When A. Grant Henderson created his own fashion line, he didn’t just envision a line of shirts, he wanted to start a movement to inspire the masses.
Greatness The One clothing line is fast becoming a staple in the Metro Detroit area, as Henderson fuses fashion and motivation to help individuals find their greatness.
“I have always been into fashion, and the idea has always been a part of me,” said Henderson, the son of Felecia Henderson and the late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and WCHB talk-show host, Angelo B. Henderson. “I wanted to design something that was different but with a message to push people to be successful.”
Greatness The One – www.weargreatness.com — offers a collection of shirts that varies from short and long sleeve to crop tops and glow in the dark designs, ranging from $15 to $25. In the coming months, the clothing line will expand to hooded sweatshirts, jogging pants and hats.
“I’m trying to start a brand revolution,” said 21-year-old Henderson, a.k.a. Greatness. “We are in the Metro Detroit area now, but I want to expand to New York, Chicago and eventually internationally.”
Currently the Greatness The One brand is in the midst of Kickstarter campaign (Kickstarter.com) to raise $6,500 to create its own in-house production system. The deadline to reach the goal is Friday, Aug. 15. It’s an all or nothing proposition.
“If we don’t hit the $6,500 target, we won’t get any of the money we’ve raised,” said Henderson, whose studying marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. “The in-house production system is vital because it will allow me to purchase a screen printing machine, get startup supplies and control the printing costs.”
One of the many inspirations for Greatness The One is a music artist who isn’t afraid of giving his opinion while staying true to himself.
“My favorite artist Kanye West is a big influence because he inspires people to push the limit, not just in music but in general,” Henderson said. “He encourages people to just be themselves, and that is one the messages that I’m promoting with Greatness The One.”