• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Minding your business: From boys to businessmen: 4 Messmer grads open clothing line, shop

Minding your business: From boys to businessmen: 4 Messmer grads open clothing line, shop

February 12, 2020 by Claudia Delgadillo 4 Comments

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

JaVaughn Porter (from left), Jamaal Hayes, Carlton LeRoy and Javonte Davis pose with friend Tai Words in their new store. The four men became friends while attending Messmer High School. (Photo provided by Gifted Clothing)

Editor’s note: “Minding your business” is a new feature that shines a spotlight on businesses and entrepreneurs in our neighborhoods. To nominate a business or a person, please comment below or send an email with the subject line “Minding your business” to info@milwaukeenns.org

Javonte Davis, Carlton LeRoy, Jamaal Hayes and JaVaughn Porter knew from the first day they met at Messmer High School that they would be friends.

And they also know they didn’t want to work traditional jobs after college.

After getting experience in their own fields, the friends decided to team up and start a business of their own.

“We don’t want to work for somebody else. We want freedom of expression. We want to be able to do what we like to do,” Davis said. “We all like clothes, I like to draw, we can put those two together and make a real business and a clothing line.”

In March 2017, the four friends launched their brand, Gifted Clothing. They recently opened their first store at 2714 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Davis, 25, started creating designs while studying at the University of Dubuque, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

LeRoy, 26, enlisted in the military after graduating from Messmer but then returned to finish his education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. He will graduate this semester with an MBA from UWM.

Hayes, 26, he earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and minored in business and communication at Holy Family College.

Porter, 25, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and received a certificate in entrepreneurship from UWM.

After graduating from Messmer, the four went their separate ways. But LeRoy made sure they all stay connected.

“LeRoy was the main one who kept in contact with everybody because he was in the military,” Davis recalled. “He made sure and would merge the calls. We would meet up at his house when he came back.”

The founders of Gifted Clothing celebrate at the recent opening of their store. (Photo provided by Gifted Clothing)

Working as a team

Porter uses his knowledge in finance; Hayes contributes his communication skills and outreach to the community; LeRoy handles business logistics and management; and Davis serves as the artist and creates the designs.

Gifted Clothing has merchandise for women and men, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps and beanies. There are various designs like the bear logo, the fake love logo and the bear reflection logo.

“The bear logo symbolizes courage,” Davis explained. “Our motto is everyone has a God-given talent. Some people don’t have the courage or even the resources to help them express that talent.”

The road to becoming entrepreneurs has been challenging, but the four have found that working together offers its own special reward.

“To have something to still be part of my degree and I’m still working towards, it speaks volumes for me,” Porter said. “Doing this right here makes me very happy and to do it with people I grew up with and I call family makes me even more. It’s like a flower blossom or a dream coming true.”

Gifted Clothing is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

In case you missed it: Minding your business: Four neighborhood coffee shops to know

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Economic Development, Harambee, Home, Neighborhoods, News, North

Avatar

About Claudia Delgadillo

Comments

  1. AvatarAfricka Pettaway says

    February 12, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    I am so proud of the four boys now men following there dreams look at you’ll now. Love them support them. Strive for more. And more will come. Proud mom Africka Pettaway. I have no regrets single mother two full time jobs to support and pay for college

    Reply
  2. AvatarAnnmanique says

    February 16, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    May God bless your business with many many years of success and growth! ?????

    Reply
  3. AvatarLueraine James says

    March 2, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    Congratulations….Blessed by the Best…I hope so much success for you guys.

    Reply
  4. AvatarGabrielle HowardBrown says

    March 7, 2020 at 9:34 pm

    Impressive. You have my support.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in