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Terae Warner recently launched his first sneaker design at his Not a Phase storefront in Denton, Md.
There was a line of customers when he opened the door at 3:00 pm and was sold out by 3:30 pm.
Since 2018 he has been creating and selling his own line of sports clothing. The acronym for Not A Phase (NAP) appears on most of his designs. He came up with the term when, “I was at a phase in my life where I didn't show up consistently for anything. I wanted to choose a brand that would remind me to stick with it when things got tough."
Terae creates his own designs and works with other artists to come up with designs.
He doesn't restock the same items after a season is over. That way, he says, it forces him to come up with something different.
Terae is also JV Boys Basketball Head Coach and Varsity Boys Basketball Assistant Coach at North Caroline High School. "I've seen a lot of these kids grow up and coached them in Elementary and Middle School" Terae says "I know their parents, the parents know me...it all just ties together.”
He says, "I like to make the space an experience for people. You can come in here and touch things, and see sports collectibles. It makes it more memorable, and they want to come back."
Every July, Terae hosts a community NAP day at Sharp Street Park in Denton with basketball games, vendors, and food.
"Sports are super important for kids because of the life skills it teaches you," Terea says, "you work on relationship building, how to get along with others from different environments, how to navigate through life and keep you going when you have to struggle and things are not going your way, and it can help you get into college.”
Terae plans another sneaker release by the end of the year.
