We have seen a lot of skateboarding and surfing inspired apparels company out on the street but rarely a basketball theme streetwear except for Rokit One that we knew of. Influenced by the hoop sport, The Sixth Grind, run by siblings Benjamin & Samuel took a step higher to produce basketball-related garments with a splash of street-style for the people.
What is The Sixth Grind all about?
It all started from a basketball training group, where the inspiration for The Sixth Grind came about – to spread the basketball spirit through the brand by creating apparels and accessories inspired by the game we all love.
We believe that are made to grind six days and a day to rest. We respect all those who put in their hard work and dedication to seek for constant improvements towards their craft.
The Sixth Grind stands for the non-stop hoopers, the firm believers of their dreams, and most importantly the individuals who represents the daily grind
Who is in the TSG team?
Coming up with this brand, it’s really a collective effort by my brother and I. From creative direction to production and finally delivery, both of us share the workload according to our strengths! We would like to thank the photographers, models, family and friends, as well as many others who supported the brand since the start to become what it is today.
What was your rationale for making TSG a basketball inspired brand?
Growing up balling around in the neighbourhood courts, we were deeply inspired by the hoop culture since young that we decided to make basketball the main element of the brand. The spirit we want to spread is the mentality of heart and hustle to perfect your craft. It is relatable to any profession, as long you keep putting in the work! Which brings us to our slogan – “Respect comes to those who grind.”
Locally made or internationally produced?
Fabrics are sourced internationally as there is a wider range of variety to satisfy consumers’ ranging needs. Here in Singapore, we do the printing, embroidery, labelling and packaging to ensure the quality before it is send out to customers.
Shoutout to @konstruktlab for the high quality prints all the time!
Has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business?
Fun fact: it was partly because of the pandemic that we started this brand! As our normal day job was affected by Covid-19 during Circuit Breaker in Singapore, we had more time on our hands. It motivated us to research and brainstorm on ideas and finally releasing the brand during Circuit Breaker itself!
However, also due to the pandemic, we are missing out on events and platforms that could set us up for a bigger audience. We are excited about how we can reach out to more people once the situation allows!
What was it like to be the “new kid” in the market?
It was an entirely new experience for us! We were lucky to learn some tips and insights from veterans who are in the local streetwear scene such as @unionstudio and @solesuperior.
With the latest collab initiated by @suavecartelmedia, along with the other brands, it was a great experience and exposure for the brand.
Bape, Diamonds and Chinatown Market has produced their own basketball, how did the “TSG Logo Ball” came about?
With the big brands in the streetwear scene releasing their own basketball, it gave us the inspiration to come out with our own edition of basketball. Creating the “TSG Ball” felt exclusive to us as we added the main colourway of the brand to the ball. Grab the ball and hoop it out on the hardcourt! If not, the ball is great for collection or display purposes too.
What are the challenges you face as a new brand?
As with all new brands, the main challenge is getting the brand known and exposed out in the market. It is constantly creating contents and products, staying up to trends that keeps the brand alive! As it is a new experience for us, it is all about trial and error in the process. It might not always be smooth but we learn and improve from the setbacks.
Any creative direction and ideas that you would like to share with us?
For brand inspiration, we constantly keep track of the latest fashion style and trends, then adjusting and adapting to the hot weather in Singapore.
Our current designs are more lifestyle based so we are looking to come out with products more suitable for sports. Also we have more accessories such as keychains, caps and stickers coming your way!
How has the local community supported your brand?
Families, friends and customers has been helpful in spreading the word, sharing our post and constantly supporting our releases! We are still looking to grow our community so we can really keep the brand going. We also hope to have more opportunities to collab with brands that share a similar vision.
Visit The Sixth Grind at:
https://www.instagram.com/thesixthgrindsg/
All images by The Sixth Grind.
Suave Cartel Media Original Series, “BEHIND THE BRAND”
suavecartelmedia.com 