Visual Artist and Streetwear Designer Chrisarah Johnson Speaks On Her Fashion Inspirations.

Visual Artist and Streetwear Designer Chrisarah Johnson Speaks On Her Fashion Inspirations, Her Love for Art, Growing Up in Pittsburgh, Good Days Brand, and Her Plans for 2021.

Chrisarah Johnson

One of my goals for TLNYC for 2021 was to connect with a lot more independently-owned fashion brands and designers. The reason being we understand that there’s a tremendous amount of grind and hustle that comes with creating your own brand, regardless of what that brand may be. However, I believe it takes a lot of guts to go out on a limb and create a tangible product that fits into everyday life like a clothing company. My admiration for those who constantly find new ways to come up with different ideas and tell stories through garments runs deep. This is the reason why I wanted to connect with Pittsburgh-native, Chrisarah Johnson.

Good Days Brand is the streetwear company Chrisarah founded, which is inspired by a painting she created that she wanted to turn into a business. That particular painting was called Many Faced God, a demonstration that represents the multiple faces we as people need to wear in today’s society to survive. “We’re living in wild times,” Chrisarah says. “But these are the times when people are intentionally choosing the face they want people to see.”

I had the chance to catch up with Chrisarah and talk about her growing streetwear company, fashion and art inspirations growing up in Pittsburgh, the legacy she wants to leave behind with her brand, and what’s next for her in 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - From my understanding, you grew up in Pittsburgh. Who and what were some of your fashion inspirations growing up in that city? How did those inspirations help mold your love for clothing?

Yes, born and raised. I’m from the southside of Pittsburgh; a neighborhood called Beltzhoover to be exact. I can’t say that I really grew up with a lot of fashion inspirations outside of my family. Growing up I used to wear my sister’s “hand me downs” a lot so I wasn’t exactly fashion-forward but my big brother used to buy me all the shoes. I had all the Jordans, Air Forces, Air Maxes, K-Swiss when they were a thing, constructs- in Pittsburgh we call them Timbs- everything lol. So he definitely opened my eyes to fashion. He was always fly- he had the Jeff Gordon bomber jacket (which is still my fav, I love it), all the jerseys, pagers, all that lol. From him, I developed an eye and love for fashion and I really gravitated to NY and DC when it came to fashion.

2 - You’re also a visual artist. What inspired you to get into art?

My dad and my late stepmom, Karen. I have always had an interest in art. I’d watch my cousin and kids at school draw; I just always thought it was so dope. To be honest I never thought I was good at art. Whenever I drew Spongebob it didn’t look like Spongebob, it looked like Doodlebob lol. When I was younger my Dad would read me books all the time. This one book in particular, “Me and Uncle Rome” was about this abstract artist- Romare Bearden. That changed my world as far as my views on art. I started expressing my interest more and my art teachers would talk to my dad. One day I came home and I had an easel in my room with a huge sketchbook, and a bin full of art supplies. I had so much that I still have some paint from that day. Karen had surprised me and went out and bought all these supplies for me and it’s just been a thing I’ve always gone back to over the years.

3 - As you got older, how were you able to outwardly express that love for both but also intertwine them?

It’s weird to say but I always kind of had a sense of who I was. I’ve always been me. So once I started viewing the world in the way I view it now everything just flowed. I believe life imitates art; to me, it’s seamless. Everything goes together not just in art and fashion but sports, music, entertainment, science. There’s a link between all of these things; it's just finding what works and what makes sense. 

4 - Talk to me about your clothing company, Good Days Brand. How did this brand come about?

Good Days Brand originally came about because I wanted to make my painting a business, but I didn’t know how to just market my painting itself. I sat on this for a year and a half. I really thought long and hard about what I wanted my clothing line to represent, what I actively represent, and how I want people to feel as they walk away from this. I feel as if my purpose has always been to make people feel good, or better than they felt before. I love to help people and make them smile. It’s literally my favorite thing to do. I wanted people to feel good about the product they’re buying. I want them to feel good while they wear it. Like, they’re in a good mood, they want to throw that sh*t on. It’s going to be Good Days. That’s how Good Days Brand came about. Make this day better than yesterday.

5 - The logo for Good Days Brand is a painting you created called Many Face God. You stated that the logo represents the many faces/hats that we wear to survive and be successful. Talk a little bit about that and what that means, especially related to the times we’re currently living in. 

I had a lot of challenges that I’ve had to overcome in my life that I felt like I had and still have to put on many faces and hats in order to preserve myself and see better days. I also understand that I do not carry that burden alone, that we all can sit here and talk about the times we have to put on a different hat or face. I’d like to think that everyone has had a job or something like it, but most of us have a life outside our job. The professional version of ourselves vs the personal version of ourselves are two different people lol. Relating to today- we’re living in wild times. But these are the times when people are intentionally choosing the face they want people to see. I don’t feel like some people are as afraid to hide behind who they are and want to be.

6 - Every brand has a message that they want to convey to their consumers and their audience. What’s Good Days message, and what sort of legacy would you like the brand to leave behind?

I want people to focus on the good. Life gets rough, life takes no prisoners, and life doesn't have favorites. We can’t get caught up in the unfortunate things that happen to us. We have to get caught on to how we react to it. That’s the difference. Good Days message remains “Make each day better than your last.” I want the legacy of Good Days to be an undefeated, unwavering, and driven force to find what makes you happy in this life and to empty yourself in it. That’s pure to me; there’s no way you won’t be happy in doing what you love. 

7 - I know you’ve been preparing for a new drop for Good Days Brand. Was this new release inspired by anything in particular? If so, what’s that?

I have a homie that only wears black and one day he was talking about me making a black logo and it gave me an idea. I had already outlined my logo because I had started playing with different concepts. After our convo, I just put the outline on a mock hoodie and used something we all say subconsciously in customer service, “Have a good day”. I used to work in customer service so that was my easy win. I love simple timeless things and that’s what I thought about when I made this. I’m all about things that make sense, and it just made sense.

8 - I know you received a grant last year on behalf of The Pittsburgh Foundation to help advance black arts in the city. Tell me what that moment meant for you?

This question caught me off guard. That’s crazy how you knew that, lol. 

So, when I originally applied for the grant, I had intended to use that money for an event that incorporated music and visual arts. That ended up not being able to happen because of COVID. So the gracious people at Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation ended up giving a selected amount of those who applied, a portion of the grant money to invest in our endeavors and to help because of COVID. Even though I was unable to produce the event as I wish I could have, that money helped me tremendously. I put every cent into Good Days. 

9 - Good Days Brand is relatively new, but you’ve gotten it up and running and have had great success thus far. What would be some words of advice to those who are looking to start their own clothing business? 

Take your time with your process. If you know someone doing something you’re interested in, reach out and ask questions. Ask questions to people you don’t know. Create those relationships. Don’t be afraid of putting yourself out there. Learn, grow, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Growing and learning don’t always look the same. That doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Don’t stop investing in yourself and your dream. That’s what I’d tell them. I sat on Good Days for a year and a half. I’m blessed for it to be received as well as it is.

10 - Tell me what your true definition of success is?

I’d have to say my true definition of success is being able to have a life that is full of love, good health, friends, family, financial freedom. Just to be genuinely happy is success to me. 

11 - What can we expect from Chrisarah Johnson and the Good Days Brand for 2021? 

Hopefully big things. I’m working on some exciting things. If all works out it’s gonna be crazy, crazy, like wild lol. I plan on having a Black History Month drop. Good Days one year anniversary is in April, I have some things for that. I designed some jerseys for a local high school and middle school basketball team that’ll be out soon, I’m super excited about that. I’m also working on some things to give back to the city, and I look forward to continuously expanding my brand beyond Pittsburgh. I’m having so much fun with this I’m going wherever Good Days takes me.