Interview With Chronic Styles

Chronic Styles was launched in 2011 by Warren Ashby in sunny Barbados. Growing up in Barbados, surrounded by the skate, surf and underground hip-hop  culture, Warren always had an aspiration to be a part of the business side of the industry. Originally starting out as a clothing retail company, Warren sold a couple shirts and hats and hustled his Chronic Styles product out of his car. Later that year, he linked up with several investors that would be willing to spread Chronic styles dope vibe. He then bought bargain T-Shirts online and printed his original designs onto the shirts, and gave them to the biggest, dopest artist in the Hip-Hop industry in Barbados such as Shay Newton, Dj Blank and Jeantil Harris out of RLG, just to name a few. Warren soon realized that in order to get bigger in on the Chronic styles movement, his company would have to focus on keeping their products the lowest possible price to avoid conflict with other competing clothing stores. Chronic Styles was born, being the first solely dope Clothing and accessories retail company in the game. That’s the genius behind Chronic Styles, which hopefully would soon spread globally under a unique niche.

Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?

I was born and raised in Barbados and I reside in Holetown, St. James. I am currently in my 5^th year at Queen’s College. My Professional interest(s) is marketing the Chronic styles brand and delivering solely fashionable clothing to Barbados citizens. My non- professional interests are surfing, skateboarding and modeling.
How do you classify fashion as an art and fashion as a business?

To be honest, I appreciate fashion artistically but I view fashion more as a culture.
What can your brand offer that others can’t?  High end quality clothing which combine art, fashion and the hip hop/skate culture.

When did you realize you wanted to start a brand & what motivated you to do it?

Around 4 months ago I had bought snapbacks to sell and I was invited to showcase my products at the Crop Over opening gala’s youth section and I had to create a logo. I spent all night creating what is now chronic styles main logo. My friend suggested I put it on some shirts and I jumped at the opportunity to create a clothing line that represented my lifestyle.
Do you consider yourself an artist?

I would call myself an artist in my own right because an artist is someone who conceptualizes ideas for the world to see. I would like to think I have succeeded in doing this with Chronic Styles.
What’s your favorite part about conceptualizing a design?

Seeing the designs that I had in my head come to life and seeing people wear my designs.
How would you define your personal style?

Basically anything creative, dope or that fits my action oriented lifestyle (skateboarding)
What are some of your fashion goals?

I would like to position my brand as the fashion of choice in the worldwide hip hop/ action sports community.
How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

My line more exemplifies the random/artistic aspect of fashion.
Where do you get your inspiration?

I can’t say where I get my main inspiration. Let’s say my daily view on life is sometimes enhanced and Ideas for designs just flow from the simplest things in everyday living.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start his or her own brand?

Choose a niche, be persistent and dream big.
Where can readers buy your clothing?

Our line would soon be available in the Blueprint store but for now you can contact my marketing manager at: BB PIN: 2249921B.
Myself: BB PIN 204C47BB. Or call us at (246) 2416178.
What do you think about Entertainment Daily (https://entdaily.wordpress.com)?
I really like it. It’s the one place where I can get the inside scoop on all the latest news and to see what’s going on both locally and internationally with fashion, music and entertainment.

Thank You !