TERRANCE "TEHOS" HOSLEY, THE RISING STAR BEHIND THE SDN. BRAND IS A DESIGNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. TEHOS UNIQUE APPROACH HAS LED HIM TO A GROWING PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOTLOCKER. HERE HE SHARES HIS VISION FOR HIS CLOTHING LINE AND HIS DREAMS OF CONNECTING VARIOUS CREATIVES GLOBALLY THROUGH THE HOMETOWN WAVE - THE

We'd love to hear your story and how you started designing and selling clothing?

My name is TEHOS, derived from my first and last name, Terrance Hosley. I'm from Southeastern San Diego, California, and the Founder and Creative Director of The SDN. Brand. I grew up in a single-parent home with 5 other siblings, and being the youngest of 5, most of my clothes were out-of-style hand-me-downs. I still vividly remember my oldest brother receiving Eastbay magazines in the mail and being incredibly excited to sit down and review them. That identical brother was also a talented artist who inspired me to begin drawing at 10. As a kid, I became obsessed with illustrating and writing short storybooks to escape reality. I would style my characters in shoes and clothes from my brother's Eastbay magazine in the storybooks. This is where my passion for designing clothes started. However, because times became hard for my mother, my siblings and I would sell candy door to door to help support our household instead of perfecting my craft. As if it was yesterday, I remember crying and being frustrated because I didn't understand why I had to sell candy instead of being a kid. But now I realize that sometimes it's easier to see the bigger picture once it's framed. Growing up poor and having disadvantages places emphasis on things you do not have; for me, it was clothing. When I reflect - I now understand my brother and mom subconsciously were preparing me for a journey only the future knew I would take. In 2016 I began selling clothing designs from my brand, Roots Before Seeds which in 2020 would become The SDN. Brand.

 What inspired you to start a brand, and why The SDN. Brand?

 I grew up in the Southeastern region of San Diego, where communities are divided into neighborhoods. This division limited communication, which I respected up until early adulthood. It wasn't until I could afford my shoes that I realized how much our communities have in common. That realization came while camping overnight in front of Footlocker for the latest Jordan releases. The lines were long and diverse, with sneaker lovers from various ethnicities, religions, cultures, and neighborhoods. Regardless of one's background, our love for sneakers sparked conversations that helped me better understand people from neighboring communities. I quickly realized how the lack of communication caused unnecessary and sometimes critical damage to our neighborhoods. My love for San Diego and meeting new people birthed, creating a brand that represented and included all of San Diego. In 2019 I was introduced to Juan Riesco, who at the time owned Chicago Native. After a few back-and-forth conversations, I was able to merge my brand, Roots Before Seeds, with his original idea. On August 21, 2020, The SDN. Brand was established with the mission to connect the diverse cultures within San Diego by providing an opportunity for natives and transplants to proudly represent the dynamic city of San Diego.

What keeps you going?

 Truthfully, the idea of leaving behind a legacy that becomes a blueprint to guide the youth from my community and communities like mine. I would love to see these communities cross a financial bridge that allows them to live the life they deserve. This goal fuels me to keep going. What I mean is - communities like mine do not lack creativity or ambition; instead, we lack the knowledge on how to obtain our goals and the resources we need to achieve our goals. My dream is to bring a limitless supply of resources to my community to enhance their chances of living a life creatively directed by them. And right now, I am living within my purpose, and doors are opening, which will allow me to become a stepping stone for others wanting to take a similar path as I have.

 You've recently partnered with Footlocker. Can you share more about that partnership and how it came about?

 This partnership with Footlocker is a full-circle moment for me, which aligns with my mission. Growing up, I was one of those young adults who would camp out for hours just to get the newest Jordan release. Seeing how Footlocker carried a product that reached different communities based on shared interests was genuinely inspiring. Knowing that people are supporting and buying SDN. from Footlocker with zero knowledge of who the owner is. It's a dream come true to be able to connect people based on their common interests. I owe this opportunity to the SDN. Community and relationships I've built throughout the years. The love and support of The SDN. The brand created enough noise within the city to gain attention from Footlocker and their HomeGrown movement. Our partnership with Footlocker began in April of 2022, and by the end of the year, The SDN. The brand was the # 1 selling brand for Footlocker on the west coast. Because of the successful year, there have been discussions of expanding to more cities through The Hometown Wave.

 Can you explain or share more regarding The Hometown Wave?

 The HomeTown Wave, founded in 2020, is a digital online magazine that will provide an opportunity for creatives creating waves within their hometown to share their stories globally. The goal is to connect as many dope creatives together through similar stories, ideas, and passions on one growing platform. The Hometown Wave will serve as a platform dedicated to assisting creatives with marketing, branding, funding, and resources that'll take them to the next level. THTW (The Hometown Wave) will also be a platform full of information for people who want to start a brand or go into the creative market but need additional assistance. The Hometown Wave will be the magazine that inspires the next generation, like the Eastbay magazine inspired me.

 What's your perspective on entrepreneurship?

 We always hear, "Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone," I strongly disagree. Anyone can be an entrepreneur, but we view it incorrectly. Instead of viewing entrepreneurship as a collective movement, we see it as an individual journey, and I believe that to be wrong. Everyone is blessed with a specific gift or uniqueness to offer the world. Think of a working environment, a group of people assigned a task; the group delegates objectives among each other based on one's strengths and abilities. They each take on a task separately, but collectively, they complete the assignment together. That's how the entrepreneur world works. No one truly builds a brand or company alone through my journey with The SDN. Brand and The Hometown Wave, several non-creatives and creative individuals have inspired or added value to every function of my businesses. To become an entrepreneur, you must hone in on your gift, develop it and have the courage to offer it to the world. The world then will do its job and provide you with the people you need to perfect and grow your ideas. It's not an easy journey, but it's worth taking for ALL if they believe in themselves.

Where we are is often partly because of others; who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?

 First and foremost, my mom, Ms. Tylaya Hosley. She is my biggest supporter and fan. The two-tone meaning of the SDN. the logo represents our relationship. If you leave it up to her, she'll say I love orange because of her. The inside orange represents me, and the outside orange represents the love and encouragement my mother provides that holds everything together. Through the years, I have been inspired by The Medici Family, Andrew Carnegie, Kanye West, Virgil Abloh, Emily Oberg, and Ronnie Fieg. But since starting my brand and building its structure, designer Daryl Brown inspired me the most. Like Brown, I aspire to create a brand that not only represents my city but also unites communities and brings opportunities to those around me to build their platforms. JoeFreshGood has inspired me to brand myself outside of my brand. He unknowingly gave me the confidence to brand my name A TEHOS DESIGN and design pieces representing me and my story. I have so much respect for him; what he has done for Chicago is a testament to his character. Community is everything, so my community and communities like mine deserve all credit for my ambition to build something bigger than me; without them, there's no TEHOS. 

 Is there any advice you'd like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

 As cliche and simple as it may sound, I advise understanding the importance of staying true to yourself. Understand that if you live outside of your purpose, you will crash and burn daily, preventing many people from becoming successful. To believe in yourself means you're a fan of who you are. If you're a fan of who you are, no one can tell you what you can and cannot achieve. Last but most importantly, build pure relationships in this industry. Everyone plays an essential role in your success, so treat everyone with respect and show genuine love regardless of its benefits.

 One last question - We see you're a sneaker lover. May you share with us your TOP 5 Sneakers and why?

 Yes, of course! I would have to say the Yeezy Boost 750 Light Brown Gum, Yeezy Boost 700 Wave Runners, and Jordan 6 Black Infrared; it's a tie between Yeezy Boost 700 V2 Statics/ Jordan 3 Black Cement for number 2 and Jordan 1 Bred toes. The Yeezy Boost 750 silhouette is the first streetwear-designed shoe to take a more luxurious and fashionable approach to designing shoes. Dad shoes have been around for years, but the Yeezy 700s pushed the envelope and made dad shoes extremely popular. To be truthful, I moved to Detroit in the early 2000s, and that's when I was introduced to New Balances, but at the time, I rejected them because, in my eyes, they were a hideous "dad shoe" But fast forward to 2020, I purchased my first New Balance shoe which was the Hemp Linseed 990v4. At the age of 34, the most important feature about a shoe is how comfortable they are, and right now, the 990v4s are the most comfortable shoe in the market and the shoe I currently wear the most. There's not much I can say about Jordans 6s, 3s, and 1s; they're the most iconic shoes in history and will be loved long after I'm gone. There's nothing more incredible than that. 

Photographer: Will Hunt

Graphic Designer: David Stillo

 Contact Info:

• Website: Thesdnbrand.com, ATEHOSDESIGN.COM

• Instagram: Thesdnbrand, Iamtehos