One's circumstance shouldn't quell one's dream, and an inmate named Shod is living proof of that. The Atlanta native says he once had his own store in the Bankhead area of the city when he was just 19-years-old, but hanging around the wrong crowd got him into trouble. His legal woes came to a head in 2016 when he was locked up on robbery charges, but he's looking forward to his release later this year in October.
No one would know anything about Shod or his story if a video of the aspiring fashion designer didn't go viral earlier this week. In the clip, Shod models his "The Trenches" clothing line for the camera as he explains that he took the material from a prison mat and fused it with his inmate attire to create fashionable uniforms. “I would like to think I was the flyest guy in high school and on the streets,” TheShadeRoom reports Shod as saying.
“I want people to know my story because location doesn’t determine destination," Shod shared. "I want to inspire others to make something out of nothing and reach their full potential without making excuses,” Shod said. According to the report, Shod sews his clothing using dental floss and a paper clip. “I wanted to actually design and make clothes to sell...I want to inspire others to elevate their hustle.”
“I want to make a name for myself as a fashion designer in the fashion community," he continued. "I also want to start a non-profit organization for low-income communities in Atlanta and eventually expand nationwide,” Shod said. He also doesn't want to just use his talents and recent internet fame to rake in money; he also wants to help steer children in the right direction. “I want to be a mentor and public speaker to at-risk kids that’s following down the wrong path."