From sketches in the classroom to thriving fashion brand in The Bronx
Passion comes together with profit as News 12's Heather Fordham heads to McFly Studios in Wakefield where a business coaching program is helping entrepreneurs thrive.
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A Bronx fashion designer is proving that creativity and business can go hand in hand with the right support.
What started as sketches in the back of a classroom has grown into a thriving fashion brand for Mugzy McFly, founder of Signed by McFly and owner of McFly Studios on White Plains Road in the Wakefield section of the Bronx.
McFly launched his brand in 2013 with a mission to make high-end fashion more accessible to the community he grew up in.
Today, his business has expanded beyond apparel to include shoes, socks, bags, hats and personalized styling experiences.
"One of the purposes I have been trying to fulfill is that I want to be the person I needed coming up," McFly said. "I didn't have the example in 2013 of how I wanted to be a businessman, entrepreneur or designer. I could draw in the back of the class, but where does that go now?"
His goal is to bring luxury-inspired fashion to everyday consumers at an affordable price.
"It's really hard for businesses and just everyday people," McFly said. "I kind of feel like Robin Hood sometimes. I take the luxury and the premium and bring it down and translate it, and it's more accessible and more affordable to my people."
As the company continued to grow, McFly said he realized he needed guidance on the business side of entrepreneurship, particularly when it came to cash flow, financing and long-term growth.
That's when he connected with Akim Jones, a senior business consultant with JPMorgan Chase.
"What I hear a lot, especially in the Bronx area, is access to capital, and a lot of clients don't have the resources or know what is needed," Jones said.
Jones works with entrepreneurs through Chase's Coaching for Impact program, which connects small-business owners with business coaches, educational resources and financial guidance.
The program is free to participants and does not require them to be Chase customers. According to Chase, the initiative has helped support more than 10,000 businesses nationwide.
McFly says the coaching helped him better understand how to manage and grow his company.
"He helped me understand how I'd be more efficient," McFly said. "You don't need to be spending on this. You should lean on this. You should be in these avenues and even understanding how to get money, working capital, cash flow and everything in between."
The program typically lasts four to six months, but Jones says the support does not end there.
"We provide clients with marketing workshops, professional photos and a great networking experience," Jones said.
For McFly, success is about more than creating fashion. He hopes his journey can inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs while showing how access to the right resources can help turn a creative passion into a sustainable business.
"It's important for people to see somebody from their community doing it," McFly said. "If I can be that example, then that's part of the mission."
Rebuilding the Bronx is News 12's ongoing series highlighting organizations, businesses and community leaders helping strengthen neighborhoods across the borough
