We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amari Shaw. Check out our conversation below.
Amari, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Most mornings start in dead silence. I’ll just stay in bed for about ten or fifteen minutes stretching a little and checking in with myself – where my head’s at, how I feel spiritually, what my body’s telling me. After that I wash my face with cold water to fully wake up, brush my teeth, then throw on a playlist that helps me lock in for the day.
Next comes a protein shake, running gear, and an early run. Running first thing is like clearing the mental fog – by the time I’m headed back home I’ve already worked through half the things I need to do that day. As soon as I’m in, I jot those thoughts and small action points down in my notebook or in the Notes app so I don’t lose them. Then I shower, get dressed, and head into the rest of my day with that plan in front of me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years – artist, tailor, designer, writer, producer, manager, creative director – but the lane I sit in now feels closest to a creative strategist. I build worlds and give them direction.
Sometimes that means laying out the vision for a photo shoot from the fit to the frame, sometimes it’s picking the beat or helping shape the hook and executive-producing the track. Other times it’s sketching the first draft of a logo or making the final call on a collection’s designs and how we roll out the merch for a season. I’ve been the guy who can sit at a sewing machine to create a pair of jeans from scratch, or sit in a boardroom to map a campaign.
What makes my work special is that everything I do pulls from real stories – the kid from the South Side who grew up studying the details of selvedge denim and sneakers, then learned how to blend that grit with intention and narrative. My brand, Martober, isn’t just clothes; it’s storytelling stitched into fabric, music, visuals, and moments that feel lived-in.
I think of myself as the bridge-builder in my circle – the one who can translate a feeling into a garment, a song into a set design, an idea into a rollout plan. More than anything, I’m the one who connects the dots.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
A few weeks ago my mom found the recording of my 8th-grade talent show. I always carried the memory of that night with me – I remembered how surreal it felt standing on that stage – but watching the footage again hit me differently. It was like I got to relive what was running through my head right before the performance and everything that followed.
A few months before that show, I had performed a poem for my school’s Dramatic Arts Festival – my first time on stage in front of the entire school. I remember the nerves and the jitters, pushing through them, hearing the applause, and feeling proud. But that night at the talent show was different. My friends and I had remixed Gorgeous by Kanye West and Made You Look by Nas. After my boy Ibz finished his verse, there was this brief pause before I stepped to the front of the stage. Before I could even get a word out, the crowd lit up – like they’d been waiting for that moment.
I remember thinking, man… y’all really rock with the kid, but I snapped right back into why I was up there: to give them a show. I honestly believe that performance is what taught me how to shut out nerves, ignore the jitters, and lock in whenever I’m in front of a crowd. That moment flipped a switch – it’s a state of mind I still tap into every time I’m on a stage or in front of an audience.
Seeing that clip again reminded me there was a point in my life when my only goal was to be the best rapper alive – and everybody around me knew that’s where I was headed. That night wasn’t just about feeling powerful; it was the blessing of having my community recognize the weight of that dream and cheer me on before I even spoke.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
One thing suffering taught me that success never could is that when you lose everything on the outside, you’re left with two choices: fold or look inward for what you thought you lost.
I learned that everything I leaned on externally – validation, comfort, even a sense of stability – already existed inside me if I was willing to dig deep enough. That lesson is the reason I’m still standing to tell the story. Success never had to teach me that kind of resilience; only suffering could.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d probably say my solitude. I’m definitely the Houdini of the group – I’ll pop out for the moments that matter, but I disappear just as quickly.
It’s not because I don’t enjoy being around people; I actually value my friendships a lot. But most of the time I’m juggling a lot – managing projects, building collections, handling work – usually under a good amount of pressure. So when I finally get a window to breathe, I like to disconnect completely, go off the grid for a bit, and recharge.
That space to myself keeps me grounded. My friends know it’s not me being distant; it’s just how I reset so I can show up fully when it’s time to lock in again.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
At the core, you’d find a man who’s stood on his morals and principles even when the weight of them nearly broke him. A man who’s burned himself down to the foundation more than once, just to prove he could rise from the rubble he created.
You’d see a brother, a friend – someone who shows up when it matters – but also solitude, personified in human form. I’ve always been at home in the quiet; that’s where I wrestled with my own reflection and learned to live with it.
Strip away the brand, the designer, the degrees, the accolades… what’s left is the pulse that refused to quit, the hands that kept rebuilding, the heart that learned forgiveness, and the soul that knows how to begin again.
That part of me is untouchable – the piece that will outlive the applause, outlast the titles, and walk with me long after the lights go out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martober_/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@_martober
Image Credits
Digital Jay, RG Spark, Kebah Lott, Vital, Simeon Dill, and Trill Multicultural.
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