The Faces Behind: Justin DeCambre

It is clear to see that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unprecedented amount of support for small businesses. This in turn inspired many to start their own small business. Such is the case with the subject of this article, Justin DeCambre. Justin DeCambre is a sophomore Information Systems major and the CEO of his clothing brand DoubleMs.

Born in New York, DeCambre started his sales career early. During his childhood, he would often find himself accompanying his grandfather at a shipping company. This time with his grandfather gave him the opportunity to engage with people and witness the shipping part of the production process. During high school, he gained more sales experience by reselling sneakers; however, by senior year DeCambre found himself looking for his next move. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to throw caution to the wind and pursue his passion to create his brand DoubleMs. 

DeCambre established his company in New York and proudly claims his roots within his brand. DoubleMs designs are heavily influenced by the New York streetwear scene, as seen in its baggy silhouettes, dynamic fonts, and minimalistic details. DeCambre’s intentionality with the image of his personal style and brand is apparent in his merchandise. In an interview with the CEO, he emphasized his strive for originality with unwavering optimism.

“I just want to make things people have never seen before.” He stated in the interview. Although inspired by streetwear fashion titans like Virgil Abloh, DeCambre intends to create his own seat at the table. Priding himself on his unique designs he aims to provide customers with exclusive clothing. 

Howard’s impact on DoubleMs is a slightly mixed bag. Attending Howard allowed DeCambre to establish connections, sell his product, and promote his business. However, he did suffer a setback in his business when he reallocated his focus to his coursework. Fortunately, he recovered from the dip and now closely associates Howard with his success. When asked about his definition of success he responded “Walking out of class and seeing people on the yard wearing my brand.” He went on to express how witnessing Howard students supporting his company on campus, on social media, and anywhere else felt like reaching a milestone. Howard houses much of the target audience of his company and thus makes up a large part of his customer base. 

When discussing his business, the word failure does not appear in DeCambre’s vocabulary. Within the interview, he emphatically described his plan to ascend to the top of the fashion industry with admiral optimism. DeCambre, through hard work, a positive mindset, and talent, intends to grow his business beyond his current comprehension.