We’d like to introduce you to one of the fastest-growing urban lifestyle brands in the industry by the name of Rich & Rotten. The brand is well-known for breaking streetwear tradition and incorporating slim-cut styles with impactful messages that aren’t afraid to start a difficult conversation. Read along while business owner, Hamed Jalaly, lets us in on the process of creating his brand in late 2012 and walks us through its evolution of setting the bar for the “urban norm”.

Jalaly tells us that his idea for R&R came from the previous hardships he had to endure while leading a life he was not proud of. “After I got out of jail, I knew I had to rebuild my lifestyle. I wanted to use Rich & Rotten as a way to inspire others and make an impact on future generations,” he said. While shying away from the boxy cut of traditional streetwear tees, he also incorporated designs into his pieces that aimed to tell a bigger story. In essence, the brand is meant to “capture the lifestyle of those on a journey between struggle and success” while leading an “excuse-free state of mind”. R&R wanted people to honor their personal life stories and difficult pasts while still striving to reach their desired levels of success.

The brand’s most popular tee to date, for example, shows a butler holding a silver dish with several stacks of money while he wears a ski mask. According to the CEO, the design is “an example of the gritty side of the upward grind for wealth and success”.

Since its debut nine years ago, the brand has been on a constant rise due to its unique approach to urban style. Lately, new designs have steered toward important discussions involving topics of racial injustice and police brutality. The company’s strategy to appealing to consumers is simple: allow their storytelling to remain relatable and true to modern-day issues.

The brand’s signature tees have been spotted on several celebrities over the years including Ty Dolla $ign, Diddy, and Deray. Aside from its signature high quality, slim-cut tees, the brand has also released a full range of men’s and women’s clothing under the R&R range within the last couple of years. Jalaly currently runs the company with a group of close friends who have been dire to the evolution of the brand.

Rich & Rotten has recently expanded their flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California to make room for a shoe store. If you’re in the area, be sure to pass by and check it out. Their full collection can be shopped exclusively at that location, or on their website at www.richandrotten.com.