Being raised by a single mother in a household with three siblings is extremely difficult no matter how you look at it. For junior Danny Flores, this same struggle became fuel for a burning passion to leave his mark in the clothing industry and a desire to not only make himself the best he possibly could, but to also motivate everyone around him to do the same.
Students might know Flores from the basketball court or from in the classroom but many don’t know about his clothing line, Prior, which he created at just the age of 14.
Flores started his brand to inspire people to try something new and to stand out. Flores identifies himself as someone who drives people to be their best selves. Being a leader comes naturally to him.
Prior, which is short for prioritize, embodies Flores’ mindset and self respect. The brand is all about prioritizing yourself and being the best version of yourself.
Prior is not only shaped around a unique style but it is also embodied around male famous influencers and athletes.
“I look up to people like Lil Yachty, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Virgil Abloh. I would describe my style as in between luxury and street wear. I really like those individual styles and I try to combine those styles for my brand,” Flores said.
Not only does Flores do a great job of combining these styles but he also feels that everyone can do the same. It can be challenging to diversify your closet. Whether it’s being scared of what people will think or not knowing what to throw on that day, Prior has an answer for all of it.
“I would say to those people to try something new and different and maybe wake up one morning and throw some clothes together to see what works. Even if it may feel uncomfortable, try it and don’t worry about what people think,” Flores said
With every minute of work comes struggle as well. Flores seems to have some magic up his sleeves because creating a clothing brand out of scratch for most people seems impossible. He has a great level of creativity, and not only has he maintained his brand but he has also balanced his other priorities.
“…I work on it everyday for a good amount of time. Balancing things like school can be hard because I work on my brand everyday but I believe for anything in life it is important to stay consistent and that is the key to my brand’s success,” Flores said.
Flores’ work goes beyond just his own craft but he also gets much recognition from his peers.
“While most people his age chase comfort, he chases growth. He understands that discipline beats motivation every single time,” junior classmate Joshua Ortiz said.
He has also inspired his family and shown them how seriously he takes his work.
“He’s the type to bet on himself when no one else will. Turns risks into rewards, losses into lessons, and ideas into reality,” Danny’s brother Javier Flores said.
It can also be challenging to continue to make a future out of something like a clothing brand. The fear that people will eventually lose interest can be intense, but Flores has no plans to stop now.
“This is something I really think I can make bigger and make an empire. This is the main reason I started my brand because I want to make this into something huge and capture people to become a part of Prior,” Flores said
