Today we’d like to introduce you to Gershom Ejoni.
Hi Gershom, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey in entrepreneurship and fashion was deeply inspired by my father. Since I was a young child, I watched him run his own business as side hustles to supplement income for our family. Seeing how hard he work to build something from the ground up was intensely motivational.
From the fashion side, my dad always dressed well. He would put together the most simple pieces and make them timeless. As a result, I found fashion as an expression of art. Expressing your identity through fashion has always been an unsung art form in the black community.
I wanted to create a brand that represented my core beliefs (self-love and self-care). This is why I created IVA Skincare and Young Black Successful (YBS) Clothing with my high school friend, Joshua Murphy.
Both of these companies support the concept of uplifting our community and prioritizing self gratitude. Historically, mental and emotional health has been taboo in the black community, especially for men, with these brands we aspire to break down these social constructs and allow people to fully be themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business has not been a smooth road. I started writing my business plan before the pandemic started and when it hit, a lot of my plans were brought to a halt. Regardless, I still moved forward in launching my business.
The pandemic forced us to innovate in the way we approached operating business and I believe it was for the better. Furthermore, when it came to modeling/fashion it was a very self explorative journey for me. I was very shy and reserved growing up but fashion really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I was constantly meeting new people from different backgrounds and it changed my perspective on how we are “taught” to view the word.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m known for many things; modeling, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
I feel like my modeling/fashion stands out the most in my opinion. What really brings me joy is inspiring people. I’m 100% authentically me, I never change because of trends or to fit into pop culture. The fact I, as a black man, fully express my emotions and mental health not just through social media but in person has left a positive impact on people.
I had young men that grew up in the same Nigerian community as me and tell me they looked up to me and were inspired to be the best version of themselves from just watching me. That speaks to what God is doing in my life and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. Without Him, none of this would be possible.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
Taking risks is necessary if you want to pursue something that is not traditional.
You are going to have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It requires a lot of problem-solving and surrounding yourself around the wise council. I have forgone a lot of other opportunities to bet on myself and it was no easy task.
It’s easy to settle into other people’s expectations for your life but it is harder to achieve goals that many have failed and given up at. With that being said, failure is inevitable but what matters is your mentality towards failure.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gershomejoni/
Image Credits
Charlee Moss (@mosscharlee), Cam Persons (@show.case), and Bliss (@shotbybliss), @tailiahbreon
