Leah Myton, a 21 year old who’s the owner of the brand/clothing line Atlantastan. Her strong work ethic and constant evolving mentality helps keep the name fresh and anew. It allows for success to pour in and exposure to increase nationally.

RESPECT. Magazine: What made you conjure up the name Atlantastan?

Leah: Atlanta & Afghanistan. Atlanta is crazy just like foreign countries & I’m not praising em for that but it is what it is, we just gotta make the best out of the worst situation

Battles, whether they are foreign or locally puts the visor above the driver seat down blocking the view of what’s beautiful. Adversities are the only way for us to progress and come together to make something bigger, better and stronger. This brand didn’t start from a skip and a hop. From the foundation up, “[she] came up with the name & logo in 2012. [She] hasn’t released an official collection. Really, [she is] finally getting to pop off like this year.” Creation takes time, a lot of effort and your undivided attention. She even came to the conclusion that, “a 9 to 5 just isn’t for [her]” and that, “[she doesn’t] like to follow rules. [She would] rather do what she loves to do and what makes [her] happy.” Her rise to proper respect is on its way and I couldn’t be any happier. It warms my heart to see a POC doing their own thing and following after what they like to do. Keep working hard!

Now we turn to an 18 year old Miami photographer who is stepping into new levels of the creative world. From taking flicks at this year’s Rolling Loud festival to now expanding his creativeness, Simon P. is traveling on a different road. His brand, Alpha Apparel tells a striking story of dominance and self-confidence. As told by Simon himself the brand is an, “expression of what [he] would want to wear into clothes that everyone is capable to wear.” The word “Alpha” is used to, “empower the people wearing it” and, “for the name to also represent the type of designing and clothing I chose, Alpha meaning the top or best of the breed.”

“I do photography which I try to incorporate in some way into some of the designs. I also always try to have more than one meaning to my designs, not just a simple design that you understand the first time you look at it. More tied pieces than just a simple design.” – Simon P.

This well-rounded individual holds true to his word and delivers excellently. The cutting-edge, crisp designs alongside his stellar photography help embrace both aspects of the creative himself. Simplicity is key but making things a little harder to understand or find out about keeps the people intrigued and in-tune with whatever you have next to offer.

Stay alert because these two amazing, hard working people are growing day in and day out. Their pieces of clothing are reaching names not only locally but around the U.S. Remember, it only goes up from here and can only become bigger depending on how much of you that you put into it.

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The post Atlanta Meets Miami: Two Cities, Two Different Brands Are Rising appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.