The Beginning Of The 1991 Streetwear

When I began the journey of The 1991 clothing, it was for several reasons. Firstly, it was to create something specifically for transgender and non-binary people. Think about when people go into clothing stores and are faced with the ‘Men’ or ‘Women’ sections to choose from. I wanted to create an all-inclusive brand, with no “men’s” or “women’s” categories to navigate.

Aside from this, I’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur after studying business in college. I wanted to own my own business—one that I was proud of, but also one that others could relate to and connect with. I wanted to create something that would make an impact. I wanted to be known when I walked down the street—not for fame, but for creating something with substance, depth, and meaning.

Ironically, all these things would have terrified little Aeiko in their teens or early twenties, when anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts were a daily battle. But I’ve grown and healed a lot since then, and that growth comes from the hard work I put in behind closed doors so I could thrive when I stepped out into the world. Personal development became my mission in life —constantly reading about mental health and how I could help myself, figuring out the path to quit drinking, and finally understanding my gender identity and how I could express it. Back then, in my teens and early twenties, I didn’t think I’d ever make it this far in life. So, I guess Born Trans Clothing is also a celebration of my life and the hope I have for the future.

In the past few months, as I’ve built The 1991 clothing and delved deeper into my own journey of self-discovery, I’ve started to see a new purpose for the brand. We constantly evolve as humans—or at least, we should. I am always striving for growth, for a greater understanding of myself and the world around me. I’ve struggled to figure out what my purpose is in life, but now, with The 1991 Clothing, I feel like I’m figuring it out.

I want to share a message of hope—a hope for a better future, a hope for a life less cruel, a hope for more love and less hate in this world. This message is for the LGBTQ+ community, but also for humanity as a whole. In particular, I want to reach those who hate others—the homophobes, transphobes, racists, sexists, and so on. I believe we all deserve hope and love, and I am hopeful that we can live in a world where love, kindness, and understanding are what guide our actions and the words we speak.

I have hope that we can all live a life where love and acceptance fill our hearts, where others don't spit hateful words or physically harm others because of their own unresolved pain. Creating a clothing brand that spreads this message is just the beginning of the mission to change the world around me. As I grow, and as the clothing brand grows, we will find other ways to diversify and spread this message.

Along with the message of hope, The 1991 Clothing will also share the message of love over hate, understanding over judgment, and personal growth as a practice that should be part of every human's daily routine. It was my own personal growth journey that freed me from judgment—of myself and others—and from the hate and anger that I once carried in my heart. We all deserve to be free of these things, as otherwise they will eat away at us and destroy our lives and well-being.

I know my journey and my own life experiences will serve as a useful starting point in sharing not only the darkness that we can experience as humans but, more importantly, the light and hope that await us once we work through this darkness. It’s time for humanity to transition, so to speak—to transform into a force that values love, hope, understanding, and acceptance of others and their authentic selves.

So, my friends, I’ll end this here. Until next time, choose hope, choose love, choose to understand yourself and those around you, and act without judgment toward yourself or others.