For 13-year-old Langston Howard, his love of art and creation began at an early age. He designed his first collection in his freshman year, drawing inspiration from his Pollock, the late American painter Jackson.

The work continues, culminating in Langston’s own collection of artwork, which appears on his t-shirt line, ‘The Top’.

“When he (Langston) decides to do something, he’s relentless,” said his mother, Jacqueline Howard. “It’s like going from 0 to 100 overnight.”

And according to Langston, his new clothing brand is already on its way to the “top.”

“I am currently designing pieces that will appear at New York Fashion Week 2023.

The Top, according to CEO Langston “Lambo” Howard, is a motivational clothing brand designed to inspire limitless potential in its customers. The apparel consists of athletic his leisurewear, hoodies, face masks, and baseball his caps, and boasts Langston’s original art his designs and quotes from his favorite athletes. . Since launching in March, The Top has reached over 200 households of his, and he’s already inspired two notable celebrity rappers, Baby Face Ray and Big Sean.

“When he asks how he does it, I have no clue,” his mother said at a recent Don Weekend in Detroit when Langston told Detroit native Sean Anderson, aka Big According to her, Langston’s business acumen is rapidly developing into what is best described as “fearless” and self-assured.

Langston’s mentor Sean Wilson echoes his mother’s feelings as he reflects on the encounter Big Sean and Langston shared. Wilson says that Langton’s confidence, along with his maturity, really helps him soar in the room.

“He’s wise beyond his years,” said Wilson, CEO of Southeast Michigan Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCSM). Wilson said Langston’s unique personality and professional qualities were quickly recognized when he applied to be a member of the organization’s Fashion and Merchandising His Industry Club.

According to Wilson, the fashion club is a subgroup program of a larger initiative called the Industry Club, which BGCSM created to help young people dive deeper into their passions.

Inside The Industry Club, the group now has two concentrations besides fashion: the Sports, eSports and Entertainment Industry Club and the Data, Science and Risk Management Club. Any member of her BGCSM organization over the age of 14 can apply for the program of interest. But Wilson says that even if you’re underage, there’s still a chance you’ll get into a program, just like Langston got into a fashion industry program when he was only 12.

“He’s very mature,” said Wilson. “His concept and design are also mature.”

But for Langston, other than his mother was a BGCSM officer, he couldn’t be paid in dollars because of his age. But the rewards for his work — success and a trip to the Big Apple — were definitely worth it.

And he says he follows the same procedure he uses to design his own retail items.

“I’ve always been an artist,” said the 13-year-old entrepreneur. “So we spend about a month brainstorming ideas and then sketching designs.

“Then, when the sketch is complete and we have the image we want to use in the design, we show it to our graphic designer and let them create the design through the platform.”

Once those steps were completed, one young man put the design into production, which his mother said was exactly what he did when he started the business.

“He invested the money he received on his 13th birthday in his company,” she said. According to Langston, he has recouped all of his initial investment and is even more profitable.

In February, Langston’s New York Fashion Week creations hit the professional runways. But until then, the young businessman has a new collection to release around October and is interested in adding luxury brands to his line. He wants to expand The Top so he can help inspire people.

“As time goes on, I want to expand and be able to see that others can reach the top.

Jasmin Barmore was born and raised in the city of Detroit. She covers the city’s neighborhoods and communities, driven by her passion to give voice to the voiceless. Contact her at jmbarmore@freepress.com or message her on Instagram or Twitter @bjasminmare.