Legacy Ink Part I Interview

It's My Style Show

Legacy Ink Part I Interview

Walking into the shop of Legacy Ink I was amazed at the little shop that holds so much creativity owned by Semaj Thomas and Troy Cheairs, both graduates of Middle Tennessee State University. Legacy Ink located on Church St. has been the place for two years that the graduates has done work for Cricket, Hangtime, MTSU TXMD department, Phatkaps, Chase Boys and so many more that come into the shop looking to take their brand and place it on a t-shirt for promotion. Printing screen tees at the shop it seemed only to perfect for the boys to bring to life their own t-shirt line. Lovers&Fighters “Means the balance between good and bad somewhat like the ying yang, this is reflected in a lot of our designs” Troy tells Fab Life. Learning the history and listening to how Semaj and Troy started was impressive and finally sitting down to meet the guys was an overwhelming feeling. Walking into the shop of Semaj and Troy I really didn’t know what to expect. Semaj was my first interview about the company, radiating a laidback attitude he welcomed me into the dynamics of Legacy Ink and the growth of Lovers&Fighters. Troy himself was a different story with quite a sense of humor I could tell why the two was able to link together and build success in the heart of Murfreesboro. Starting out in the dorm at Middle Tennessee State University the two created their first line/brand “Revolution Clothing” which is now Lovers&Fighters a collection of t-shirts that follows a model of “Fight for what you love and love for what you fight.” Semaj said about the t-shirt line. When asked what separates the two from each other that helped to come together to build such a successful company Troy tells Fab Life “I believe that we work good together because we trust each other and allow each person to do their own thing but keep focused on the overall goal.” Making it’s mark on events such as Naked Without Us and Café Bella Industry Wednesday’s the future of Legacy Ink and Lovers&Fighters is looking bright and with a great outlook the Men behind the brands have a very definite plan to further their companies into much success and we are pleased to get to know The Men Behind the Ink Semaj Thomas and Troy Cheairs.

 1. Tell me a little more about Legacy Ink?

(Semaj) It’s Legacyinkdesign.com you can go online for more information. It pretty much started with me and my partner and another partner Ross, we started it a couple of years ago it was pretty much based out of a basement one of my partner’s aunties in Nashville, so we started in a basement to getting our own building, pretty much a few months after we opened up and we found a building in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and we got the building we been here for 2 years.

 2. You have Legacy Ink which is your screen printing company, how do you create the concepts around each individual company’s and the organizations you have worked with?

 (Troy) We allow for customers to bring in their own designs or work with our graphics department were we can create custom designs.

3. I checked out your blog I really liked it, it shows the different designs that you have done! You’ve worked with Akpsi, Hangtime Clothing Store, you even did work with Cricket. What has been your favorite so far?

(Semaj) I would have to say doing that for Hangtime was pretty cool because we could be creative with it, as far as another client doing, we been doing stuff for Phatkaps and it has been pretty cool to coming up with concept and different things for him as well.

 (Troy) Well, I would have to say I enjoy working with all our customers and affiliates but especially I like doing collaborative projects and working with charities.

4. What is a day like here at Legacy Ink?

(Troy) It truly depends. Some days are very busy and some are very slow but it’s always something to do.

 5. Is there any company around Murfreesboro and/or its surrounding areas that you would love to design for that you haven’t had a chance to do yet?

 (Semaj) The Hundreds, they have pretty good concepts, and Johnny cupcakes he has a pretty good concept going around to. Like designing for people like that would be cool. They have pretty good following but I need to be where they’re at.

 (Troy) Yeah, I would love to work with Jack Daniels. I would love to develop and design a marketing campaign for them.

 6. So, if someone wants to come and they are looking to get graphic tees made here at Legacy Ink what do they need to come with?

 (Semaj) Pretty much they need to come in with their design, if they don’t know what they want we can offer them and get their design pretty much fixed up for them. Second if they do come in with a design it needs to at least be $300 pdi down, it can be in illustrator or Photoshop, that’s pretty much it. The color of their shirt that they would like, and what they designed.

7. What do you see in the future as a whole for Legacy Ink? Here Locally or Worldwide?

(Semaj) Worldwide it’s pretty much doing creative things, as far as helping other people start their line because it would pretty much be like doing and we have the experience, so that and helping other people develop their concept, and more than anything to get Lovers&Fighters out there.

8. I’m very impressed that two MTSU students has had such success, what advice can you give other graduating and future graduates for the future?

 (Troy) “Plan your work and work your plan!!!” and make as many useful relationships as possible.

 Tune in June 16th for Part 2 about Lovers&Fighters and how you can get your hands on a custom tee from the line!

 

By: Lakeithea Anderson