Crooked Ink

Crooked Ink clothing. Shop Crooked Ink shirts and hoodies.

Crooked Ink’s embroidered hoodies remain to be its bestsellers.

Crooked Ink is a subsidiary of the Urban Connexion Group, a New-York based strategic consulting firm. The company started in the late 90’s as a collaboration of the late Mark Anthony Brown and David Saulters. In its early beginnings Brown was in charge of printing the shirts which tackles spoofs of the latest events in urban boroughs. He and Saulters would then sell these shirts every Saturday along 125th Street in New York.

The brand’s t-shirt designs were all the works of Brown, who drew inspiration from his immediate surroundings and translated them into clothing. After their business began to create a following the two partners often talked about taking their clothing line to the next level. However, when Brown passed away from Hodgkin’s disease in 2005, his dreams and aspirations for their business were not actualized.

Although Brown’s passing shook Saulters, he strived to keep his best friend’s dream alive. In remembrance of his friend’s death and for the sake Brown’s young child, Saulters teamed up with Urban Connexion’s MJ Gottlieb to expand their brand. It was then when Crooked Ink eventually became a clothing brand.

Saulters and Gottlieb wanted to find a new and creative design aesthetic for their new brand. After brainstorming for a couple of days, the two came up with the ingenious idea of creating shirts with political spoofs based on movies. The partners thought of stocking up thousands of blank tees which can be shipped every one and a half months. Should they come up with fresh ideas, they could readily print and distribute shirts to their eager customers.

Saulters are especially proud of his clothes’ innovative and fresh ideas. While everyone was busy selling printed hoodies, the company released embroidered hoodies under their name, which became best sellers. Another one of Crooked Ink’s bestselling merchandise is the “Republi-con” tees which, after arriving to the stores, were immediately received with warm anticipation. It came as no surprise to the partners when its sales reached the $1 million-dollar mark after just seven months in the business. By its second year, Crooked Ink managed to rake in an average of $500,000 worth of revenue monthly.

Even with all its success, Crooked Ink still remembers its original founder, Anthony Brown. In fact all of Crooked Ink’s hangtags have the inscription “R.I.P. Mark ‘MAB’ Brown” in honor of their deceased friend and business partner. Also, to this day, a portion of the company’s sales go to a fund for Brown’s family.

Trend the streets in style with Crooked Ink’s Diamonds & Clubs Jeans.

Another set of the company’s sales go to Gottlieb’s own non-profit organization, Forgotten Souls Foundation Inc. It’s the first vertical upward mobility program for the homeless and disenfranchised. Gottlieb says, “…this line has a purpose. We don’t make clothes, we make statements. We don’t look to buy a yacht, but to pay for Brown’s son’s college tuition, buy another Forgotten Souls Home, give someone else a fresh start.”

A lot of the brand’s shirts are worn by today’s biggest celebrities, actors, and musicians. Crooked Ink’s merchandise has appeared on BET’s 106th and Park and Rap City numerous times. Also celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, Master P, Chingy, Slim Thug, DJ Khaled, Wyclef Jean, Trick Daddy, Bone Thugs and Harmony, and Rick Ross have all been known to wear the brand’s clothing.

Crooked Ink merchandise is currently available at Dr. Jays, Transit, Up Against the Wall in Washington DC, Against All Odds, Fines in Virginia, and Trends in Atlanta.