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Business
FUBU
FUBU took the fashion industry by storm when its label, specializing in urban gear, helped define the look of young America. FUBU -- "For Us, By Us" -- is considered one of the hottest urban clothing lines in the fashion industry. Its owners are neighborhood friends Daymond John, Carl Brown, J. Alexander Martin and Keith Perrin. The FUBU label was established in 1992 when John, the company's CEO, began working out of his mother's home in Queens to make tie-top hats embroidered with the FUBU logo. John later recruited Brown, Martin and Perrin, took out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother's house and moved his operation into the basement. The partners gradually expanded their line to include hockey jerseys, T-shirts and baseball caps. After finding it difficult to market their clothing through traditional advertising channels, the foursome succeeded in promoting its line by using celebrities and hip hop artists. FUBU's headquarters are now in New York's Empire State Building, and the company has added womenswear, footwear, suits, and accessories. The label is carried in more than 5,000 retail stores in 26 countries.
FULL NAMES
Daymond John
J. Alexander Martin
Carl Brown
Keith Perrin
AGES
Daymond John - 31; J. Alexander Martin - 31; Carl Brown - 30; Keith Perrin - 30
CAREER AND COMMUNITY
Before starting FUBU in 1992, Daymond John worked as a waiter at Red Lobster, Carl Brown loaded and unloaded trucks, J. Alexander Martin served in the U.S. Navy during Operation Desert Storm; and Keith Perrin supervised apartment buildings.
The FUBU Foundation donates to various charities, including a New York radio station's fund to benefit families of September 11 victims.
AWARDS
NV magazine - A Salute to Urban Professionals in Business (2001); Source Foundation - Hip Hop Cares Award (2001); Online Hip Hop Awards "Best Fashion Designer Label" (2001 and 2000); "Celebration of the Creative Sprit" -- The Black Alumni of Pratt Creative Sprit Award (2000); Essence Award (1999); Congressional Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship (1999); N.Y. African American Business Awards -- Outstanding Business Achievement Award (1999); NAACP Entrepreneurs of the Year Award (1999); Citation of Honor, "Team FUBU" - Office of the President, Borough of Queens, City of New York, (1999)
WEBSITE
http://www.fubu.com
