Meet Marques Jackson | Fashion Forward Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marques Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marques, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Be Me ‘Til They Bury Me was actually a part of lyrics I wrote for a mixtape I released back in 2016. I was hanging out with my good friend Emmanuel Everett. He’s a fellow creative and amazing at graphic design. When I said the lyrics out loud we both paused and it hit us, “That’s a dope motto”. Not even 20 mins later he had a rough draft for the logo and we took off from there. The phrase hits home for me because I struggled with finding my inner confidence for a long time. I felt like I never fit in. Be Me ‘Til They Bury Me is a constant reminder that I’m “cool” the way that I am and I don’t need to fit in. And I want to spread that awareness through fashion because it comes natural to me. I like to play around with different color combinations and I get compliments on my outfits from time to time. Fashion is the perfect outlet for the motto because when you look good, you feel good.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While I’m still building the notoriety of my brand, my main career is in insurance. I am currently and supervisor in the service department and looking to continue moving up in the company. After being there for almost 5 years, I’ve found consistency with achieving my goals. There are two main strengths I have that set me apart from others.

The first one would be coach-ability. I try my best to receive the feedback and implement it immediately. This also comes with perseverance. I don’t let one bad day wipe away all the progress I’ve made, and I’ve found that it sets a good example for my associates, peers, and upper management as well. As an associate, I had reached the limit for promotions within the same role, but it still took 3 tries to be hired to supervisor. So it definitely wasn’t the easiest path. The two times where I failed, I was told exactly what I needed to focus on. It hurt a little, but I didn’t sulk for long. I got right back to work and by the third time, I made sure I gave them no choice but to say yes.

The second strength I have is a natural charisma. I find that it’s effortless to make people feel at ease around me. This leads to great networking opportunities and genuine support from colleagues and friends. I have to be honest though, sometimes it’s hard to really believe in myself that much. Even when I know the facts, I still question my strengths more than I should. But that’s the point of the brand. “Be Me ‘Til They Bury Me” is something that I live out every day. I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself and to give myself grace for not being where I think I should. On the flip side, I’ve gained more confidence in knowing what I want out of life. The flashy life isn’t for me. I’m okay with my 9-5, making simple memories with my family and friends, and chilling at home playing video games. I’m not going to let anything or anyone influence into something that’s not for me. And I’m exciting to create some cool pieces for others who feel the same way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a pretty simple man. Trying new restaurants is my favorite thing to do so me and the homies are hitting Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, Urban Taco in Mockingbird Station, Spatch, Stirr, and Vidorra. For drinks/hanging out, I like to go to Hideaway on Preston, Harlowe in Deep Ellum, and Legacy Food Hall for their weekly trivia nights. I haven’t had the opportunity to do everything I find interesting yet, but there are some cool art exhibits and pop up shops for local businesses that seem to be a lot of fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to take this as an opportunity to expand on the brief shoutout in the discussion question. The designs would not be as cool without the collaborative effort between myself and Emmanuel Everett. Any time we are in the same room, great ideas just start popping up left and right. He helps bring my ideas to life and it’s just amazing how fast he can create. Even when we’re not creating he’s been supportive of the process it takes to build up a brand. I appreciate you guys for giving me an opportunity to give credit where it’s due.

Instagram: @marqjacob / @bmttbmgear

Other: Tiktok – @marqjacob

Image Credits
Clinton Carter (@shotbykc)