in the last 3 months. It is one kind of pleasure to hear from people that they see you working hard and see the progress you have made. It is a whole other type of satisfaction to actually feel yourself growing up and taking life with a focused vision on what you want it to be. Please stay tuned for the vision and the fruition.

May the day bring you joy (despite the NY rain)

Chike Atu, head designer and founder