In 2011, I started my fifth year of college at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. I had just switched my major to finance in hopes to be a business man and make alllll the money! After taking a few classes, I realized I wasn’t cut out for the types of jobs that my future degree would allow me to get. All of the job descriptions sounded very boring and robotic.
I wanted more than a paycheck. I wanted to connect with people, do something creative, and actually have fun. It turned out that those types of jobs didn’t exist. So, when I couldn't find a job like that, I decided to create my own. With a notebook in hand, I started jotting down business idea. I I was going to create my own damn job ;).
I wrote down numerous business ideas, but I kept coming back to this clothing brand idea. I've never been into fashion like that, but I had this vision of people wearing my brand, feeling inspired, and connecting through the clothes.
That vision became Quindecim Red. My greatest source of inspiration came from the neighborhood I grew up in. Most of us were either in school, clocking into jobs we didn’t love, or getting caught up in shit we shouldn’t be doing. The result of this was a bunch of brilliant people with great ideas that were left untouched because of institutional influence and self-doubt. That self-doubt created an everyday cycle I wanted to break for myself and motivate others to do the same.
The name “Quindecim” means fifteen in Latin, representing one of the two streets that defined my neighborhood (15 Mile). The other being Quinn Road. The color red represents passion, because without it, you’ll never find the energy to work hard and make the sacrifices it takes to bring an idea to life. When coming up with a name, It was only right that I paid homage to the land that raised me!
In 2018, I pushed the brand forward, and a new chapter began. I opened my first brick-and-mortar location at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, MI. For six years, until May 2024, that store became more than a retail space. It was my crash course in business. It was a real-world MBA. I met incredible people from all walks of life, built lasting relationships, learned how to adapt in a constantly changing retail environment, and gained skills that no classroom could teach. Those years grew me as an entrepreneur and deepened my commitment to my mission.
Today, Quindecim Red is more than clothing, it’s a movement for the loyal Panda Fam and anyone ready to break their everyday cycle. I’m committed to expanding the brand, creating more ways to inspire and connect, and continuing to lead by example.
If you ask any elderly person what their biggest regret in life is, they will most likely say it was not following some type of dream or idea. Don’t let that be you. If you have an idea, tap into that fearless imagination that you had as a kid and bring that idea to life. It took me years to go “all in” with this brand because of self doubt and playing it safe. I did a 7 year bid in college to earn my bachelors degree and a 10 year bid at a job that wasn’t for me, but I never gave up on my ideas. I was laser focused on breaking my cycle, and motivating others to do the same.
