Meet Huy Nguyen of EXCD in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Huy Nguyen.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Huy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a first generation Vietnamese-American, I remember experiencing a lot of culture shock growing up. I was heavily influenced by fashion, music, and sports because I didn’t have the opportunity to play on school teams. When I picked up a skateboard in middle school it changed my life. It was the first time I knew I wanted to start a brand. I picked up a camera and start making videos, but it wasn’t until college, (2015) that I finally launched EXCD.

EXCD is an athletic streetwear brand. Our clothes are influenced by street culture and made to be worn in and out of training environments. In 2015, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was a broke college student working at Chipotle and serving tables on the weekends. I couldn’t hire a content creator, designer, or manufacturer, so I did everything myself.

It was a big learning curve teaching myself how to shoot promotional videos, make build a website, design clothes, cut vinyls, print with a heat press, find models, sponsor influencers, etc. EXCD picked up momentum and we started selling in gyms and supplement stores.

After graduating I moved to a new market, Minneapolis MN, and essentially had to start over (find new models, find other photographers, find new suppliers, etc.)

After a couple of years, our support in Minneapolis continued to grow. Six months ago, I made my 2019 goal come true and moved out of state to Arizona, a place I’ve never been to before, without knowing anyone here. Through the peaks and valleys of running a business and working at an agency 9-5, I’ve learned a lot about myself, but I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface.

My goal with EXCD is to create great products that inspire people to strive to be the best version of themselves. I want to create a movement that lives on long after I’m gone. I still have a long way to go, and a lot more to learn.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never been a smooth road. The biggest challenge is wearing all the hats. It can get overwhelming at times to make decisions without a team to bounce ideas off of. In situations like that, I lean on friends that work in a similar space whose opinions I value. At the end of the day, I’m just doing what I love, and that makes the struggles worth it.

Please tell us about your business.
EXCD is an athletic streetwear brand. Our products are made to endure intense training sessions and are influenced by skate/street culture. I’m the owner and creator of the products, design, and content. I treat everything I create (from our products to our content) like a piece of art. My goal is to create classic pieces that last long after I’m gone. The product isn’t enough though, something about it needs to connect with people, today, and 50 years from now. That’s the most important factor for me. I’m most proud of being able to have an impact on someone’s life, big, or small.

What sets EXCD apart is that we don’t follow trends. I only create products that I like. With the current state of Social Media and hundreds of clothing brands popping up, it’s hard to find an authentic brand.

My mission is inspiring people to take action in their life, to do the hard things that will give them confidence, and stay true to myself. Everything begins with the physical aspects of our lives. A lot of brands try to appeal to everyone. I think it’s easy to do. It can lead to crazy growth, but eventually, it’ll fizzle out because it isn’t authentic. In everything we do, I make sure that we stay true to our voice and style.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Releasing our first two products on our Premium Line. It took over a year to develop with our cut and sew manufacturer. Everything had to be right. Like I said, I’m just scratching the surface. I don’t spend a lot of time looking back. Onward!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.excd.us
• Email: huy@excd.us
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/excd_us and www.instagram.com/huyexcd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExceedClothingCo/

Image Credit:
Photos taken by @huyexcd

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