Mike Harris' PROGRESS APPAREL may be DC's latest and greatest T-shirt line. A Howard student, DC native, and creative, Harris is no stranger to the collision of art, fashion and street culture – in fact, it's what he strives for. His distinct take on streetwear coupled with an intentional incorporation of Black culture makes for a conscious brand, drawing attention from D.C residents and beyond.
In his own words PROGRESS APPAREL:
"Intends to evolve the human race through teaching youth the truth. In order for people to progress in life, they need to know where they came from and where they're going. By bringing history and culture to streetwear, PROGRESS will revolutionize the fashion industry. PROGRESS APPAREL is a representation of when D.C was Chocolate City, underground Hip-Hop, revolutionaries and the youth of tomorrow. Remember, if there is no struggle, there is no progress."
In a brief interview with Harris, I learned more about his creative process, life, and T-shirt line.
Why did you get into fashion?
Back in high school my homie Alex put me onto the streetwear blogosphere. It was all about Complex and Tumblr, music and fashion. We would study it and then challenge each other to see who could find the best of each.
I was constantly immersed in Hip-Hop and streetwear, and eventually, I developed brand loyalty. So when I see an article about Stussy or the Hundreds I click on them to see what they're about. Stussy has definitely inspired me: they know their lane and they niched it so hard. Even if they don't have the logo in bold letters across the front, you can always tell when a shirt is theirs. They've defined their product and audience so well that they've been able to get into these mainstream corps like Urban Outfitters and so forth. I look up to that brand highly.
How has Howard influenced your personal fashion sense?
Howard didn't really inspire my fashion sense. It did teach me that I have to come correct though. Especially when it's nice out – you know people are gunna look good, so it inspires you to take your personal style to the next notch, 'cause you can't be caught slippin'. But as far as my personal style sense, I don't think anyone here dresses like me.
How would you describe your style in 3 words?
Vintage streetwear x100
Who/what inspires your brand? Who inspires your fashion sense in general?
Anything Washington sportswear, I also really mess with BAPE, and of course Stussy.
As far as people, Dom Kennedy inspires me. He is who he is. Every year you know he's gunna come out with top down riding music, he’s consistent with it. He really reps where he's from and that's dope to me. People like he and Curren$y stay in their hometown doing events, cookouts, and hosting at lounges. They're humble and they give nothing but love to their hometown, so that's what they get back. I wanna be like that. I remember Curren$y said he saw a billboard of himself in New Orleans and almost cried.
What do you like/dislike about the streetwear brands you’re seeing these days?
The thing I'm not liking about the current state of streetwear is that people don't even know about the sh*t they're wearing. They'll buy Supreme and they won't even know the person featured on their shirt. It’s gotta stop, and it’s something I’m trying to combat with my line.
Your shirts bear the Black Panther insignia. What significance does the group hold for you?
I feel like their movement represents what I'm trying to come with. They're strong militants and they never take back talk. Their legacy is incredibly strong, especially in D.C.
I picked the Black Panther Party because I want my brand to be conscious. But I've noticed that when people do try too hard to portray themselves consciously it can come off as corny and I'm not about that. I will say that I'm here for what the Black Panthers were trying to convey, though.
Talk about the video you just put out. What's the biggest concept you wanted to convey? Why did you choose to present your shirts in the way that you did?
Lifestyle. I wanted to capture a moment in D.C. In the video, I try to mix my lane with the biking world. I feel like biking is really getting big. In the video we dap up, I cut to the back of his shirt, he bike rides, and we go out for pizza... It was kind of a day in the life type sh*t.
What’s the end goal for your T shirt line?
The end goal is to have a store in the city and to make my brand so well known that pop culture will without a doubt shine light on D.C. At the same time, I want people to be educated and I want to be one of the people to help educate them. I wanna stay in my lane. I want a vintage look – old Cash Money tees look dope to me. I want to take different moments from history, capture them and put them on shirts.
What about D.C do u appreciate most? What do u think you've learned from being a D.C native?
First and foremost, respect our ways. I love D.C culture, I love our lingo, our fashion. You know you're gunna see hood n*ggas and hype n*ggas and they all have a place here. In New York, n*ggas in Brooklyn dress differently from Upper East side n*ggas. It's different with us though, we have our own aesthetic and it's consistent throughout all of D.C.
What would u say to people who sh*t on D.C locals?
Stop lookin' sweet. People going to school here might pick up on some of the culture, but you're not gunna get it 'till u really live here.
