Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Isaiah Bey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Isaiah, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from hustling around the neighborhood with my little brother, cutting grass or taking the neighbors trash out for something as simple as candy at the store. To finally starting my first job at the age of 15 so I can have clothes and shoes because my dad or grandad couldn’t afford it. To buying groceries around the house and whatever else to help keep my family afloat during hard times.
In actuality, my work ethic comes from a broken home. A place where I was taught how to get it on my own and not ask for help. As I matured, I realized how unhealthy that mindset was because there’s people who are genuinely willing to help. I just didn’t know how to accept or ask for it.
I would say it also stems from knowing that there’s better. I feel like its our birth right to know and experience the finer things in life. Especially coming from where we come from.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Isaiah Bey, founder of A New Dream. A brand, a lifestyle, and a movement all based out of Louisville, KY that specializes in clothes. It’s when your persistence and hard work meets each other to live the life you want to live. It’s for anybody who’s been through any type of struggle and adversity within their journey. Our mission is to spread awareness of true freedom on a global scale to the ones who aren’t conscience of it.
I stared this brand with my sister as an idea back in 2020, but finally launched as a clothing line in April 2022. The goal was to make this brand as relatable and diverse as possible because as humans, we should be able to coexist. I never wanted one ethnicity, culture, or even age group wearing my brand. One thing we can all relate to is struggle and trying to overcome it, so this is my way of bringing everybody together.
Struggle is inevitable. Without it, we wouldn’t be who we are today. I’ve been to hell and back with my brother and sister. From bed bugs, going to bed hungry at night, and even being homeless at one point. I’m just grateful for it all because the progress has been monumental. Radio interviews, magazines, a collaboration with Nike, Hibbett, and City Gear earlier this year, and now opened up our first Kiosk at Mall St. Matthews in Louisville, KY. We’ve came a long way. I just want my brand to shine a light and give someone an extra push to let them know, “it’s possible.”
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I feel like my open mindedness and passion has been the most impactful along my journey if I’m being honest. I would say my passion to want more out of life led to my open mindedness though. Opening your mind to different viewpoints and experiences comes with the unknown, which a lot of people are intimidated by.
Although I may feel that feeling, I try to embrace it because you never know until you try. Without an open mind, there’s no room for growth and it’ll lead you further than you expect. I look at learning as a constant cycle because there’s always something new to obtain.
As I’m continuously growing, I’m learning that it costs to be the boss. Before I educated myself on business credit, my sister and I was self funding it. That’s working way harder than what you have to because these banks and financial institutions will literally fund your dreams. Being able to have access to thousands of dollars in business credit has helped sustain my brand and get it to where it is now.
Even though this money does have to be paid back, I’m no longer coming out of pocket for anything regarding my brand. I’m taking their money to make my money, while paying them back. That’s the name of the game, right? I don’t know everything, but I can say I’m grateful for the information I came across and what’s to come.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I have big goals and aspirations to collab with many of the top brands, such as Nike or even Apple. Even though clothing isn’t Apple’s niche, I could honestly say that I’ve never seen a clothing collaboration with any other brand with them, so it’ll be different and exciting to see where that goes.
Earlier this year I was able to share a part of my story with Hibbett and City Gear for a campaign they did during Nike Air Max Month. The campaign went so well, my sister and I were offered another opportunity to become influencers for them! I guess you can call it a collab depending on how you look at it, but one of my biggest goals right now is to get A New Dream in Hibbett and City Gear stores all around the nation.
So if you’re reading this Hibbett and City Gear, our styles at A New Dream will fit perfectly, and our missions correlate with each other to not only suit you all’s demographic but ours as well. Our overall goal is to inspire true freedom and relay that message by the timeless pieces we release. The people want it and they’ve been asking about it. I think it’s time we make that move.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anewdream.shop/
- Instagram: Personal: https://www.instagram.com/kalu.bey/
Business: https://www.instagram.com/anewdreamllc/ - Other: https://linktr.ee/beyinc
Image Credits
Keondris Huges Fernandra Fowler Heart & Hustle Productions Hibbett Sports and City Gear team
