BY: KRIS ANDERSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CAMERON EVANS
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. This journey of entrepenuership wasn’t meant to be easy. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. You can’t get anywhere without a little pain and struggle. If you don’t fight don’t ask for favor. From the words of Travis Kelce "You gotta fight for your right to party!"
If you know Wynton Vaughn then you know that he's a man that's serious about his business, friends, family and brand. Since I've known Wynton he's been a good friend and brother. One thing I've learned from him is that friendship is not about people who act true to your face. It’s about people who remain true behind your back. True friends are the people in your life who want you in theirs. Throughout life our parents and grandparents taught us to find friends who aren’t too proud to pray for you. To cry for you. To hope for you. To ask God to be one with you. The only people you need in your life are the ones who need you in theirs even when you have nothing else to offer them but yourself. Wynton Vaughn is from the Westside of Detroit, Michigan. He's a 2018 graduate of Hampton University, where he studied Liberal Arts while starting a clothing and event consulting business. Wynton is currently a entrepreneur who promotes weekly events in DC, owns his own clothing line: Msanii, manages Arrival Worldwide Clothing, and manages artists such as: Jamar, Peyton, and Kai Ca$h. His love for music, fashion, and all things within the arts has made him into what he is today. I present to you Wynton Vaughn The Designer.
The UpNext: Who is Wynton V?
Wynton V: "Wynton V. is fun, out going, a spiritual person, artists, creative, different, to himself, loving, care free, a listener, a brother, he is a friend."
The UpNext: Why do you love to design?
Wynton V: "I love relating to people through my designs and creations. Though I may seem like a very outgoing person, which I am, I'm very much to myself as well. Which I express myself throughout my designs."
The UpNext: What made you choose this career choice?
Wynton V: "In life I can’t do anything I don’t love or enjoy doing."
The UpNext: What inspired you to create Msanii?
Wynton V: "I've always been into fashion since I was a kid. Which is why I always aspired to have my own clothing line, but I wanted to start my clothing line at the right time, so I decided to wait until college. Msanii is still a developing brand where I really aspire to touch all aspects of fashion."
The UpNext: Do you believe taking a leap of faith was the best thing you ever did?
Wynton V: "Yes, with no risk comes no reward. With no hope, comes no salvation. Thus, if you don’t try you will never know."
The UpNext: What are some other projects you’re currently working on?
Wynton V: "Most recently I started to get my feet wet in the music industry. I’m apart of Kai Ca$h’s management team. I manage an artist named Jamar who is a R&B singer from Grand Rapids, MI. Jamar is the son of gospel singer/songwriter Marvin Sapp. I also manage my sister, Peyton, she's a singer/songwriter/producer who is extremely talented."
The UpNext: Tell us a time where you almost gave up and how you overcame that feeling?
Wynton V: "Well in college my senior year I almost gave up. I was in my chemical engineering class and I just couldn’t take it anymore. So I just left. I actually quit going to class and took a whole semester off. However, that next semester I took classes that I assumed I would enjoy like photography, graphic design, drawing and painting. I soon found out that I could actually draw, with focusing. Then going to class didn’t feel like a regular class anymore. I was enthused and excited to go, homework didn't feel like homework anymore. I enjoyed every moment and second of school at that point."
The UpNext: How did you and DJ Camo journey actually begin your business partnership?
Wynton V: "Well I met Camo my freshman year on the 4th Floor of James Hall at Hampton University. It was like the second day after we moved into our dorms. I had just finished straightening up my room and then I heard a song that only Detroit people would know, assumingely, it was a song by (Doughboyz x Cashout) a local Detroit rap group. He was in his room djing and I was amazed, because he didn’t look like he would ever know this song or that he was a DJ lol. I eventually told him I was from Detroit and he told me he was from Louisville, which started to make sense. Kentucky was only a few hours from Detroit and a lot of people from Detroit went there to make money. So I told him I went to precollege and that I already knew a lot of people that went to Hampton already. I eventually told him that I threw parties in high school, which he did as well. So after that we started throwing parties and the rest is history!"
The UpNext: What’s some advice you can give someone else interested in design and party promotion?
Wynton V: "I believe in keeping it short and straight to the point. Never give up and consistency is key!"
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