Martin Antonio Majano, Jr was born in San Francisco (the mission) in the mid-’70s, he grew up in the Bay Area until he decided to move to New York in 2000, where he finally felt like he found himself. Then in 2010, he moved to Orange County CA, where he’s made it his home for the past 10 yrs. If you’re looking for a sleek online shopping experience with curated brands, Martín has you covered at North Menswear.
He has a passion for his family, friends, cigars, music art, fashion, and motorcycles. Because of his love of motorcycles, Martín is involved with and on the planning committee of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride which occurs every year in September. The efforts of this ride help raise funds for prostate cancer research as well as bringing to light mental health awareness. All proceeds go to the Movember foundation.
We met Martin at his shop in Laguna Beach, CA, and later enjoyed the day by the beach. Check out the interview.
WHAT IS THE SOUNDTRACK OR ARTIST BEHIND YOUR MOTIVATION? There is so much music that inspires me. Latin rappers The Beatnuts are one group that is always my go-to when I want to get pumped. Watch Out Now is one of my favorite tracks as it hypes me up to continue to move forward. Don’t let the intro of “Get money, get money” fool you. For me, this just means to continue to hustle and work hard. Another Latin artist is a newly discovered MC by the name of Habit. His song “The Grit” gets me amped as the chorus states “I have a good foundation cause I came up from the concrete!”. It reminds me of where I came from to keep my humbled and grounded.
RETAILERS ACROSS ALL TIERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A CONSISTENT DECLINE IN BUSINESS THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO OPEN AND OPERATE A RETAIL BRICK AND MORTAR PRE-COVID19, DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON’T?
It’s the grit that keeps me moving forward. I’ve worked far too long for others that have had a narrow mind about business and have been so focused on archaic ideology and business models that many have failed and are going bankrupt. I’ve learned at a young age to adapt and pivot. Change is the one thing that is constant and if you resist what persists, you will be left behind.
I’ve also learned that failure is ok. Failure is a path to success. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and try new things. When it comes to retail, I love to collaborate and cross-market. My goal is to discover the next best thing.
ADVICE TO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS?
Let go of Pride and Ego. I’ve seen too many people that feel the world revolves around them. When you work collectively, you bring others up and we all succeed together.
WHY LAGUNA BEACH AND WHO IS THE NORTH MENSWEAR MUSE?
There is a mixture of muses in Laguna Beach. The modern-day renaissance man. The adrenaline junky, biker, surfer, city slicker. Think of Point Break. They have a no-limit attitude! Our muse is a chameleon. They can be put into any situation and adapt quickly. This person is all walks of life. They work hard, play hard, love life, and live it to the fullest.
Visit & Shop North Menswear and support a Latino business! If you’re in Laguna Beach, pick up your copy of Musica Roots at Zeytoon Cafe.
#Fashion #Entrepreneur #HispanicHeritageMonth
