Get out your notepad for this pod because there are some serious GEMS being dropped for any creatives or entrepreneurs out there to scoop up.
BlackLeaf and PackGods sit down with the ultimate power couple taking the streetwear industry by storm, Jason and Mandee Bence, founders of Broken Promises. Jason and Mandee take us on their own wildly interesting journeys to finding each other, falling in love, and creating Broken Promises from the ground up together while also modeling on the side, because why not?
Jason (@jasonpromises), Broken Promises co-founder, dives deep into his sordid criminal history, background in cooking with legends like Guy Fieri and Michael Voltaggio, creating a rap duo with his twin brother, Sean (co-founder of Your Highness,) as well as trying his hand at the weed industry before ultimately stumbling into fashion.
Mandee Bence (@mandeebence) is the real secret weapon of this episode, y’all. You’re going to be on the edge of your seat the entire time Mandee recollects her beginnings at art school to landing her first job at a skate shop with THE Dom DeLuca aka @brooklyndom, and then moving on to higher-level creative roles at places like Vans, and NuEra.
Beyond their crazy stories, these two get into the nitty-gritty of how exactly they created Broken Promises, got it into Zumiez, and onto the backs of celebrities like Post Malone and Rubi Rose. They also give vital advice on building your first portfolio, establishing connections via LinkedIn and social with buyers, and faking it until you make it in the most masterful way possible.
Jason and Mandee are the perfect yin and yang of the most extroverted guy in the room combined with the quiet killer in the corner; both making moves at an alarming rate. Together, they’ve been able to scale Broken Promises to the level that they just did a collab with Mattel’s Hot Wheels. A feat that seems nearly impossible considering they’re a couple who run the entire operation without any other internal members. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to own and operate a company that rakes in millions with a staff of two—sit down and tune the f*ck in.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.