Description
After almost 40 years, my dad (Jan, or Jason) is retiring his streetwear shop in Harlem.
Early hip hop celebrated individuality — it let people the world overlooked be heard, boldly and proudly. That’s where I feel that my dad nurtured his community. He listened, and somewhere along the way he became a vessel for the culture, and the store grew into something far more than a business.
What started the day he landed in Harlem became something bigger than he ever imagined, and it’s all because of the community that made it a home with him. I’m so grateful they were by his side all these years — and even more grateful he gets to carry them with him for the rest of his life.
As we grow apart from the things we once knew, it’s okay to grieve the parts of you that aren’t ours anymore. Grief and sadness aren’t things to resist — they leave space in us for new experiences, new feelings, and give us the courage to live more sincerely!
So I wanted to celebrate this next chapter of my dad’s life. Our lives are formless, and we’re here to experience them as they come. And I think it’s worth honoring the parts that carried us here.
