unnnamed

Words From Jeremie

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:56:15 GMT

My Friend Jeremie

You really can’t judge a book by its cover. Not that I tried to—but still, you can’t.

I met Jeremie on a summer day in August. We were seated next to each other on a Greyhound bus, both clearly in our own worlds. I’d already been traveling for over ten hours and had no interest in conversation, especially not with a stranger.

We didn’t speak at all at first.

At one of the rest stops, his card wasn’t working at the vending machine. He asked me a quick question about it. I ended up tapping my card and buying him a drink.

When we got back on the bus, that’s when the conversation started.

I learned that Jeremie is from the Congo. French is his first language. There was a bit of a language barrier, but it didn’t slow us down. We talked for a few hours—about life in the Congo, entrepreneurship, school, America, ambition, discipline. The kind of conversation that doesn’t feel forced, it just unfolds.

What stood out to me was how similarly we think.

We’re both drawn to business, to building something of our own. He’s started a YouTube channel. He shares ideas, quotes, reflections. Naturally, I told him we should create something together and let serendipity do what it does best.

I asked Jeremie a few questions and told him to speak in the language he feels most comfortable in. What came out of those responses was depth. Perspective. Honesty. A quiet kind of inspiration.

Jeremie’s journey—from leaving the Congo, to building a life in Canada, to finding his voice through ideas and discipline—is powerful. Not because it’s loud, but because it’s real.

What you’ll hear here are excerpts from my friend Jeremie, spoken in his own words. If you don’t speak French, I’ve included English transcriptions alongside them.

Take your time with it.

Some things are better listened to slowly.

We are the stories we tell ourselves

"Nous sommes les histoires que nous nous racontons"

Good Habits Shape Great Men

"Les bonnes habitudes forgent le grand homme"

Man In The Arena (Photo Series | Using Setty App)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:50:04 GMT

mad house on madison

Edited using Polaroid, Film Grain 2, and Date 2

Chicago sky 2021 champs

Edited using Palm

nba playoffs bulls vs bucks

Edited using 1995 Filter

The Larry O'brien

Edited using Daytrip & Sparkle effect

America's Past Time

Edited using Timeless, Contrast, Shadow, and Dust 4

The 6ix

Edited using Hepburn

Edited using Natural

The Never-Ending Rebrand (Voice Notes From Jordan)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 23:51:04 GMT

Featuring: Jordan

I asked my friend and former coworker, Jordan, to share her perspective on rebranding, reinvention, and creative growth through a series of voice notes. You can follow her journey on TikTok: @lifethroughjordan

The Neverending Rebrand of life and business

You should rebrand yourself and your business as many times as you need to until it feels right. You probably won’t get it right on the first try, or even the second, third, or fifth. But keep going until you find your lane.

Branding isn’t just about how things look. It’s who you are at your core—how you sound, the kind of content you create, the problems you choose to solve, what you stand for. All of it matters. So the odds of getting it perfect on the first go are slim.

I’ve worked with a lot of brands in different industries, and too often they hold on to branding that stopped working years ago. They follow the same old playbook, even when it’s clear it no longer fits.

People get tired of seeing the same thing in the same way. The spark that drew them in fades out if you don’t evolve. That’s just human nature.

So let your brand breathe. Let it grow and shift. The same goes for yourself. Be dynamic. Be layered. The best type of people to be around are those that are in a constant state of iteration, and discovery.

Question for Jordan — When did you first realize that reinvention wasn’t a detour but part of the process? How do you know when it’s time to let go of one version of yourself to make space for another?

'Niche' may be smaller than you think it is

I used to think finding a niche meant choosing a category. Something specific, but still full of others trying to do the same thing. But that’s not really niche. That’s a crowd.

Real niche is personal. It lives in your lived experience, your taste, your perspective. That’s what makes you different.

Once you embrace that, your work becomes harder to copy. You’re not just another name in the space—you’re the only one who can do what you do the way you do it.

Question for Jordan — How has your understanding of “niche” changed over time? Was there a moment when you realized that being yourself was more powerful than fitting into a box? How does that mindset show up in what you’re creating now?

When It Clicks

There’s a moment when things start to align. You stop second-guessing. You stop looking over your shoulder. You move with confidence.

That moment doesn’t mean you’ve arrived. It just means the direction feels right.

But clarity isn’t permanent. Life shifts. New responsibilities, new risks. So you check in again. You pivot if needed. You keep going. That’s what growth looks like.

Question for Jordan — Have you had a moment where it clicked — where you felt aligned and clear on your path? What did that feel like? And do you believe that kind of clarity is something we find once… or keep rediscovering?

Let It Be Hard to Explain

We’ve been taught to make things simple and easy to explain. But that can water down what makes something truly unique.

When people can sum you up too quickly, they also start comparing you. They’ll miss the details, the layers, the essence of your work.

The brands people remember are the ones that make them say, “You just have to see it.” They aren’t always neat or easily boxed in—and that’s a good thing.

Don’t aim to be digestible. Aim to be complex. Aim for richness. For depth. For work that has to be experienced for it to be understood.

Question for Jordan — Have you ever struggled with trying to be “understood” or easy to explain to others? What happened when you finally let go of that and embraced the fact that your work might be layered, or even hard to label? How has that liberated your creativity?

Sometimes, No Words Are Better (Playlist)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:14:07 GMT

The Thinker’s Soundtrack

Sometimes I just need music that doesn’t talk back. No lyrics. Just something that lets me breathe and think clearly. That’s what this playlist is. Songs that leave room for your own thoughts.

10 Years Later: 312 Apparel Co.

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:47:10 GMT

10 Years Later: 312 Apparel Co.

I had the idea to start a business in my dorm room. That idea eventually became a "clothing line" — which was really just dropshipping t-shirts under the name 312 Apparel Co. It wasn't perfect, but it was mine. So I took it and ran with it.

At 20 years old, I already knew I had the ability to design, edit video, build websites — I’d been doing that since 4th or 5th grade. And since I was a business/marketing major, launching something of my own just made perfect sense. So I started that same night.

And while building it over the years, I fell in love with the process. My thinking was: even if it didn’t “work,” I’d walk away with real skills and a college degree. And that’s exactly what happened. When the brand went dormant, I was working professionally and freelancing — applying everything I’d taught myself.

But I always knew I wasn’t done. I just stepped away to complete a necessary part of the process. Now I’m back — with more clarity than ever on where I want to take the brand.

Back in 2014, 2015, even when I rebranded to UNNNAMED in 2016, I was still figuring things out. I used the brand as a vehicle to explore different sides of the work. Now, ironically, that’s exactly what this platform is again — a space to showcase the creative process from different angles. A full-circle moment.

What the Name Meant to me Then vs Now

Back then, 312 Apparel Co. was about where I came from. As a kid from Chicago going to school out of state, it was my way of bringing home with me — of holding onto my identity in a place that felt far from it.

I eventually rebranded for two main reasons:

I couldn’t trademark the name
I always knew I didn’t want to limit myself to just apparel.

T-shirts were just a way to showcase artwork and tell stories through design. I was into a lot of things, but I never wanted to enter the fashion industry — and that’s where it seemed to be heading. So I became UNNNAMED.

Originally, it was The Unnamed Collective — made up of three parts:

The Store, where you could shop apparel
The Movement, home to written work
The Artistry, a space for indie artists and filmmakers

Trying to manage and build three websites stalled me out. Life was happening, and I needed time to digest what it all meant — and how to consolidate it into one cohesive brand.

Now it’s just UNNNAMED — with an extra “n” to represent the nᵗʰ power: infinite potential. We can be anything, without having to define it. We’re a creative entity. Not one thing. Many things.

Like I said before — it’s a vehicle. And you don’t buy a car to drive to one specific place. You buy it so you can go wherever you want.

What I’d tell my 20 y/o self

"Keep creating. No matter how hard life gets, no matter what job you take, no matter who's with you or not — just keep going. And go at it intensely. This is your life’s work. You don't have to rush, but always be building. You break through by not stopping. Never stop networking. Never stop learning."

I’ve always known these things — they’re not foreign to me. But when you're young, you don’t always have that internal confidence that everything will work out the way you hope it will. Because of that, you don’t always go all in. But that’s exactly when you’re supposed to.

So I’d tell my younger self: Attack it. Hard. Don’t let up. Opportunities go around — someone has to catch them. And showing up is half the battle.

Creating With Friends

Some of my best memories came from creating with friends. And I knew it in the moment too — I remember thinking, these are the days you’re gonna look back on and smile.

Everybody was happy to support the brand and wear the merch. It had that real grassroots feel.

And we didn’t need a fancy team — just a camera borrowed from the university and a few product samples. We’d shoot a hundred photos and find the best ones. I still do that today. We couldn’t afford to hire anyone, so it was all built on friendship.

One of the greatest moments was renting a van and driving cross-country to a convention in California. That had always been a dream of mine. In 2016, I made it happen. Got a credit card, rented a van, and drove 26 hours with my boys to Long Beach.

It was my first time really seeing the world — we stopped in Denver, hit Vegas, drove through Utah. Just wide-eyed, full of ambition, and the open road ahead.

Those were the days. And while I reflect on them fondly, I’m even more excited for what’s to come. This isn’t just a reflection. It’s a reminder of why I started — and why I’ll never stop.

#312ApparelCo
#UNNNAMED

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: The Painter From the Plane

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:33:29 GMT

The Painter From the Plane

On a flight a while back, I had a conversation with someone who turned out to be an artist. We were just talking about our work — no deep backstories, no oversharing, just that creative energy you recognize in someone else.

We followed each other on social media afterwards, and that’s when I started seeing her artwork and it got my attention because it was so different. Her approach was so unique that it prompted me to reach out and share some of her work in a journal entry.

Her Art, Her Way

What intrigued me the most about her creativity was how raw and untamed it felt. It wasn’t about galleries or selling pieces. Her entire world became the canvas. Her bedroom walls, the ceiling — even the inside of her car — were painted in her style. Not neat or polished, just honest.

That’s art. It's not confined. Not traditional. Not asking for permission. Just doing it your way. Loudly and freely.

It reminded me that being a creator doesn’t always look how people expect. And that’s the beauty of it.

Using art to free yourself

Not everyone creates to be famous or for monetary gain. Some people create because it keeps them sane. Because it helps them breathe. Because when the world gets heavy or overwhelming, art becomes a way to lighten the load.

For some it’s about escape. It’s about control in a world that often feels uncontrollable. When you’re making something, you’re the one setting the rules. You decide the colors, the shapes, the meaning. That kind of freedom is rare, and for a lot of people, it's healing.

Art becomes a safe space. A place to express the stuff you don’t always have words for. A place to let go, to process, and to reflect.

Hear directly From the Artist

All artwork and photos courtesy of Maddie A.
Follow her work and creative journey on Instagram: @angelickittyxx

Dear, Chicago | Pt. 2 City Nights (Photo Series)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:19:45 GMT

city nights

lakefront views

birds eye view

madhouse on madison

independence day

Tool Talk: Using Esti Pro for Creatives

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:17:08 GMT

Esti Pro for Creatives: Worth It or Not?

I’m always testing tools that help me keep the work moving and the visuals fresh. Lately, I’ve been playing with this photo and video editing app called Esti — specifically the Pro version — and wanted to drop a quick review for other creatives out there who care about how things look, but also care about how easy it is to get there.

This isn’t sponsored. Just something I tried and liked enough to share.

The main Features of the app

1. Templates & Collages
Esti’s got a bunch of templates that work for both photos and video clips — good if you’re building moodboards, story posts, or promo visuals. They’re clean, modern, and can help you switch up your usual layout.

The one thing that I don't like is that once you drop your media in, there’s not much wiggle room to resize or reframe

2. Filters That Feel Like 2012 IG (In a Good Way)
There’s a filter for every vibe — grainy, glowy, grungy, clean. The filters are nostalgic but not played out, and give your stuff a bit of character without feeling overdone.

3. Presets That Emulate Camera Models
This is my favorite part:

Polaroid
Super 8
VHS, DVD, iPhone 4
35mm and more

These presets give your photos that raw, tactile feel. It’s like having access to 10 cameras without owning a single one. Perfect for creating consistent mood across a brand or photo series.

4. Face + Body Tuning
I probably won’t use this much, but for people who do — it’s simple and subtle. You don’t need any Photoshop background to use it. There are sliders for everything from lips to waist to jawline. Surprisingly, the edits don’t look wild or fake unless you want them to.

Is Esti Pro Worth the price of premium?

If you’re just messing around with IG pics, you’ll survive without it. But if you’re a creative trying to build a visual identity , or if your brand needs a consistent aesthetic — the yearly membership is the move.

3-day free trial
$7/week (not ideal)
$40/year (better value)

Final Take

If your work lives online, your content should look the part. Esti makes it easy to create visuals that feel intentional without spending hours in Lightroom or Premiere. It's not perfect, but it's cool for what it is! It's a yes for me.

How I Almost "Met" Jay-Z (And What It Taught Me)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:35:10 GMT

Missed By That Much

During my trip to NYC, I almost met Jay-Z.
And I say met very loosely.

It was night 4 of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour at MetLife Stadium. The show was about to start, my girlfriend and I were still outside trying to find the right gate to access our suite seats.

Once we realized we had to go through the VIP gate, we started running. From outside, we heard the arena erupt, Beyoncé was about to hit the stage. Out of breath but relieved, we finally reached the correct entrance. That’s when the elevator attendant casually hit us with:
“You just missed Jay-Z. I just took him up.”

The way he looked — like he’d just seen a ghost — I believed him. I get it though, it's Hov. He also mentioned that he was with a large group (not surprising), so the odds of them letting strangers on the elevator were slim to none… but not zero.

Still, it got me thinking though: What would I even say if I had the chance?

Would I Be Ready If It Did Happen?

It made me check myself. Have I been showing up the way I need to? Have I been giving enough 100% days to confidently show someone like THAT what I’ve been building?

Sure, my work is good. But is it ready for that many eyeballs?

Would I freeze or stutter my words?
Or would I move with clarity and confidence?

All throughout the concert, I was sitting with that question. Getting real honest with myself. Sometimes we crave the moment, the break, the one shot that changes everything. But the truth is: sometimes we’re not ready for it yet. And getting the opportunity before you’re ready? That can set you back more than anything.

I’d Rather Build diligently Than Break Loudly

I’m not trying to blow up off of a moment I can’t even follow through on.
I want to stay down until it’s my time — and when it is, I’ll be more than ready.

I’ll have the proof, not just the pitch.
I’ll have the receipts, not just the energy.

I’ll have the work.
I don’t need to fake it or force it.
I just need to keep going.

A line from The Sopranos that always stuck with me:
“Time and patience turned the mulberry leaf to silk.”

Running my own race.

The Value of Building in Public

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:52:55 GMT

BUILDING IN PUBLIC

There’s something powerful about being open and honest about where you are in the process. Not where you want to be, but where you actually are.

Its different because so many people (and brands) are performing. They’re tweaking, curating, faking it ’til it’s marketable. I’ve always felt like the most interesting content was abstract, raw and unpolished. It invites people into the process, not just the end product.

You don’t have to pretend you’re something you’re not yet. You can just be. And that’s the part that people connect with. Because most people are in the middle too — not finished, not polished, not perfect. Just building. Just figuring it out.

KEEPING THE WORK FLOWING

The opposite of building in public is building in private. And that usually entails hoarding ideas, designs, videos, photos and never letting them see the light of day. I know because I used to do that. Still do sometimes.

That's because when you let perfectionism take the wheel, nothing moves. The creative energy gets blocked. Building in public, for me, is about keeping the pipeline open. Getting the work out. Releasing it while it’s still hot. Not waiting until it's “perfect,” because the truth is, you’re never gonna feel like it’s perfect.

REAL CONNECTION

So why do this? Why share in-progress work, rough thoughts, journal entries, playlists, visual drops, mood boards — why put all that out in the open?

Because that’s how you find your people.

The long-term payoff is connection. Community. Resonance. You start seeing who’s really on the same journey. Or maybe they’re on a whole different one, but the fight feels familiar. The ambition. The slow burn.

This whole platform is rooted in process, evolution, expression. Any other way of doing it would be off-brand and dishonest.

And nothing built on dishonesty lasts anyway.

Sights & Sounds of NYC

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:13:24 GMT

piece of home in NYC

Heard NYC had its own Bean. I didn’t go looking for it, but it was right by my hotel in Tribeca. Funny how that works.

jazz in madison square park

NYC’s loud, but not in the way you'd think. It’s alive. People blasting music on the train, performing in the parks, and no one bats an eye. It's so normal to them. I love it.

nyc lv flagship building

sitting on a park bench

pull up beloved

central park

Saxophone on one trail, guitar and vocals on the next.
Central Park’s soundtrack built in real time.

rest easy, Lil' Joe

I don't know you, but rest in peace young man. Your memory will forever be etched in this piece of concrete and in the hearts of those who knew and loved you.

UNNNAMED Mood Playlist (Vol. 1)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Tue, 20 May 2025 21:45:10 GMT

Play This When You're Building Something

These playlists are an extension of how I work — the sounds that sit in the background on late nights or early mornings.

There isn't a genre. It’s based on mood and sound. Jazz, rap, soul, trap...
Every track carries certain elements that embodies that UNNNAMED aesthetic.

Dear, Chicago | Part 1 (Photo Series)

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Fri, 16 May 2025 17:21:25 GMT

11:42 pm

GOTHAM CITY

Walking down Michigan. City felt cinematic

10:37 am

christmas lions

Saturday morning at the Art Institute.

10:24 Am
neighborhood

2:35 pm

stairway to heaven

Chicago is an architect's playground

2:52 pm

tennis court

What I Want My Work to Say, Without Saying Anything

richmarion23@gmail.com (Richard Marion) — Thu, 15 May 2025 21:26:46 GMT

It's about doing things your own way

Everything I make is a reflection of how I see the world — and how I move through it. Whether it’s branding, content, or the way I lay out text on a photo, it all ties back to one belief: doing it your own way .

I’ve had countless jobs in countless industries. All of the experience and money I’ve gained was valuable. But it never felt right — I’ve always had one foot out the door. I always returned to the idea of building something that felt like mine — something that could outlive me.

That shows up in the way I think, the way I design, and the way I’ve carefully built this platform over the years. It was never about chasing trends or getting rich quick. It was about making something that could stand on its own. Something built my way.

I want it to feel honest

When people experience my work, I want them to feel something before they figure out what it is. For client projects, that feeling is clean, elevated, intentional — like every piece, every word, every strategy was chosen for a reason. It's minimal, but it’s enough.

But with UNNNAMED — it’s different. It’s personal. It’s meant to feel like something real. Something that inspires someone to take a step toward their own thing.

I never wanted this brand to be boxed in (hence the name) — not as a marketing agency, not as a clothing or fashion line, not as some here-today-gone-tomorrow e-commerce store. I wanted it to reflect where I am in the process.

There were years I was dormant, but my website stayed active. That’s where I was in the process.

So I lean into rawness. Perfection never moved me. Realness always did

Nothing’s ever really finished

I don’t believe in final versions. Every project, every piece of content, even this journal entry — it’s just a moment in time. A snapshot of where I was mentally, creatively, and emotionally.

So what do I want my work to say without saying anything?

That you’re allowed to try. That you don’t have to wait. That your idea is enough.

unnnamed

Words From Jeremie

My Friend Jeremie

We are the stories we tell ourselves

"Nous sommes les histoires que nous nous racontons"

Good Habits Shape Great Men

"Les bonnes habitudes forgent le grand homme"

Man In The Arena (Photo Series | Using Setty App)

mad house on madison

Edited using Polaroid, Film Grain 2, and Date 2

Chicago sky 2021 champs

Edited using Palm

nba playoffs bulls vs bucks

Edited using 1995 Filter

The Larry O'brien

Edited using Daytrip & Sparkle effect

America's Past Time

Edited using Timeless, Contrast, Shadow, and Dust 4

The 6ix

Edited using Hepburn

Edited using Natural

The Never-Ending Rebrand (Voice Notes From Jordan)

Featuring: Jordan

I asked my friend and former coworker, Jordan, to share her perspective on rebranding, reinvention, and creative growth through a series of voice notes. You can follow her journey on TikTok: @lifethroughjordan

The Neverending Rebrand of life and business

Question for Jordan — When did you first realize that reinvention wasn’t a detour but part of the process? How do you know when it’s time to let go of one version of yourself to make space for another?

'Niche' may be smaller than you think it is

Question for Jordan — How has your understanding of “niche” changed over time? Was there a moment when you realized that being yourself was more powerful than fitting into a box? How does that mindset show up in what you’re creating now?

When It Clicks

Question for Jordan — Have you had a moment where it clicked — where you felt aligned and clear on your path? What did that feel like? And do you believe that kind of clarity is something we find once… or keep rediscovering?

Let It Be Hard to Explain

Question for Jordan — Have you ever struggled with trying to be “understood” or easy to explain to others? What happened when you finally let go of that and embraced the fact that your work might be layered, or even hard to label? How has that liberated your creativity?

Sometimes, No Words Are Better (Playlist)

The Thinker’s Soundtrack

10 Years Later: 312 Apparel Co.

10 Years Later: 312 Apparel Co.

What the Name Meant to me Then vs Now

What I’d tell my 20 y/o self

Creating With Friends

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: The Painter From the Plane

The Painter From the Plane

Her Art, Her Way

Using art to free yourself

Hear directly From the Artist

Dear, Chicago | Pt. 2 City Nights (Photo Series)

city nights

lakefront views

birds eye view

madhouse on madison

independence day

Tool Talk: Using Esti Pro for Creatives

Esti Pro for Creatives: Worth It or Not?

The main Features of the app

Is Esti Pro Worth the price of premium?

Final Take

How I Almost "Met" Jay-Z (And What It Taught Me)

Missed By That Much

Would I Be Ready If It Did Happen?

I’d Rather Build diligently Than Break Loudly

The Value of Building in Public

BUILDING IN PUBLIC

KEEPING THE WORK FLOWING

REAL CONNECTION

Sights & Sounds of NYC

piece of home in NYC

jazz in madison square park

nyc lv flagship building

sitting on a park bench

pull up beloved

central park

rest easy, Lil' Joe

UNNNAMED Mood Playlist (Vol. 1)

Play This When You're Building Something

Dear, Chicago | Part 1 (Photo Series)

11:42 pm

GOTHAM CITY

10:37 am

christmas lions

10:24 Am neighborhood ﻿

2:35 pm

10:24 Am
neighborhood