THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MIKE CHERRY...

MIKE CHERRY NEW FASHION PHENOM 

          Since he entered the fashion game as a designer for Damani Dada in 1995, Mike Cherry has been a diligent student of the urban fashion market patiently attaining all of the knowledge and insight needed to one day launch a monster fashion brand that could compete in a world dominated by European Fashion Titans like Louis Vuitton, Armani Exchange, and Polo. Fast forward 16 years to 2012, Money Tree's by Kendrick Lamar is one of Hip Hops biggest records and one of Hip Hop's favorite clothing designers is reborn as Micheal Cherry Denim...... 

VINTAGE DADA SUPREME VALOUR

(GULLY TV) Happy New Year Mike.... How's business? I'm Jamil founder of Gully TV Live I copped that Quiet Money shirt. I'm loving the Mike Cherry Brand tell me where you from and how long you been making clothes? 

(Mike Cherry) I am from Laurelton Queens New York. I first started doing clothing when I was in the 9th grade. I used to do graffiti from the age of 6 years old. The more I practiced the art the better I became, as I got older I started to do black book and graffiti on walls. I eventually figured it was easier and safer to do what I loved on clothing so I used that to do tees, airbrushed jackets, rhinestones hats, denim jeans and jackets. 

(GULLY TV) I noticed in your Bio that you were once a desinger at Damani Dada. I remember Dada I rocked your designs in college lol. 

(Mike Cherry) I was co-founder of the both brands Dada Supreme and Damani Dada THE creative brain and lead designer also.

(GULLY TV) How did working at Dada prepare you as far as running your own clothing line? 

(Mike Cherry) Being a partner or part-owner in a company allows you to view everything from up close. You get on the job insight and learn every aspect of running a company. You see the good and the bad, and both are instrumental in you knowing what you need to do and not do. I spent 15 years learning and watching more than enough to go experience to go out independently
 do it by myself.

(GULLY TV) I noticed you infiltrated the Hip Hop community Tone Trump has name dropped you in his music and Papoose is wearing a awful lot of Mike Cherry on Love and Hip Hop, even 50 cent is wearing it how did you go about getting the celebs to give you such a great shot?

(Mike Cherry) I have alliances with several people in the streets, marketing & promotions as well as

Papoose Wears Mike Cherry denim regularly
on LOVE & Hip-Hop

television and video. I always treated people with respect from the "Dada" days so people remember that when they were interns or in the beginning stages of their careers I was good to them. Now many of them are at the top of their careers and have done many things for the love simply because of how I treated them earlier. What I learned is what goes up must come down and vice versa so it's very important to treat everyone with a level of respect and courtesy because you never know when you may need help.

(GULLY TV) Few years ago Slowbucks was at the forefront of Urban Apparel and proof! They gone just like that, what do you plan to do as far as establishing longevity?

(Mike Cherry) Those are my people, Shout out to Slo,Soup, Troy (Dada footwear marketing), Big Tee.....I try to create things that are relevant, high quality and timeless in design. I see the trends first so I try to put it into perspective and design for "Alpha Males" with taste. I just try to do what's not being done in a manner that is greater than what's already out there for guys from S-5XL. I don't have a boss to tell me I cannot do something now lol so I make what "Michael Cherry" himself wants and what the street guys with the money wear and want but at a more reasonable price than Robins Jeans, Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balmain, etc.......

Mike Cherry & partner Gee The Jeweler

(GULLY TV) When you created the Mike Cherry Line
what type of statement were you trying to
make?

(Mike Cherry) I want to be the "Urban Versace"
of the United States. Only difference between them and I is my items are made larger for so they fit Americans
unlike designs created just for Europeans like many of the top Italian designers. I do fitted items from size S-5XL,
so now everyone can look great.

(GULLY TV) Any formal training or time spent at a fashion and design school or self made?

(Mike Cherry) I spent many hours watching my mentor and teacher Lantz Simpson who was the designer behind "Dada Footwear" and many other brands in the 80's-90's. After watching him, I knew that I had to learn to design on the computer. Once I learned that, everything else was easy. I first loved graffiti and always loved clothes so putting the 2 together was easy and was always a dream of mine from the time I was 15 years old.
 I am self made but wish I actually went to a fashion school. I could have learned more in school on the technical side when I was much younger so that's my only regret.
 All in all, I love what I do, I chase the DREAM not the money. Too many people chase the money with no dream. The money will come when you love what you do.

(GULLY TV) Just so people don't read this article and feel they can jump into the fashion industry explain some of the things you had to over come to get to where you are today...

(Mike Cherry) You have to overcome negative people and those that try to manipulate you for their own selfish goals and needs. Trusting people doesn't work, attorneys and paperwork does so make sure you are lawyer-ed up. I watched people rob and steal for money with no regard for friendship or relationships. Money comes and goes but relationships are more valuable. Do as you say, stay humble and keep it real with everyone. Everyone wants to become wealthy problem is nobody is willing to put in the suffering, sacrifice, and struggle. Those that do will be rewarded, those that don't eventually get exposed and cast to the side.
Stay consistent, don't give up and WORK HARDER than everyone else period. That is the key to success and overcoming everything.

(GULLY TV) Any major moves coming in 2016?

(Mike Cherry) I am designing a premium Japanese Selvedge denim brand called "MC Denim Brand" and also designing for Marcus Harris of the NY Giants and maybe doing another collaboration with someone real  soon but I can't mention names yet.

(GULLY TV) Leave contact information and ways our readers can purchase Mike Cherry Designs and sign out. We look forward to seeing a lot more from you this year and beyond. Thanks for your time............

(Mike Cherry) Michael Cherry clothing makes only 300 pcs per color and can be purchased online at www.michaelcherrythebrand.com or at your favorite urban clothing boutique nationwide. Instagram to follow and see what's new is @mike7cherry
                                                                                            PEACE,
                                                                                            JAMIL LENZE'
                                                                                             GULLY TV 2016