Meet Terrance Diggs | Founder and Creative Director of D17

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terrance Diggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terrance, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
At the end of my career, internally I want to feel content and know I created beautiful products to my fullest ability with the skills that I have. Being a designer of course I’d love to see the world and be spotted at every fashion show with the latest pieces. Out just completing “side quests” but the end goal for me is to become a college professor at some point. I’d love to work with students on how to create products, businesses, marketing, or digital media. My career went from graphic design, to marketing, to starting a business. Multiple hats with different skills and processes that you need to learn to be successful. I’ve worked on marketing campaigns for brands like ASICS, Denim Tears, Chelsea FC, and KITH which to some could seem like a dream. I’d love to show students how to position themselves to get into these spaces and properly execute. Basically like what the late Virgil Abloh did at the Harvard University School of Design except we can learn from each other one semester at a time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
For anyone that’s just getting to know me, my name is Terrance and I am the Founder and Creative Director of D17. We are a streetwear and sportstyle brand that focuses on three things; athletics, design, and community. We strive to create opportunity through sport. Right now we are servicing the soccer players, runners, and hopefully the pickleball community. Currently we are focused on running and further growing our run club. We have over 170 members across the globe and I’m excited to release our second full running collection alongside event activations for new and experienced runners to see what D17 is really about. We will be working with national organizations and brands that are looking to really make a defining impact in the running industry for runners of color.

Was it easy? No. Will I keep going? Yes. One huge lesson that I’ve learned is to always be curious and open. When I first began creating D17, I didn’t think about designing soccer kits. I didn’t think about doing running gear. Over time, I felt these routes were aligned with D17 and our mission to serve these athletes. Sports has always been the basis of the brand and how can we use the platform to bring that joy to others. Alongside cool exclusive apparel.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As I’ve mentioned before I’m a sports guy but I like to keep it calm and I like to shop. After coming out of the airport and settling down, I think I would start the first day getting a Pub Sub and chilling at the beach. I’m talking about a huge Boar’s Head Ultimate Sub and enjoying the water. Being from up north, you rarely see water this clear so I’d have to let the boys experience that. We’d go to GRAILS and enjoy some drinks before heading over to the Design District. For the creative friends we can stop into the ICA while the others walk around and see all the beautiful storefronts.

I love the KITH store there so we have to grab some new sneakers and watch people leaving with their giant shiny logo bags. I’m a die-heart Heat fan so we’d go down to a game at the Kaseya Center and finish the night at Area 31. It’s amazing to see the city at night for all those Instagram worthy photos to let everyone back home. I’m in Miami.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are always a few people and things that deserve a shoutout. I’d give a shoutout to all the organizations that took a chance with D17 for advancing our position in the sports space. From our soccer sponsorships, running organizations, professional teams, and community leaders. Shoutout to the Bowie Baysox for being the first professional team we collaborated with. Also shoutout to the book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Which I borrowed from my old supervisor that I need to give back, I didn’t forget). If you’re creative, please give this a read. It’s filled with wisdom and a unique perspective about creativity. Basically you have to chase those ideas. There’s a unique balance between life, reality, dreams, and how you can remain fulfilled in your own process. Don’t feel like “someone is going to steal your idea”. Claim it as yours and get started.

Finally, if you’re out here doing your own thing. Give a shoutout to yourself because it is HARD. There are so many times I can remember asking myself… Why in the world did I sign up to be an entrepreneur? Why did I decide to become a runner??? If I didn’t take a chance on myself, who knows where I’d be. All I know is, I tried. What’s uncool about trying?

Website: https://www.d17terrance.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d17terrance/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/d17terrance

Other: https://d17clothing.com/

Image Credits
Headshot taken by Janelle Murphy