Today we’d like to introduce you to Buddie Oladeinde.
Buddie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
UE Supply Co (the UE stands for Urban Elegance) is an Urban-Contemporary brand founded by my older brother Omar Kofi Denteh and I. Our focus is to create clothing with the intent of targeting the fashion forward young professional. We aim to do this by releasing collections that are considered to be timeless, while providing cultural inspiration with our designs.
It started at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where we were inspired by a group of students on the South Quad playing cricket. We took the time to learn more about the sport and practice with professions. Seeing how their performance gear was created, we saw a need for bridging the gap of casual and sportswear.
After graduating, we relocated the brand back to our hometown, Chicago.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth journey but with consistency, we have been able to put a dent in the fashion industry in Chicago. Starting out our fanbase did not know about Cricket or had any interest in it. So, it was difficult promoting and selling merchandise. As a result, we realized there was a need to rebrand UE. We ended up separating the brand into fractions. UE Supply Co./UE is the umbrella company that will sell Urban-Contemporary clothing that will attract the general public. However, the Cricket portion of UE will be implemented subliminally throughout each season.
Since 2014, we overcame obstacles such as: choosing the proper fabrics, manufacturers, marketing strategies, and solidifying a core clientele. These are all things small businesses must endure.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about UE Supply Co. – what should we know?
UE takes the effort to challenge our own creative abilities. We are most known for our hats that possess a recognizable logo. In addition to our hats, our jogging suits have been memorable pieces. What we are most proud of as a company is how we are able to establish a core following of loyal customers.
What sets us apart from other brands are:
1. Our product range.
Since 2014, we were able to produce tees, polos, crop top polos, oxford shirts, hats, beanies, varsity jackets, belts, jerseys, and jogging suits.
2. The exclusivity of each season/collection.
Each collection has a limited inventory. Meaning one the finite amount of products sells out, we retire that design. We do not remake our items because we want the consumer to appreciate their purchase in a world of disposable fashion. This also forces us to be creative because we can not rely on a previous project.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Omar Kofi Denteh (Founder)
Omar has been the visionary behind the inception of UE. He came up with the name UE. He is the figure of UE that has created our core following with his sales and marketing efforts in Chicago. He is experienced in cut and sewing methods along with styling.
T’Cori Lewis (Outreach Director)
T’Cori has been responsible for making contact with influential figures to push our sales such as G Herbo.
Khari Lewis (Social Media Director)
Khari is responsible for the marketing efforts that allowed us to reach crowds across the US.
Pricing:
- Tees $30
- Jogging Pants $50
- Hats $20
Contact Info:
- Website: uesupply.co
- Email: info@uesupply.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uesupplyco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UESupplyCo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/uesupplyco?lang=en
Image Credit:
Steven Green, Ashton Ty, Jim Lewis, Emmanuel Fisher
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
