Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Watson.
Hi Anthony, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The name of the brand all started when my oldest brother was incarcerated. In a letter he sent to me, he wrote on the margins “Watson By Nature.” Us being from Houston, he was heavily influenced by Assholes By Nature (ABN), a former rap group consisting of Trae Tha Truth and Z-Ro. So that’s where the phrase came from and I took that phrase “WatsonByNature” and the acronym “WBN” and ran with it. When it came to making clothes, I had the idea in high school. One day, I just thought that I was tired of buying name brand clothing when I could make my own that would incorporate my family background since I’m a CODA (Child of Deaf Adult(s)). I designed and ordered a crewneck sweater and a hoodie for myself on Spreadsheet.com and sold only one shirt to one of my older cousins. The name of my brand at the time was called “Fly By Default.” However, I had clothing on there that was personally for me and for family members who wanted to purchase it that had ‘WatsonByNature’ on it. After only selling that one shirt to my cousin, I left it alone for a while. In college, I grew the love for it again, designed a new logo and concept which incorporated more American Sign Language (ASL) than my first design did for the brand but really only wanted to make it for myself. Wearing it around campus, a lot of my friends liked my clothing and the idea behind it and wanted to support it. So I decided to start selling it and have been selling it since.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I wish, but it hasn’t. I’m a big procrastinator, so I could probably blame all of my struggles on myself. The brand is known mostly at Lamar University, my Alma mater, along with a good amount of my close friends and family members, but even then, it hasn’t taken off as much as I’d like. However, I could promote more, invest more in myself, and more, but I am taking it slow. I try not to be hard on myself and understand that great things will come in due time. I’m heavily influenced by Nipsey Hussle, so I know The Marathon Continues.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work for an agency called Empowered Hands. I’m a job skills trainer and job placement specialist. I specialize in working with Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing clients get jobs, train on the jobs, finding accommodations for them until they become well adjusted to their new workplace, just to name a few things. I’m proud of what I do because I’ve seen my parents struggle in the past when they were seeking employment, so for me to assist other people in the same boat they were in is fulfilling to me.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Peace of mind for my loved ones and myself. That’s when I can have true happiness knowing that we are all in a great state mentally.
Contact Info:
- Email: Watsonbynature@gmail.com
- Instagram: @watsonbynature
- Twitter: @watsonbynature
Image Credits
Tyrae Crayton, @RamboFilms on Instagram.
