Dedication To Fashion
By HOPE DIMICK | Photos by AARON PATTON
Mark Lozada’s journey into the fashion industry began with a simple hustle in high school: tie-dyeing socks and selling them between classes. Little did he know that this small venture would ignite a passionate full-time career.
Fast forward to the present, and Mark has transformed his love of fashion into the brand Young Bag Getters (YBG). It’s now a thriving business in Wichita that breathes new life into vintage and discarded materials.
“What I basically do now is take a lot of vintage, old blankets and quilts, that people would throw away or don’t use, and I rework them and bring them back to life,” Mark said.
PASSION & INSPIRATION
His journey was not without challenges. Mark’s inspiration came from Peder Cho, owner of the brand Utopia, who had transformed a jersey into a pair of shorts with a hefty $500 price tag. Mark knew he couldn’t afford it, so he took matters into his own hands.
“I decided to go out, buy a sewing machine, and reworked some jerseys I already had at home. It just started from there,” he said.
The hustle was real, but Mark’s drive is what pushed him forward. The balance between passion and hard work became apparent as he navigated pop-up markets and gradually built a following for YBG.
“It started out as a passion, and then people kept saying, ‘I think you should do more and more.’ Then it started to become a hustle because I have to live off of it, too,” Mark said.
One of the biggest challenges YBG faced was growing the brand while staying consistent.
“Getting recognized, growing, and being consistent was tough,” said Mark. “Also, finding my niche and target audience and adjusting to what they wanted from me was a learning process.”
FUELED BY ENCOURAGEMENT
Pop-up markets played a significant role in YBG’s journey. It was through these events that Mark was able to connect with his audience and showcase his one-of-a-kind creations. People were very receptive to the pieces Mark had created and were always looking for more. The positive reception and encouragement from his customers fueled his motivation.
YBG was featured in the ICT Fashion Tour and even hosted its own fashion show at Chain Link Art Gallery in Wichita, further establishing its presence within the fashion scene.
“The consumers of my product, they want more, so I gave them more. I do it all for the people that support me,” he said.
Mark credits The Garages, a retail incubator program, for recognizing the potential in his style and providing tools to help his business thrive.
“The Garages program definitely helped me get into my first brick-and-mortar building. That was about three months ago at Revolutsia,” he said.
CARVING A FASHION NICHE
Mark’s new storefront, YBG Studios, located at 600 E. Douglas Ave, is a testament to his vision and work ethic. The space is shared with Two:AM Fits, which focuses on vintage pieces. Together, the two businesses offer a unique blend of reworked and vintage fashion. The store has also partnered with Knockout Sneaker Boutique, which specializes in selling new and used shoes and operates on a buy, sell and trade model in Wichita.
“We noticed how people would put all of our things together and build a whole outfit. And we’re like, ‘Man, this would be cool if we just expanded and made it bigger, officially,’” Mark said.
Mark’s journey is defined by a genuine desire to make a difference in people’s lives. From dyeing socks in high school to creating one-of-a-kind fashion pieces from vintage materials, Mark and YBG have carved a niche for themselves in Wichita. Their story proves that with determination and creativity, anything is possible.
