Since the spring of his senior year in high school, junior Andrew Garrett has been building his fashion company, Criminally Influential, into a successful business. Andrew Garrett said the company’s motto is, “For those willing to take the next step.” He said that it encapsulates his own view of business and life.
“Life is so short that you just gotta enjoy it, and you gotta take those risks,” Andrew Garrett said. “You just gotta go for everything.”
Andrew Garrett said Criminally Influential is revving up for the launch of a new collection in September titled “All Stairs, No Elevators.” He said the phrase is meant to celebrate the value of hard work.
“Let’s say you wanna get rich, and you’re just hoping you win the lottery,” Andrew Garrett said. “But if you take the steps, it might be harder, but it’s more solid. It’s more guaranteed to get you to where you want.”
Andrew Garrett said his themed collections over the years reflect different eras of his life. He said that this personal touch is due to him being the sole designer of Criminally Influential’s clothing.
“A lot of musicians will evolve, especially rappers and country artists,” Andrew Garrett said. “It’s similar for me.”
Andrew Garrett said that his academic and entrepreneurial lives each enrich the other.
“What I’m learning in class right now helps, because a lot of what we’re getting to is more specific to marketing and social media,” Andrew Garrett said.
Andrew Garrett said he would advise other marketing majors to start their own businesses to gain early practical experience.
“Not only will it help your resume, but it’ll help you be better overall at what you’re doing,” Andrew Garrett said. “I think this right now will help me if I choose to go into the corporate world or social media.”
Andrew Garrett said that although the company is essentially a one-man show, he has partnered with the Bowling Green and Lexington locations of Remix.
Jaron Johnson, a partial owner of Greenwood Mall’s Remix branch, said his store’s partnership with Criminally Influential began two years ago. He said he had already known Andrew Garrett for his reselling business.
“Criminally Influential, when he brought it in, I liked the brand, the idea and the style that he had,” Johnson said. “We sold a lot of his clothes, restocked multiple times and we’re planning to continue selling Criminally Influential.”
Junior Corban Young said he had been friends with Andrew Garrett since the start of their freshman year. He said that Andrew Garrett will occasionally ask him for advice.
“He asks me for opinions on design sometimes, or just general business practices,” Young said. “I would say he values my opinion.”
Addison Garrett, a freshman and Andrew Garrett’s sister, said her brother has always been a motivated person.
“I am really proud of him,” Addison Garrett said. “I’ve seen how hard he worked, and his dedication to making sure everything’s delivered right. I think he just wants the best for everybody else.”
Kenzie Jessup is a professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the Gordon Ford College of Business. She said she first met Andrew Garrett as a student in her management course last semester.
“Andrew was always a funny guy, but he was never afraid to raise his hand, never afraid to engage or ask questions and learn more,” Jessup said.
Jessup said that she encouraged her class to attend a Bowling Green small business expo to form connections with the local community. She said Andrew Garrett was the only one of her students to appear.
“I was so proud of him. That might have been outside of his comfort zone. He came anyway,” Jessup said. “We do big business in Bowling Green. I think the more that we encourage our students to branch out and meet people, the better it’s gonna be for them.”
Andrew Garrett said that his next collection will most likely center around standing up against hate.