Cross Colours Founders on Being $300K in Debt to Making $20M in 3 Days

From how the brand picked out their iconic name, Cross Colours founders, Carl Jones & TJ Walker also tell DJ Vlad how they were able to go from a $300,000 debt to a $20 million growth within three days. Originally the clothing line was to be called "Cross Cultures" but was later updated to it's Cross Colours name after a minor change. After the 1988 film Colors was released, Carl and TJ said that they didn't want their brand to be connected to the gang movie, so they opted to use the British writing style "colours." Although the difference between the two would be a letter, he explained that it was imperative to separate any negative feedback that may connect their brand to the film. "At the time the movie Colors [was out] and we didn't want to have a gang association or any kind of negative connotation with the brand. That was the purpose of spelling the British way."
In our previous interview, the designers explained how they sacrificed a lot to bring their vision to life, especially Carl who left a lucrative career with Surf Fetish. While the brand got their clothing on stars like Will Smith and other rappers who appeared on Yo! MTV Raps, by the time they headed for a three-day trade show in New York they said the orders were coming in the pounds. Fortunately, the $300,000 they put down for their showcase booth and the overall investment for the show; they ended up leaving with more than they expected.
"At the end of the show, I had to buy luggage for all the orders-and it was orders by the pound." Carl said, "I took it on the plane with me because I didn't want to lose my orders and we had close to $20-million in three days."

[@raydennis16]

This is Black History! Salute 💯 💯 💯

[@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433]

Stop. Its 2 dudes making clorhes

[@bigkeezo]

@@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433 Yes Black History beautiful ain't it

[@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433]

@@bigkeezo depends. IF Cross colors is "black history " to you, you're dumber than I thought lol. Ps, I'm black also...I just don't feel the need to put out "black excellence" before all of my sentences.

[@robertlund5694]

Its 'history' period. We don't call stories of iceberg or moschino 'white history'. Its 2019, grow up!

[@christopherdates8616]

The Bible is black history..

[@76turner1]

cross colors & L.A gears and a red black & green African medallion. and a raiders starter coat 1988 school gear

[@ajewul2]

Torrey Turner LA Gear was like 1986-89....Cross Colours hit in 91-93 two different eras of fashion

[@ajewul2]

Torrey Turner African medallions was 1988-89......Cross Colours was 91-93....by the Cross Colours was hitting medallions were played out.

[@lanakane682]

I was in 5th grade (1991/1992) when everyone was rocking Cross Colours and Starter jackets

[@conchobar]

Such dope gear

[@woabeatz9717]

Fool you wore La tigra...LOL.....

[@jetted_out]

cross colours and karl kani killed the streets.

[@beachboi6196]

Don't fo get fuba

[@smokegod1084]

Literally because the streets been dead since around those times around mid 90's morals, respect, family, Tru friends, love and respect for your community has left with the fashion! #be up be woke be blessed stay up stay woke stay blessed!!!

[@dramahawkpromotions9621]

They sure did

[@frenchonj]

My mom was not paying 60-70 dollars for pants 40 dollars for one T shirt..I missed that whole faze..

[@gqtrower2114]

Same here my pops was not having it!

[@EliteOnTheBeat]

@@gqtrower2114 FACTS! My first pair of J's I ever bought was from me hustling off the block. Selling quarter pounds of redbud at a time. LOL Those were the days. haha

[@haddingtoniangcp2464]

@@EliteOnTheBeat your comment made me smile. Jordan owes you a free lifetime of Js 😉

I used my FIRST Macy's credit card with a $100.00 limit to buy $50.00 Cross Colours jeans, lol. My aunt had to pay it off for me🤦🏽‍♀️.

[@calvinbrown592]

Legends,glad them ,and Karl kani are getting back popular lately

[@GearsinMotionGraphics]

Good interview!... one of the BEST URBAN CLOTHING LINE FOR The 90'S...... BRIGHT COLORS!

[@sentry9834]

They went viral for real. Real money in the pockets. Not gassed up vacuous social media attention. This level of success is tremendous by any standard. Great story.

[@montezdiamond9397]

Why is this interview less than 20 minutes? The positive and informative content shared deserves more time.

[@ARCANGEL5210]

Absolutely.

[@jesus755serrano]

Montez Diamond watch the full interview

[@Sub_Zero_Leo]

Hey gorgeous 😍

[@williamhollaway1960]

yeah but don't judge him on his face at least he gave them a platform

[@earlbenjamin8828]

Because it's not about ,banging,tupac,or suge

[@michaelbrown8025]

Much respect to these black entrepreneurs. They put everything on the line to chase a dream, and becoming successful. I remember the brand, but didn't know the back story. Great interview vlad!

[@abrahamemmanuel2401]

Dude on the left resembles David Banner in 10 years

[@misterrandywatson5432]

Lord Jamar and DJ Vlad's Son David banner right now

[@TheOneAndOnlyWisCali]

Lord Jamar and DJ Vlad's Son L😎L FACTS!!! #COOL!!!!

[@exit2976]

😂😂😂😂😂🚭⛽

[@popastoppa838]

Man....... I thought I was the only one

[@notoriousb.i.z.5342]

2 years tops

[@d.felixphoto2260]

I love hearing stories like this. Inspiring and motivational.

[@breadandcircus2012]

Dope interview! They were a big part of hip hop.

[@BrotherNero777]

Does anyone remember Negro league clothing?

[@damaine489]

H.T JR yep I had a shirt 👕 with black baseball teams on it 😂

[@billyjacc]

Yep

[@davonroberson3567]

Yup

[@dimefever1006]

Yes I still have a couple of caps, does anyone remember Life by Karl Kani it was a really dope collection.

[@FckPeace2]

Creative Thinker peace word bond that’s what’s up I did not know that kat

[@josephc28]

I remember buying one of their shirts back in 1992 at the mall. It stated, No Justice, No Peace

[@socc6991]

If you had a cross colours outfit on in 90-91 or 92 you were that dude !!!

[@TheRAMMShow]

betting on yourself you cant knock that

[@michaelmoody6158]

I remember these clothes. They were so fresh. They need to come out again.

[@therealflamelit]

I wore cross colours to summer school in 1993..but gave away soooooo much money to GIRBAUD too

[@Awake1974]

Karl kani also

[@supiriabeats2433]

Couldn't afford either or

[@supiriabeats2433]

Girbauds was hot.

[@dontrustwhiteyevery1]

I was too young....😩

[@jrbrawlersgaming1816]

@Dankenstein Corsentino yes sir..I wish they came back.

[@quietstormdj1471]

this is hands downs the best interview i have ever watch on vladtv!!

[@DrBisharaWilson]

They gave me a couple free shirts when I was in like the 8th grade at the Black Expo at the Jacob Javits Center, NYC before they blew up

[@josephmcdonald9933]

You were a part of history. Amazing

[@kaysha]

These guys are inspiring... I remember wearing them in Paris back in the days

[@randymassengill5301]

hell yeah I still got mines

[@treyvioncrowder3299]

I wish I kept all my gear from these eras i would be rich.. saved up

[@whayes8084]

I used to wear the shit outta Cross Colours. Probably my favorite urban brand growing up.

[@DavidCanada-hz9dq]

Naw homie everything was popping Used,Major Damage,Girbaud,Tommy Hilfiger and Polo!!😂😂😂

[@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433]

@@DavidCanada-hz9dq "when you cross colours clothes ya cross over , then got totally crossed out, ya Chris crossed"

[@RAMIR3Z0]

bro i STILL wear cross colours

[@mwangimainakizomba3062]

Thank you for this interview VLAD

[@flavworld46wp96]

Very inspirational interview they make you wanna go for it good shit

[@danieldevito6380]

Dope interview

[@Pizone81]

That stop the violence shirt dope ok school fashion 90's babies

[@ronaldgreenjr1423]

If you couldn't afford Cross Colours then you rocked Revolvers. These dudes are legendary though. They talked about Will Smith but I'm surprised they didn't say anything about Kriss Kross. That's really who put them on.

[@ajewul2]

Ronald Green Kriss Kross was actually late....by the time Jump came out Cross Colours was already HUGE!!!!! Jump came out when the Cross Colour hype was dying down actually

[@ajewul2]

Ronald Green Kriss Kross was actually late....by the time Jump came out Cross Colours was already HUGE!!!!! Jump came out when the Cross Colour hype was dying down actually

[@ronaldgreenjr1423]

Damn.... Maybe I was late on it too then. Hahahaha

[@deliveryguy317]

Yeah, we rocked Cross Colours hard from 89-92... Kriss Kross' "Jump" came out in 92... TLC rocked a lot of Cross Colour gear on their videos as well, but that was also 92-93..

[@Timmiewrath]

and arron hall dont be afraid, video everybody in the video was cross coloured out

[@1richunderdog]

for a second I thought it was Twon and Blaine from the in living color sketches

[@thismothafuckasaid7304]

Haha, I remember they did a Superbowl skit that was hilarious!

[@melvincassell5226]

💀💀 💀💀 💀

[@everydaydre1185]

1richunderdog dat aint right, lol

[@billyjacc]

LOL!!! You hit it RIGHT.. ON .. The Friggin Nose!

[@rico8673]

hated it.😂

[@kashataylor6430]

Great interview!!! Dropping pearls of wisdom

[@POPtheHOBO]

I love hearing these guys success stories and knowledge of the industry and business.

[@billydavidson7571]

These guys remind me of DAMON WAYANS & DAVID ALLEN GRIER, MEN ON FILM, HATED IT! LOL

[@mgomez9736]

Lmao! Youre on the money with that one...hahaha

[@TheQueenSpider]

Two snaps in a circle...

[@str8alphamale]

Billy Davidson roflmao.. y’all stupid Ctfu!!

[@billydavidson7571]

@@str8alphamale you're comment I HATED IT' BUT I STILL GIVE IT 2 SNAPS & A TWIST because you keep it real from your point of view RESPECT

[@martinleon3145]

yup, explains so much now with them loud, bright, moist colors

[@socc6991]

Great Interview !

[@adfmo2195]

Guy on the left... love how he’s rockin his hair and beard! Silver fox indeed!

[@SUPATRUKA]

Their stuff was really nice back in the days

[@stakknmakknonablokk4886]

So many black fashion lines came in the late 80s and early 90s no Louis Vuitton or Gucci you bought black. You wore cross colours, used jeans, Karl Kani, before fubu Sean John rocawear with Jordan’s or Nike flights #BuyBackTheBlock

[@mustafahajj]

It's hard on black success. Right now... you and I establish a business, a successful business. Guess what will happen? Bigger business will buy us out. And ... don't say we won't sell. If we have a 10mil$$ company and the bigger biz offer us 100mil: SOLD!!!! This is how they keep the smaller guy down. Amazon, Walmart, and others buy out everything successful that's so happen to be a threat of competition.

[@juniorbattle21]

Dope interview!!

[@manuelcampos6046]

Great interview

[@photoholicflix]

A few good entrepreneurial jewelz in this interview. Great post.

[@ebonywhite1388]

Damn, Cross Colours was the shit in the 90's, fuck I'm old 🙇

[@zshakur]

I'm impressed the brother HAD $300K liquid that he could use to invest in their dream...I never liked CC growing up, but they were HUGE in the culture and I never knew the story of how they got started. So cool to hear their story...Legends in the urban wear game!

[@justbodega3206]

These brothers are legends and their story is motivating but they should know what artist helped them to blow up.

[@bounceenergydrink]

New York, was the creative culture of Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop fashion that ignited the world.

[@michaelcampbell5817]

Nyc definitely started the Hip Hop culture, but Russell Simmons gave Hip Hop culture away and this is what help crushed black clothing designer's in Hip Hop culture.

[@brownskinladyiam]

This was dope Thank you fellas

[@jrbrawlersgaming1816]

No disrespect bae..but damn your thumbnail is BANGIN! I'm subscribing off that alone😁

[@brownskinladyiam]

J.R. Brawlers lol you will be bored I have no videos

[@PARENTALADVISORYPODCAST]

dope interview vlad

[@DaKingisDead]

The Fu-Schnikens were one of the rap groups instrumenal in blowing these guys up.

[@jetted_out]

tlc also

[@theernalrealestategroupatk707]

FACTS

[@wytelester-green8891]

I would say comedians on Def Comedy Jam blew them up mainly Martin Lawrence

[@bohanland9869]

@@wytelester-green8891 Oooooh ! That's a big fact 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@purvnitti6240]

TLC

[@QuadrantBottomHalf]

I want to do a clothing line. Glad Vlad putting the fashion design old Gs on here. They dropping jewels. I always wanted that vertical stripe short sleeve CC shirt.

[@ashleenicole3351]

Bring back cross colours...

[@bluekobe_1271]

Off Top ,Top 5 Interviews. Culture Gods .. shout out VladTv for this one

[@bigrube24]

Thats how it was when I made Mitchell and Ness a household name brand... Salute...

[@rasheedbarber8004]

you sure did Big Reub....i was trying to link when you did when I was a marketing rep for a high-end luxury vehicle service for a joint venture

[@ronaldgreenjr1423]

Shout out to Vlad for the bar about the leather African Medallions. I still rock mines on the regular. LOL

[@rayshawnburke8369]

I want one real throw back shit

[@brycebaliey6009]

I'm 17 so I never heard of these dudes , but Great interview 👍🏽

[@jbenson7300]

Bryce Bailey go check out some of their designs especially the shirts, overalls and hoodies was pretty dope for the time period.

[@aayanrussell7972]

Bryce Bailey The gear they produced was fresh and if you look at some of 2Pac's interviews you'll see Pac wearing their clothes.

[@everydaydre1185]

Bryce Bailey see the doc ...fresh dressed

[@DONTCALLMETHAT]

Go watch any rap videos from 1990 to 97

[@danhilarious1395]

I’m 32 same boat😳

[@blusef1]

Wow super inspiring !!

[@508b1z]

I like hearing about the business side too

[@king3ization]

Find the men who made damaged and used

[@MrMaccntosh7up]

Man, I remember the "Used" brand. I was trying to find it years ago but couldn't. Not even pictures of the clothes.

[@edieselentertainment]

used was serious in Baltimore it was dope, also slick was poppin. good shit I often wonder what happened to used.

[@shawntyson4339]

right

[@cedricwillis432]

king3ization wtf is you talking about fuck nigga

[@19zach75]

USED jeans were of very good quality material and colors. DAMAGED had the best jeans and long-shirt outfits. I wore both brands in junior high school.

[@robertswapp]

Such an Awesome story!

[@juniorxeastny8169]

So inspirational......! awesome.

[@Followthedrip]

Are they bring them back I would wear it 💯✊🏾

[@MegaRomeg]

Yo, thank you brothers. ❤

[@kitchentimeinc]

Now THIS is what the hip hop communities should be basing their behavior and transactions on. Not fighting each other and acting a fool for followers and likes.

[@damianedwards2327]

Great Story. and great Time for Black Artists.

[@djboogie504no]

Man bring this back !!

[@Shortlady82]

I remember I took my aunts cross colour hoodie back when it was popular. I remember I told her she was too old to wear it 😬😬😬.

[@chrislineberger6830]

Upload more and more of this interview

[@central8448]

Great inspirational story. I’m trying to find that olive green quilted jacket online. That’s fire.

[@l3tme545]

Bring it back. And ty for clothing

[@fellazfilmz]

I never wore Cross Colours that was more of a Brooklyn/Queens or Caribbean thing we were rocking Pepe jeans and Guess in the Bronx if you wanted wild colors. Damage was dope all their clothes were distressed.

[@josephmcdonald9933]

I forgot about Pepe. Lord those were the days. And Pelle pelle

[@patrickneary8446]

"Orders by the pound." love it!

[@CocoapieRodriguez]

I was in school wearing Cross Colours and looking like Left Eye

[@chrismartelle6709]

Everyone wore c.c when I was kid loved your stuff guys

[@brownskinladyiam]

Vlad I don’t like your drama interviews However I love the people you interview. Thank you for interviewing my childhood basically Respect And this is why I subscribe

[@MissLaceyNoel]

That's so cool, my mom used to wear this brand when she was a kid.

[@mrlukeisspeaking4391]

legendary brand

[@michelewashington]

I really loved my handpainted cross coloured jeans. I really hope they bring them back. I worked for YSB magazine and they were hotbed ticket items when we did fashion spreads.

[@Gentepreneur]

Never wore Cross Colours but love the how it all came together for these entrepreneurs.. Hope they make a great comeback! #BookFamous #Gentepreneur #IworeBenDavis

[@arturoborrego7776]

I NEED that windbreaker!!!

[@dopemcee]

what went wrong at 13 mins mark? liek the audio is doubled....seems the lapelle mic and the camera mic was blended together?

[@mrawesomeness4649]

Long Live CxC !! Wore the Colours jeans back in High School in 94. Still Love their gear !!

[@glaced7]

Good one vlad big up yaself

[@dollylove3430]

Bring it back💕

[@sjerrick]

Shout out to these guys.

[@twtrucking3]

Lol. All I could afford was one pair of pants. And one T-shirt and a pair of Reebok Classics. It was my weekend outfit. Those were the days.

[@eastside313yahdig.2]

Used Jeans , Damage, C.C and Maurice Malone , Karl Kani

[@josephmcdonald9933]

Karl kani was my man

[@balance_it_all_out3688]

Had my first outfit in the 6th grade 1992-93

[@anthonyp2506]

I remember rocking those in the 90's very well made, fashionable, never faded, ahead of it's time.. I still love and wear baggy clothes

[@cloudsleyfalconbridge]

My parents wouldn't let me wear urban clothes at the time. Both are marines and we lived overseas. I remember seeing my mates in class wearing them. I thought they were kinda tacky, but they were popular as hell.

[@camc8879]

That shit was too expensive and hard to find. Only the dopeman and suburban kids had that shit back in the day.

[@TVSOUNDSYSTEM]

Such a cool story

[@BRDrumMajorsATL]

What a beautiful story

[@T1Str3tcH]

The pride in their faces when he same “we were in the position to compete with guests overnight”... love it

[@GregoryMichaelCarter]

I was with these guys until they said they didn’t remember the rappers that helped make them.

[@buffooneryshow5109]

right.

[@haddingtoniangcp2464]

Read your comment as they literally said it lol

[@ROBERTMONGER]

Their clothes were well made. Some sic colours.

[@user-rq2cz2dl6y]

I bought you guyes clothe from the Oak Tree store in the Hawthorne Mall Back in the day as I smile ONE LUV

[@TheMmiguelito]

Not gonna lie ,as a person graduating from high school during their popularity,being into fashion,a popular person in school,a brotha known for having style: this was FN awwwwwesome!!

[@hardfought1842]

Key and Peele will have a field day with this...I can see them staring and point overly indecisive about who is gonna answer the question 😆

[@adamfrbs9259]

Late 90s my friends caused the "Oversized dress rule" at the Catholic High School. Haha. They had to wear cords or khakis but they were baggy lol.

[@thetrickisirarelyrespond5945]

Please interview anyone who advertised in The Source in the 90s, Davoucci etc lol

[@integrafreak1]

Respect

[@alde1611]

Mustard cross colours ya dig jeans were the fkn biz in Melbourne Australia in the early 90's

[@reggiefurlow1]

Now everything is tight

[@farrellcityking1]

Living Legends!