“I never self-proclaimed. Never said that I’m a fashion designer. It’s just designer.” An Interview With The TOMB CEO, Jalen

Recently, I sat down with Jalen, the lead designer and founder of Tomb Clothing, following his year and a half study abroad in Korea.  

It was in Korea where he found a new home – for love, for expression, for design, and for self-growth. He describes his time there with nothing but glee and a visible desire to go back.  

His clothing and design brand, Target On My Back (TOMB), launched in 2022 and has quickly skyrocketed in underground fashion circles. TOMB’s nuanced palette of hand-crafted pieces helps carve out a space in fashion that feels scarce – a mix of pure love, positivity, and high-quality craftsmanship by a designer whose goals reach far beyond the fabrics.

Just recently, TOMB handled show merch and coded stage visuals for Molly Santana’s show in Seoul. 

Marking another benchmark in the brand’s journey and showcasing Jalen’s versatility as a designer who can successfully shape and lead other design worlds like music, not just clothing.  

His latest endeavor, launched earlier this year called PROJECT TOMB 2025, invites and embeds his community directly into the brand’s creative process. From spots like designers, models, event managers, and DJs – people want to be the TOMB movement. 

TOMB, as an idea, was woven from Jalen’s desire to inject positivity back into a world he felt was turning sour – a world full of negative energies that started to pile on and build a figurative target on his back. The message of resilience and self-expression through the red fog of the world has resonated deeply with those who wear his work and support the TOMB movement. 

From being a middle-school sneaker head obsessively scrolling Flight Club in math class to leading an influential fashion brand laced with genuine intent and direction, the 21-year-old fashion phenom has curated every brick of his own world. Paving the path forward not just for TOMB, but for himself. A lesson for all of us to be conscious, aware, and curate just as much as we consume.  

This interview was paraphrased a bit and edited for clarity.  

If you could teleport, where would you go?  

Jalen: I’m going to Korea, immediately.  

Do you ever see yourself living in Korea?  

Jalen: I think I’m going to go out there once I finish school, teach English for like two years maybe. And I could get a free apartment bro. Once you have your degree you can get a job easy. As long as it’s a bachelors. I was thinking of doing that and then I can just be working on my own stuff on the side and build my brand.  

What other countries have you been too? And where else does the TOMBMAN want to travel to? 

Jalen: I’ve been to Thailand, Japan, and Korea. Korea being the country I’ve spent the most time and I would want to travel to Italy for sure. Other parts of Europe in general. I want to go to Greenland, Iceland.  

I don’t want to be confined to one place my entire life.  

After some catchup about his birthday a couple days ago, and the recent football game, we began talking about TOMB and the TOMB 2025 community project, as well as a bit of his personal backstory/design process. 

What was the spark behind TOMB’s conception? And why the name TOMB? 

Jalen: TOMB stands for Target On My Back. I started that in 2022 when there was a lot of violence in the world. Within politics, communities, I felt like it was just everywhere I looked you know. I felt like the world had a target on my back, the negativity in the world spread back to my psyche, you what I mean. 

I made the brand TOMB, to make people feel better. To make me feel better. I obviously make clothes and wear clothes to make me feel better. I want my brand to represent that. I didn’t want to create this image and feel to make me or others feel more down. 

What was Jalen wearing as a kid? Was he even into clothes?  

Jalen: I feel like middle school and up, I was pretty conscious of what I wore. It was kind of on my own that I started to be aware. It’s also because I would be reselling shoes. That’s how I made my money. That’s kind of what got me into clothes anyway. 

At that age, I was just like I want to sell some shoes. In middle school, I used to be on Flight Club like all day bro, literally scrolling through every single category during class. At the time, I could look at any pair of shoes and just know what they are. Even to this day I can still tell.  

I know you played sports in high school, was that ever an option instead of pursing design and fashion? 

Jalen: I really loved sports all my life for sure, but I knew once I got to high school that this was the last time I was going to be a part of them seriously. I knew I’m not going professional and didn’t really want to. I’m going to have all the fun I can out of this and then do something else after. That was clear to me in high school.  

Because for me it wasn’t like reality hit and I wasn’t as good as others. It’s not like I wasn’t good enough. I played QB in high school, got league awards. MVP of my league of my team. I had the physicals. But I just didn’t see myself in that. No matter the convincing that coaches and scouts tried to give me, I would always tell them that you can go watch my brothers play, I’m alright on taking this to the next level.  

Why become a fashion designer? What about fashion spoke and signaled to you that it was the best medium of expression to spread your wings. Was it always? 

Jalen: Well like you said in the question, I do venture off into a lot of other things/ not related directly back to clothing, I think that just became the most popular thing that I did. I never self-proclaimed. I’ve never said that I’m a fashion designer. It’s just designer. That’s what I would claim myself as. I think people usually assume that [I only do clothes] cause that’s just what became popular from my design work.  

Early on in your design journey, did you ever have any reluctance to say, I am a fashion designer? A subconscious way of avoiding expectations or maybe you just didn’t want to get stuck in a box. 

Jalen: No because at first, I used to not say I was anything, I would just say I’m an artist. But now, it’s like I am a designer, my degree is in design studies. Also, the reason I don’t claim myself as directly a fashion designer is kind of like what you said about not wanting to be in box. But also, I really don’t believe that’s all I want to. I’m a designer. Whatever you [people] want to assume, you can assume. But me, I design all things, you what I mean.  

Let’s talk about PROJECT TOMB. The community reception has been crazy to see. People really want to be a part of everything TOMB. How has that been for you and what are your bigger plans for the project.  

Jalen: Everyone signing up to be models, is honestly what I assumed is going to happen. I usually get the most messages about people asking about modeling. I can now just send them the signup sheet. But you know the models I chose for TOMB are specific. Really out there you know.

But other than models, the other positions, like designers for example, are working on a part of project tomb, not sure I can say just yet, but they are working on embellishments on a backpack. 42 – 53 pins on backpacks. TOMB backpacks. Hand designed pins. Around nine designers’ total. 

Me and my girlfriend have done the most. Around 20 or so designs. I have done around nine designs [for the pins], and she has done around 12. Think I’m going to stay at 43 pins total. Just imagine a backpack with a bunch of handmade pins plastered all over. There will be around 2 – 3 different backpack designs total to choose from.  

Also, PROJECT TOMB is going to be hosting and putting together some events. Why I asked for a lot of different positions on the signup sheet. The DJ’s, the event planners, etc. I want to throw a fashion show, a rave, and a fashion show rave. 3 main events. All independent of each other but connected through the TOMB identity.

How did you go about choosing the designers to collaborate with? Were you scouting them or were they recommendations from other fashion contemporaries? 

Jalen: I chose some people that I have watched. I knew them [the designers] when I wasn’t up and they weren’t up either. We were both collectively just starting out and growing together. I knew at some point we would have to do something together.   

With scouting, I scout all the time. I will literally just send it [the project tomb signup sheet] to them. Some people signed up to help because I just sent it to them. Right now, I got designers working with me from three different countries. Korea, Japan, and the States. TOMB worldwide.  

When you are designing a piece or coming up with an idea, is there a specific process/routine that you go through, is it random? And did it develop overtime? 

Jalen: I can say but I’m not sure I can say it on the air. If it’s not radio appropriate then next question, but I do have a process.  

I guess I can kind of show you [he shows me the notes app on his phone]. This is from 2024 to now. A really long list of just like design ideas so whenever something pops in my head, I just write it down and put it on the list, so I have an instant idea. Sometimes things just pop in my head from random and I get straight to designing.  

Do you take large breaks between designs or find yourself burnt out? 

Jalen: Usually, and obviously all my designs start as drafts. And points where I feel like I’ve hit a finish line for that part [almost like hitting a checkpoint in the design process] is when I can look at it and tell exactly when I need to edit it and move forward.  

What emotion do you feel is the best to design under/what emotion has brought out the best work in you?  

Jalen: I would say stress for sure. In general, for me, I try not to be stressed and I know how bad it make you feel mentally and physically. So, whenever I feel stressed, I know I need to express it and get it out of my body. I try my best to chill and do as much work as I can. Release the tension from stress through sheer work and output. 

Stress makes you work. You have got to get it out right now. Theres also different forms of stress. Theres stress from outside sources then there there’s inside stress. Each plays their part in and on you. 

I get people though that make their best stuff through sadness. They can really channel that emotion into their work and you can see it. 

Collaboration with others seems to be a key part of TOMB going forward. Is outside input like critiques from peers something you seek during the design process? 

Jalen: Nah. Not really. I usually only ask for critiques if it’s a commissioned piece. And at the end of the day, I’m my biggest critique. 

But actually now, I cant lie, sometimes I do ask my girlfriend and its different because I would never ask a previous girl in my life for any fashion or design input. But since she so talented and an a successful art student, and any form of art at this point, I trust her input a lot. It definitely helps to have someone you can bounce ideas off of that you also have the upmost trust and admiration for.  

Being in the design and creative world, I’m sure you have been around a lot of posers and bad actors who are pursuing profit rather than passion. How have you dealt with those kinds of people? Does it ever affect your drive?  

Jalen: For a little part of my life, I was like that for sure. I was a materialist to the bone. It’s hard to convince those kinds of people that money doesn’t define them. That it doesn’t matter cause to them that’s all they will ever know and that [money] will define their “cool”. I met people like that everywhere I went.  

But also at the same time, I try my best to not judge people and put any negative thought or attention into what they are doing. That’s what they choose to do at the end of day. I choose my peace and close myself off from it. Let them figure out their own path.  

As a creative in a highly competitive space, did you ever struggle with looking at others work that are close to you in notoriety/style and comparing yourself?  

Jalen: For me, you can never put anyone above yourself or like idolizing people isn’t good in my opinion. In my view, it puts them automatically above you, making you feel less than them.  

You can really do anything you want. In my past looked at others and said woah this guy did this or did that, and put myself below them but then realized later that accomplishment they got isn’t crazy at all. I can do that too. Like I’m happy for them but I can do that too. I wasn’t always like that, it is definitely a personal growth thing. takes time you know. 

I have no negative feelings towards others that are doing “better than me” because I know I can do that too you know what I’m saying. Once I truly took it upon myself to have that mindset switch, is when stuff for me really started to change for the better in my career and just as a person. Let the comparisons go man, and do you own thing. To many outside factors that you can’t control.  

Will there be a moment that you have envisioned for TOMB or for you just as a designer that will mark a “made it” feeling?  

Jalen: I have this poster in my room of this very first TOMB news that I did. It tells this fictional character that is supposed to be me. The character’s name is something like TOMBMAN. It talks about him getting popularity and notoriety and then one day just disappearing. After he disappears and some people see him every now and then and he always just asks, “why is there a target on my back”.  

I feel like as I been getting more recognition with my brand, this story that I wrote has almost manifested itself back into my life. In my recent blog post, I wrote that I wasn’t dropping any clothes next year. And it’s crazy. I was reading that poster on my wall the other day and this is insane, I did this without even doing it on purpose.  

I guess my end goal, no matter what. Is live a life where I can do what I want to do. Just keep doing that. Living. Going where I want. Being who I want.  

“If you aren’t creating you are dying.” What does that saying mean to you? 

Jalen: I think that’s just extremely true in all ways. I would say creating is like a big umbrella term in this case. Could be creating your bed, your breakfast. At the end of the day it’s just making things with a fancier name. Being present. Conscious of how you are living your day to day. If you are conscious, you are always creating a reality that is curated by what you like and want to do.    

What’s a message TOMB has for the people?  

Jalen: Try your best to not get stuck in loops. Act on every impulse that you may have that’s positive. Big key is positive. Think about any impulse you have that’s negative and why you thought of it. Reflect and be nice to yourself. Love yourself. I feel like some people don’t realize that some thoughts they might have don’t always come straight from them but that they have been influenced. I feel like you have to learn how to separate what you actually think, from what you have been told to think.  

And don’t text your ex. Don’t do that. Never do that. 

What would be your last meal? 

Jalen: Just one dark chocolate chip. One individual Hershey kisses size dark chocolate chip.