Today we’d like to introduce you to Keysean Jenkins.
Hi Keysean, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
To God Almighty be the glory. I’m blessed to be the CEO and Founder of Dios Primero, a clothing brand that inspires and encourages all to put God first through high-quality clothing, with Scripture incorporated into each piece.
As a young child, I always had the dream of owning my own business, but I just didn’t know what kind of business I wanted to start. As I was a teenager in junior high school, I was in a business class, and the teacher at the time was very passionate about emphasizing the importance of building a good name and a positive image for yourself, and how it can benefit you just as much as a college degree. After hearing the teacher make these remarks, my mind kept wandering about how I could make a positive impact on this world. After speaking with a friend, the idea of starting a clothing brand came to mind. At that time, many others already had clothing businesses that were selling well, so I didn’t think I would succeed in that market. But my friend thought otherwise and offered encouraging words that motivated me to start a clothing business. As a child growing up, I was always taught to put God first so this was definitely something that I wanted to encourage others to do, as it is written “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). The name “God First” was already taken in the clothing industry so as I was sitting in business class the next day, I was inspired to go on a Spanish translator and type in “God First” and that’s when the name “Dios Primero” appeared and it was love at first sight!
As Dios Primero launched on December 20,2021, the mission was only “to encourage and inspire all to put God First.” That said, I started by only selling hoodies, t-shirts, and sweatpants, all made by hand, with only the name “Dios Primero the brand” placed on the clothing. As the business continued to grow, about three years later, God Almighty blessed me to receive an opportunity to have my clothing brand to be featured on a Times Square billboard. This was a major turning point for Dios Primero, as it inspired me to put forth higher-quality clothing as well as start to implement scripture into each piece of clothing. On that day, my mission changed from “encouraging and inspiring all to put God First” to “spreading the Word of God through high-quality clothing which inspires and encourages all people to seek him”.
Today, I’m blessed by God Almighty to be a senior in college with the same purpose but a different mission. I no longer want to build a name for myself as I did in high school, but I want all to look unto the Creator of all living, which is why Dios Primero is not just a clothing brand, it’s a clothing brand with a purpose to put forth high-quality clothing with Scriptures implemented into each piece that others can seek and build a relationship with the Almighty God.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been as smooth as polished glass, but by the strength of God, I’m still here. Early on, as I was making all clothing by hand, I ran into a beginner’s common mistake when it came to heat-pressing vinyl onto clothing. This mistake caused the vinyl to peel after the first or second wash, which was a very hard time for me because at that point I had sold the clothing without first test-washing it. As a result, all the customers who had purchased those clothing pieces did not receive the level of quality I desired to provide. That was difficult because I strive to put forth high-quality clothing, and I knew it could leave a negative impression on my brand.
Another huge mistake I made early on was not separating my business finances from my personal finances, which caused me to lose track of how much my business was making and made it difficult when it came to buying new things for the business, as well as growing it financially.
Along the way, there were many other smaller struggles, such as advertising and finding the right platform to market on, but I believe that, as business owners, these are things we all run into. The most important thing I learned through it all is to not view anything as a loss but as a lesson. Every challenge/struggle taught me something that has made both me and my business stronger.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As of right now, I’m a senior in college, majoring in Business Management. As a freshman, I was a Finance major with the desire to work as a financial planner or in wealth management and eventually run my own financial company. However, as I entered my junior year, I no longer wanted to work in the finance industry. Instead, my passion shifted toward running my clothing business full-time.
This inspired me to change my major from Finance to Business Management to develop a deeper understanding of business and prepare myself to one day open Dios Primero clothing stores and operate the brand full-time around the world.
Today, I’m most proud of the fact that God has given me the strength to make it this far and has given me a vision for both my life and Dios Primero. I look forward to continuing to follow His guidance as I pursue the purpose He has placed before me.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Reading the Word of God is one of the most important things to me. It allows me to grow spiritually, gain wisdom and knowledge, and know the direction I should take in life. For me, the book of Psalms is always my go-to because it provides so much wisdom, guidance, and encouragement. Many of the chapters are short, which is a nice way I can start my day or end my night. Also, from day to day, I often listen to motivational music and YouTube videos that encourage me by reminding me that there are others who may be facing the same situations I am.
Pricing:
- CLOTHING PRICES (ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE STOCK)
- Windbreaker sets: $55
- Sweatpants: $50
- Hoodies: $55
- T-shirts: $35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DPCLOTHING.ORG
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dpclothing__1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KeyseanJenkins
