The Urban Dictionary defines washout as not being able to keep up with others who are more fashionable, experienced, or cool than you; have had your best time.
A bit harsh, right? That’s exactly what 36-year-old Josh Thomas thought when he threw the term to himself one night while out with his friends who, like him, are all proud family men.
As the regional director of nine of Amazon’s fastest-than-same-day fulfillment centers in six states, he shared that he takes time with friends and family very seriously, as he travels frequently. Realizing that his friends were in the same boat, the free-for-all chat sparked a larger conversation about what parenting is like for young black men.
“We have to make it great because it really is,” he said. “We are successful, we are healthy: We drive S 550 Benz with baby seats in the rear. We are real superheroes here.”
Thus, the idea for her clothing line was born.
WASHED Dads, an acronym for We Are Super Heroes Every Day, launched in 2019. Thomas said the apparel company’s mission is to reimagine what great dads look like in an authentic way.
“Part of why we decided to get into the apparel space is because it sparks that conversation,” she shared. “When I wear my Washed gear, every time they compliment me or ask me where I got it from.”
He says that once he shares the premise behind the brand, people would immediately buy something, which speaks to the need the brand is filling. For generations, the narrative associated with black fatherhood has been plagued by ugliness: namely, absenteeism.
Terris Todd, Program Manager, American Civil Society and Dialogue noted that in 1990, about 3.4 million black American families were headed by single mothers. By 2020, that number jumped to 4.25 million, according to a recent article published by the Statista Research Department.
Thomas said his hope with the brand is to highlight fathers who are in their children’s lives and encourage others to do the same.
“It’s not just a No. 1 cup of coffee for Dad,” he begins. “It’s like something you’ll be proud to wear with some new stuff,” she said, noting that his fans often pair Washed shirts with signature sneakers.
“There has never been anything wrong with being a family man, and we are here to prove it.”
Source: www.essence.com