Meet Jabari Walthour

We were lucky to catch up with Jabari Walthour recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jabari, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

For much of my professional career in corporate America and tech, being “the only one in the room” wasn’t rare — it was routine. I often found myself navigating spaces where no one looked like me, understood my background, or carried the cultural weight I walked in with.

Early on, I tried to blend in. I spoke only when certain, played it safe, and made myself smaller without even realizing it. But I eventually learned that shrinking doesn’t protect you — it just keeps your voice from being heard. To be effective in those rooms, I had to show up as my full self, not the filtered version I thought people wanted.

So I doubled down on preparation, clarity, relationship-building, and confidence rooted in competence. Expertise is a language, and when you speak it fluently, people listen — even if they don’t expect it from someone who looks like you.

These experiences are also what inspired BLKXCLLNC™. The brand started as something I wished I had on those days when I needed a reminder that I belonged. Over time, it became a way to reflect our culture back to itself — subtle, strong, and rooted in pride. It’s also a legacy project for my sons. I want them to inherit a world where they never question whether they belong in any room.

So how did I learn to be effective as the only one?
By remembering the resilience in my ancestry, refusing to shrink, leading with preparation and purpose, and building something that helps others do the same.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

BLKXCLLNC™ is a lifestyle brand built on a simple but powerful mission: to inspire, remind, and shine a light on the brilliance that has always existed within our community. What started as an idea during the pandemic—an idea rooted in representation, pride, and storytelling—has grown into a movement powered by design, culture, and intentionality.

Every collection we release is called a SZN, and each SZN is designed around a theme or a figure whose legacy deserves to be carried forward. Our SZNs aren’t just drops—they’re chapters. They allow us to merge fashion with education, culture, and storytelling. We’ve honored icons like Jackie Robinson (SZN42) through vintage baseball aesthetics with a Pan-African twist, and Dr. Ronald McNair (McNairSZN), an HBCU legend whose brilliance reached both the stars and our classrooms.

Design-wise, we pull inspiration from the places that raised us—HBCUs, the diaspora, Pan-African color theory, vintage sportswear, and the quiet excellence our parents and grandparents embodied without recognition. Even our typography and silhouettes are intentional, blending retro collegiate styles with modern, elevated cuts that feel both familiar and aspirational.

This year we expanded into more premium apparel, including our first full sweatsuit, a tonal puff-embossed set designed for warmth, comfort, and understated excellence. We’ve also released new women’s cuts, travel-inspired pieces, and limited-edition exclusives tied to moments where our community gathers—HBCU Homecomings, Black On The Block, and Juneteenth activations across the country.

What feels most special is that our customers don’t just wear the brand—they carry it. They bring BLKXCLLNC™ to airports, classrooms, boardrooms, international trips, and family reunions. They share the stories behind each piece with their kids. They pull up to our pop-ups like it’s a family reunion. That energy fuels everything we do.

Looking ahead, we’re continuing to expand our SZNs, deepen our Pan-African collegiate-inspired designs, and shine a spotlight on more Black heroes whose stories deserve the main stage. We’re also building community-facing experiences—from appreciation events to pop-up activations across new cities.

BLKXCLLNC™ is bigger than clothing. It’s culture, history, and pride—stitched into something you can wear.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

At this stage of my journey, what excites me most about BLKXCLLNC™ is how deeply purpose-driven the work has become.

Three areas have shaped the brand and my growth as a business owner.

First, faith. I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is a faith-based sport. There are seasons where you can’t see the results yet, but you still have to move like they’re already on the way. That conviction—believing in the vision before the world does—has carried me through every high and low.

Second, designing for our customers’ real lives. BLKXCLLNC™ is built around the lifestyle of our community—travel, comfort, heritage, creativity, and pride. When I design, I’m thinking about how our people show up in boardrooms, airports, classrooms, brunches, HBCU homecomings, and everyday moments. The goal is always to create pieces that feel familiar, aspirational, and rooted in culture.

Third, resilience. Nothing ever goes exactly according to plan—production delays, inventory surprises, marketing misses, funding gaps, and everything in between. What matters is how quickly you pivot, how honest you can be with yourself about what worked and what didn’t, and how committed you remain to serving your customers well.

If I could offer advice to anyone building something of their own, it would be this:
Understand your why, understand your audience, and understand your numbers.
Your “why” keeps you grounded through the tough times, your audience keeps you honest, and your data keeps you focused. When those three things align, you can build something that lasts.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely — we’re always looking to collaborate with people and brands who align with the ethos of Black economic empowerment. That means partners who understand the full ecosystem of our community: where we shop, how we live, who we inspire, what we build, what we create, how we invest, and how we preserve it all for the next generation.

We’re especially interested in partnering with creators, entrepreneurs, HBCUs, Black-owned retailers, cultural institutions, and purpose-driven companies that want to elevate stories of Black Excellence with authenticity and intention. Whether it’s through capsule collections, community events, licensing opportunities, or storytelling partnerships, we’re open to collaborations rooted in impact, creativity, and shared values.

If you’re aligned with that mission and want to build something meaningful with us, you can connect with us directly at [email protected] or tap in through our Instagram community @blkxcllnc.

Let’s create something our people can be proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,blkxcllnc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkxcllnc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blkxcllnc
• Other: http://threads.com/blkxcllnc

Image Credits

Catt Hamlin, Amir Ahmad