Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘I know I can’t change the world doing this, but if everyone does their small part, it makes figuring it out easier.’

East Meadow

“I always loved the idea of the fading art on clothing, like the paint cracking after 20 years of it being washed. I remember seeing Justin Bieber wearing this shirt, and it was all bleached and had this oversized look to it. I would see some people wearing pieces that were ripped up or sewn together. I wanted to experiment like that. I wanted to customize my own clothing.

“Finally, I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to go to the thrift store, and I’m going to find something and bring it back home and throw some bleach on it,’ but not randomly. I wanted to really figure out the kind of a design I wanted. And then people were like, ‘Oh my God, that’s so cool. I want one.’ My friend mentioned selling my pieces in Love and Honey [Boutique] in East Meadow. It snowballed from there.

I just love seeing my friends in the shirts. I know it means they’re supporting me, and it feels really good.

“My mom’s my bookkeeper. Both of my parents help me for pop-up shops. My dad’s handy, so he’s helped me a lot with the warehouse, too. My sister is in advertising, and my other sister’s a buyer for a fashion company, so I’ve been able to ask them things. My girlfriend and her sister are social media influencers, and they’ve always worn my clothing and modeled my stuff. They got a lot of their followers interested in my pieces, so it’s all really worked out, and I’m rolling with it!

“One of the biggest parts about the work that I love is that we’re trying to help the environment in our own small way. I know I can’t change the world doing this, but if everyone does their small part, it makes figuring it out easier. Our brand is based in recycling because all the items are already made. Might as well make use of them and give them a new life, you know?

“When I first started Korrupted Closet, my goal was to have an artist wear one of my pieces onstage. And in September of 2021, I had the great pleasure of meeting this TikTok star-turned-punk rock artist, Jxdn. He came to the Paramount in Huntington, and I was able to meet him before the show and gift him a bunch of clothes that I made for him. When he came out onstage wearing one of them, it was crazy. I think that’s the best moment I’ve had. I also just love seeing my friends in the shirts. I know it means they’re supporting me, and it feels really good.”

Interviewed by Maggie Melito

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Faces of Long Island is produced by Newsday Consumer Marketing. This content does not involve the reporting and editing staff of Newsday’s Editorial Department.