1. From Heavy Loads to Light Lids: The Beginning
When I first got into clothing, I was focused on t-shirts, hoodies, and full outfits, gear that you could wear proudly to rep the mission and message behind Still Growing. But real talk? It was heavy. Literally.
Toting around bins of sweatshirts, tees, and bulky items for vending wasn’t just exhausting, it was unsustainable. Every pop-up felt like a physical and mental obstacle course. I started to ask myself: What’s the sweet spot between something people want and something I can actually keep up with?
That’s when the hat became a real contender—not just as a product, but as a symbol.
2. A Hat I Couldn’t Even Wear at First (Literally)
Here’s the funny part—when I first started selling hats, I couldn’t even wear them myself. Not for spiritual reasons or anything poetic like that. Nah, it was way more practical than that.
I have Wic locs, if you know, you know. They're thick, pointed, structured locs that sit straight up like an antenna made out of culture and patience. So unless the hat was made out of magic and stretch fabric from Wakanda, there was no way it was fitting over my crown. I used to try and force it down like I was closing an overstuffed suitcase, and the hat would just sit on top like it was scared to commit.
So there I was, selling hats I couldn’t wear, looking like the plug for a movement I couldn’t model. But that’s what made it even better. Because the hats weren’t about me. They were about the people who could wear them, and what they’d represent while doing it.
3. Why Hats Work (for Us and the Mission)
Let me break it down from a logistical and business angle, because this wasn’t just spiritual, it was strategic.
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Low Cost, High Margin: Hats have one of the best return-on-investment profiles in merch. They’re lightweight, cheaper to produce, and easier to sell.
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Easy to Customize: Unlike mass-printed shirts, every hat we do is hand-customized. That means:
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One-of-one details
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Distressing, dyeing, patchwork, stitching, or other artisan techniques
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No two hats are exactly alike
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Portable and Event-Ready: If you’ve ever vended in a park, a warehouse, or a cramped pop-up, you know that space is a premium. Hats allow me to carry more, display better, and sell easier. Plus, people can try them on right there.
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Seasonless Appeal: A hoodie might be too hot in summer. A tee might be too light for winter. But a hat? That’s all-season. People wear hats year-round, and that’s powerful for visibility and branding.
4. Colorways that Speak to Our Growth
The distressed baseball cap was our first release. It was intentionally simple—almost raw—because that’s where Still Growing was at the time.
We dropped three core colors:
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Black: Because it goes with everything, and because it speaks to resilience, clarity, and depth.
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Burgundy: A fall tone that evokes legacy, earth, and transition. Rich in feeling.
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Forest Green: Representing literal growth. The plant. The root. The journey.
We chose fall to drop because it’s the season where things shed. Trees lose leaves. People retreat inward. It’s a perfect moment to release something that feels like transformation in wearable form.
5. Not Just Merch, Artifacts of a Movement
What sets our hats apart?
We're not just slapping logos on pre-made caps and calling it fashion. Every hat in the Still Growing collection is:
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Hand-customized by us
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Unique in detail (we never remake the same hat twice)
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Designed to tell a story
The imperfections? On purpose. The distressing? Symbolic. The style? A mix of street, soul, and sustainability.
These aren’t just hats. These are artifacts of where we are and where we’re going.
6. Redefining Black Streetwear with Intention
In a world full of drops, hype, and trendy chaos, we wanted to root ourselves in meaning. Still Growing isn’t just a brand, it’s a philosophy.
We talk a lot about growth, but growth isn't always pretty. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s gritty. Sometimes it’s slow.
But it’s always forward.
That’s what these hats represent.
7. Building with the People
One thing that keeps me grounded is hearing from y’all. Seriously. Whether it’s someone asking, “Yo, when’s the next drop?” or someone sharing what their hat means to them—this has always been about connection.
So we’re asking:
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What colors would you like to see next?
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What types of hats should we make—bucket hats, 5-panels, beanies, dad caps?
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What styles speak to your version of Still Growing?
Let us know in the comments or hit us directly on Instagram @teejaynews or through our Contact Us form. We’re building this with y’all, not for y’all.
8. What's Next for Our Hat Line
The plan moving forward is expansion with intention.
We’re experimenting with:
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More eco-friendly base hats
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Collaborations with local Philly creatives
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Limited-run “seasonal packs” themed around healing, growth, resistance, and community
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Artist Series: one-of-a-kind hats customized by featured designers
And of course, we’ll continue to make every hat by hand, with love and edge.
Final Thoughts: Crowns You Can Carry
When I started this journey, I didn’t have stability, or a studio, or even a place to sleep that was mine.
Now I have a product I believe in, a movement behind it, and a community growing alongside it.
Still Growing hats aren’t here to make you fit in.
They’re here to remind you that you’re growing—even when nobody sees it.
Even when it hurts.
Even when you’re not sure what’s next.
So wear your crown. Lightly. Boldly. Truthfully.
And let the world know:
You’re still growing.
🙏🏽 Support the Movement:
🧢 Shop the latest hats → stillgrowing.us
📩 Got ideas or feedback? Contact us → Instagram.com/stillgrowingboutique
💬 Drop a comment below — What hat should we make next?