Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Johnson.
Hi Joshua, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Fashion has always been my true calling. Since the age of 5, I have had a passion for fashion.
I used to love watching the women in my family get ready, the way the clothes would transform them into new people. I loved seeing their confidence and alter egos come to life as they prepared to conquer the day. As a kid, I wanted that same feeling and would dress up in their clothes, looking my best as I strutted through the house.
Once I started to get a little older, I began to take more pride in myself and pay closer attention to detail. By the time I was 8 years old, I was dressing myself for school—picking out my outfits and spending hours the night before color-coordinating which shirt went best with what shoe, and finding a good pair of pants or a jacket to tie everything together.
By the time I got into middle school and high school, I loved experimenting and trying different styles. This was the beginning of a new era for me: the era of finding my personal aesthetic.
I began thrifting more and more because I wanted to be different from everyone else in my class. I wanted pieces that only I owned. I started playing with more colors, patterns, silhouettes, and layers, heavily influenced by 90s and early-2000s fashion and pop culture. The more I experimented, the more I stepped out of my comfort zone.
By the time I was a senior in high school, I had really started building and growing into my personal aesthetic. I strived for versatility; especially as a Gemini, I love duality—being able to go from dressing like Lil’ Kim to dressing like Biggie. That duality became my aesthetic.
As a freshman in college, I began realizing that fashion and design were my true passions. I no longer wanted to study psychology; I wanted to study fashion. I began doing my own research and teaching myself about the fashion industry. After the fall semester, I had to leave school for personal reasons, but once I came back home, I promised myself that I am meant for more out of life and would build my dream life from the ground up. I decided I wanted to pursue becoming a fashion designer and curate my own fashion house. Since then, I have taught myself the basics of sewing and begun pursuing content creation to document my art and joinery to the top.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A major struggle I faced was self-doubt. Realizing you have talent is one thing, but actually acting on it can feel terrifying and intimidating. When imposter syndrome set in, taking action based purely on self-belief felt daunting—especially knowing how society subtly pushes the narrative that a creative career is “unrealistic” or “not a real job.” But we all wear clothes, don’t we?
I overcame this by continuously reassuring and reaffirming myself. I started telling myself: “I trust my perceptions,” “Creativity is the Creator’s will for me,” and “I am willing to let myself create.” Repeating these thoughts anchors me, gives me permission to move past the fear, and empowers me to act on my art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a fashion designer, stylist, and content creator, personal style is my true passion. As an emerging self-taught designer building my own fashion house, I strive to create timeless, one-of-one pieces that feel individually curated for the wearer.
Upcycling has been central to my process over the past year. A standout piece is a denim jacket titled “The Jeanist,” sculpted entirely on a mannequin using denim scraps. Crafting that asymmetrical jacket helped me push past self-doubt and reminded me why I do this. Bringing a vision to life through patchwork proved to me that I was created to create.
To complement my design work, I am currently studying online at FIT to expand into personal and editorial styling. What sets me apart through all of this is confidence and ambition. I know who I am, I love who I am, and that unwavering confidence allows me to continuously push the boundaries of my creative career
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, is all about stability and peace of mind. I consider myself successful today because I am consistently taking steps toward my vision. True success means feeling secure in your life and having the space to enjoy the journey—it’s an ongoing process that I actively cultivate every single day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuamarsons/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@joshuamarsons?si=iiw9_A4uoqYPMRWw
