In an exciting moment for Maryland-based lifestyle brand Mingo by Domingo, founder and creative director Ju, also known as Domingo, shares his experiences and insights from their pop-up in Paris during Fashion Week. Here’s a glimpse into our conversation:
Ju:
“How y’all doing today, man? My name is Ju, aka Domingo. Founder and creative director of Mingo by Domingo, a Maryland-based lifestyle brand. We like to make good stuff and let it speak for itself. Very soon, you might see us in the film production industry, baby.”
Ju’s casual and vibrant personality shines through as he talks about his brand, emphasizing its organic growth and quality of products. His excitement about branching into film production hints at the brand’s creative and ambitious future.
Lafayette:
“All right, so tell us about Paris. How do you like it? How are they responding to the brand?”
Ju:
“Paris has been amazing. It’s been a beautiful thing. I thank God for being out here for allowing me to take this risk and this opportunity. I thank my team and everything. The people responded to the brand—it’s something new for them. Usually, people like to see stuff that they’re familiar with or that they see their favorite artists wearing. So I kind of already expected that coming out here, but this was like a showroom/pop-up for us. And the way people are responding to it, they love it.”
Ju shares the positive reception in Paris, noting how the unique designs of Mingo by Domingo resonated with the locals. He highlights a particular t-shirt that garnered comparisons to the iconic “I love New York” tees, indicating a strong appreciation from Parisian customers.
Lafayette:
“So far, what have been some of your favorite moments from the pop-up?”
Ju:
“On opening night, we had an exhibit with Tommy Knowles from L.A. He had a photo exhibit with Annex Hotel, Auntie Lucy’s, and Mingo. It was a very beautiful thing. A whole lot of Toronto people came out. A lot of people from Paris came out. Another thing is the people on the street that I’ve been chilling with, man. For the past three days, I’ve been meeting a lot of locals. There are very good food spots around here. Track 119. My homie Simon runs this joint. He is a wonderful man, so meeting him in person instead of sending WhatsApp emails and all that stuff is very good.”
Ju recounts his favorite moments, focusing on the connections made and the community vibes. The opening night exhibit, the local interactions, and discovering new food spots all added to the enriching experience.
Lafayette:
“So, like the investment it took to come out here, do you recommend putting people it together?”
Ju:
“Let’s talk about it. Price. Is it worth it to come out here? If you are coming out here for ROI and need to make a gain—a man. God bless you. Do what you gotta do. If it happens, it will happen for you. But, like, I came out of here not expecting anything. I just wanted to be out here, you know, me with my friends and my family, you know, trying to make some shake, taking a risk and showing that we can do it. So it was worth it at the end of the day because this is a marketing thing for us; return on investment will always come at the end of the day. We did make some bread; we’re gonna make more. But, meeting the people and the community and just making this happen, adding this to our portfolio, was the main thing we came out here. So yes, it’s worth it. But don’t come out here with major expectations, if anything.”
Ju’s perspective on the investment and risk of attending Paris Fashion Week is grounded and insightful. He emphasizes the importance of community, marketing, and adding value to their brand portfolio rather than focusing solely on immediate financial returns.
Lafayette:
“I read in an article that you used to work with Brent Faiyez and that he’s a fan of the brand. Have you been able to link up? What is the networking like?”
Ju:
“So the homies are busy; they’re doing their own thing. They got NUWO x BBC tomorrow and had it last night. I’ve been trying to link up with the boys for the past few days. They were supposed to pull up today. We’ll probably go to see him tomorrow if not. But yeah, the homie B (Brent Faiyez), he’s been looking out. We’ve been connecting before, you know what I mean, he even blew up out of anything—just being a home-based brand and the home-based homie like that. He’s looked out for me a lot, and I really appreciate everything he’s done. Do you know what I mean?”
Ju’s connection with Brent Faiyez underscores the supportive community within the industry. Despite their busy schedules, their mutual support and respect remain strong.
Lafayette:
“We talked a bit about this, but what is Maryland/DC fashion? Do you see it coming from other places? You could see a big difference when I was coming up, but with the internet, everyone gets to see everything. Yesterday, I saw a guy out here wearing foamposites, a North Face, and a skully.”
Ju:
“They do listen to DMV rap. Niggas love Nino Pace, excuse my language. You would love all these rappers from back around the way. They love Glizzy. They still ask me how Trell is doing out here, and you know what I mean. But when it comes to fashion, I’ll say for me, growing up in the Go-Go days, checking out fit picks in the booth, seeing the motocross, activewear, the Heli, and the North Face being put together definitely influenced my style. That was kind of like my little Pinterest. One of the reasons we did this cycling jersey is that I remember a lot of us from back in the day before we found out what thrifting was and before Macklemore came in. You know me, we had a lot of cycling wear and motocross fits going, going in and out of CFE, La Pearl’s, and all that.”
Ju reflects on the distinct fashion influences from Maryland and DC, highlighting the local music scene, Go-Go culture, and the unique mix of activewear and thrifted items that shaped his style and brand.
Lafayette:
“We appreciate you. You want to say any last words. Talk to the people.”
Ju:
“I know I be rapping, but God is good, man. You know, put all your trust in him. You make plans. He laughs because he knows what’s better for you. Follow the page. MingobyDomingo by the Instagram. TikTok. Our website is Mingo008.com. Find some good stuff on there. I hope to see you at one of our events. Easy!”
Ju’s closing words are a testament to his faith, gratitude, and passion driving Mingo by Domingo. As he continues to expand his brand’s horizons, it’s clear that his journey is fueled by genuine connections, creativity, and an unwavering belief in the power of community.
