"I'M ALWAYS MAC WEST": The Dedication Behind the Artist & His Brand

MAC BY MAC WEST Shot by MAC West

From photography to fashion and graphic design, MAC West is a jack of all trades, mastering every lane he enters. The 25-year-old artist prides himself in blending and exploring various forms of art to reflect what matters most to him. His brand MAC by MAC West, launched in 2019 and features clothing and accessories inspired by his love for fashion and graphic design. Follow along as MAC West gives FOCUS an exclusive look into his brand and what makes him who he is.

FOCUS Magazine: How did you get your name?

MAC West: My brother gave me my name. There was a song we used to listen to called JUMP by Kris Kross, and one of the lyrics had Mac in it. I always loved that song, and every time he put it on, I’d listen to it, so he gave me the name. The ‘West’ part came from two things. 1, I like Kanye West, and 2, my brother also played a lot of West Coast rappers when we were growing up, so those things combined make me MAC West.

FM: What was the inspiration behind your brand? How did you get started & looking back, how would you describe those early stages/experiences?

MW: I wanted something that was a reflection of me and had my name. When you look at all the top designers and expensive brands, it’s always somebody’s name or last name. I wanted that. It’s a reflection of me. Saying the name of the brand gets my name out. In the early stages, I did doodles in the back of my notebooks at school. So I had the artistic ability, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it yet. Fashion has always been a huge part of my life. It would often stress me out when it didn’t even need to. Clothes were just a big thing for me.

MAC by MAC West SZN 5 Launch

FM: What was your first memory of fashion/being a designer?

MW: My earliest memory of graphic design was watching my older brother design logos for clients on his computer, and I always thought that was cool because he was the only one in my family doing it at the time. I started graphic design in 2013. I grew up in a traditional Jamaican household where being a designer wasn’t common, so to see somebody like my brother do it made me feel like I could do it too. I’m grateful for that. Doing graphic design transitioned into me making designs for my fashion brand.

FM: What is one of your favorite pieces you’ve made?

MW: Definitely this hoodie from my third season because of the quality.

FM: How do you keep yourself inspired and come up with new ideas for your designs?

MW: A lot of the time, it comes to me. I pay attention to billboard ads, and what people wear. I like to subscribe to people on YouTube who are also designers with experience. There are still moments when I doubt things or overthink. My friends also inspire me; having good people around you will always be a great help, and I’ve recently gotten big on family as I’ve gotten older. Shoutout to my friends forreal.

FM: What kinds of challenges did you face while working on your brand and passions? How did you overcome those?

MW: Definitely moving out of my comfort zone. I used to always hear people say, “If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing” I never understood it, and I thought it was crazy, but now I realize it’s so true. I hate that I have to be uncomfortable to move forward, but it’s so true. One of my obstacles was finding the best manufacturing for my clothes. There’s a lot of gatekeeping in this community, and you kind of understand it because you dont want everyone to have the same things as you. Another obstacle I overcame was putting the money down. Essentially, it’s a risk. Risks can be scary, but once you get past that, you can keep moving forward.

FM: In a previous interview with Crystalvzns Network, you spoke about knowing your worth as an artist and balancing your clientele with the amount of time you have. How did you get to the point of knowing your worth as an artist?

MW: You just have to stand on it. There will be times when business may be slow, and desperation may start to set in, but you just have to stand on it. You don’t have to jump at the first fish that bites.

FM: For anyone who hasn’t worked with you before or bought from your brand, what would you say the top 3 values are that you can guarantee will be given to a client/customer?

MW: Quality, customer service, and time. I’m open with my clients, I don’t like to play w people’s money.

FM: With all of your years as an artist what would you say the biggest lesson you’ve learned is?

MW: Take the risk! If you fail, try again. My barber randomly told me, ‘Every time you fail, you get closer.’ Another lesson is to make sure you’re doing the things you love.

FM: How do you balance self-care with your business and passions? What do you do when you aren't MAC West?

MW: I'm always MAC West. I try to take time for myself as much as I could. Either sleep in, watch TV, or maybe have a drink.

F: Where do you see yourself & your brand in the next 5 to 10 years?

MW: So I’m thinking of my journey as a plane just taking off. Everything I’m doing now is just the beginning. I’m always thinking years ahead. Where I am today is what I’ve been thinking about since high school. So in 5 years, I want to continue growing. Expand to having a warehouse, a more streamlined process of fulfilling orders. Ten years from now, I’d love to have a few employees. Have a physical store. I want MAC West to be THAT name. As soon as you type an ‘M’ in the search bar, I’ll be the first thing to pop up.

FM: What advice would you give someone who is struggling to believe in themselves or are scared to chase their passion rn?

MW: I’ve been there. I’m sure anybody whose done anything has been there. I think the number one thing is to have patience with yourself. Realize where you are in life; not everybody’s journey is the same. Two, be uncomfortable and dont let fear fault you. Dont let fear take over, It feels like a pain but its all growth. Fear is normal, but it also doesn’t exist. Love yourself, and love what you do; when you love what you do, the rest will follow. That’s all you need. Dont let anyone tell you you can’t do anything. Not your parents, friends, or online people. Sometimes your biggest supporters will be strangers.

MAC West shot by MAC West