Back in 2014, the Peas & Carrots International crew parted ways on good terms, each stepping confidently into their own lane. From that transition, Carrots by Anwar Carrots emerge as a fully fledge streetwear label.
Today, the brand has collaborated with global roster of creatives and retailers, from Verdy, Babylon, and Ageless Galaxy to Tell Your Children, Puma, K-Swiss, Crocs and LRG, to name few.
We had the opportunity to speak with the man himself, uncovering deeper insights into his journey and the story behind cultivating the Carrots brand.
Hey Anwar, hope all is well on your end! I recently came across an article mentioning that your nickname “Anwar Carrot” dates back to your high school days. Would you care to share the story behind it?
I’ve always been drawn to brand names that just sound right, like LRG and Crooks & Castles. I grew up in Florida, known for its oranges, and the colors green and orange were everywhere, from the environment to my school, where the Miami Hurricanes’ colors were the same. Also my dreads. In the end, the name came together naturally, it was just a reflection during my high school years.
Before launching Carrots in 2015, you were part of a collective and brand called Peas & Carrots International. What led to the shift?
To be honest, I wasn’t planning anything at the time, I was just in survival mode. There were differences within the crew, and Peas had started doing his own thing. I remember going to a Married To The Mob pop-up at the Toyota Scion space in LA, Clot was there, and Hood By Air had a pop-up too. They suggested, “Let’s do a Peas & Carrots here.” But I had already stepped away from that project, so I thought, why not start something new?
That’s really how it came about. In March 2015, we launched Carrots.
Around 2015, we saw the rise and what many called the comeback of streetwear and sneaker culture. Did that timing coincide with Carrots’ breakthrough?
I was never thinking about it. It just happened to be that period of time. As time goes by we were gaining more momentum, I would say we were already doing things in 2012 and the restart in 2015 was just a pivoting and adapting to where the of culture was going. I was grinding and doing my stuffs without even realizing that era was the time streetwear was back on the rise. I was too focus on my stuffs that I didn’t even realized.
It’s been eleven years since you launched Carrots, now a brand recognized by streetwear enthusiasts around the world. Do you feel the vision you had at the start of your journey has come to fruition?
I was low-key upset because it wasn’t how I pictured things playing out, but at the same time, I was like, fuck it, let’s go.
My vision for the brand wasn’t even fully formed. It was more like whatever I could put the Carrots name on, I’d make sure it looked right. I’ve always felt like I’m here to provide something, to be of service, rather than just trying to look cool.
Still, it was kind of scary. And now, looking back and realizing how much it’s grown, it’s like, wow… I’ve really done a lot.
America has a massive market, with thousands of creatives and brands releasing new work every day. How did you navigate that landscape and rise above the competition to be where you are today?
I’m a fan of the game. I appreciate whatever people put out. I love it, and it inspires me. At the same time, I know who I am. I know what my design language looks like, and I stick to it. I don’t switch up, and I don’t let what I see distract me from what I’m doing.
If I see someone creating something dope, I’ll say it, that shit’s dope. And if it’s not for me, I just keep doing what I do. It doesn’t shake me or throw me off. Everyone’s running their own race, and I respect that. If it’s working for them, I’m glad.
Let’s talk about some of the collaborations, including the PUMA Suede XL and the accompanying apparel. What sparked the partnership?
In 2014, I got my first shot with Puma, my first-ever collaboration with my name on it, back when we were still Peas & Carrots. They had actually been watching how we ran our business. Then, years later about 12 years, the same person from Puma came back around, and we ended up partnering again.
You’ve previously collaborated with Asian counterparts like VERDY (Japan, Tellyourchildren (Singapore), DBTK (Philippines), and Ageless Galaxy (Indonesia). How important is it for you to build partnerships across different parts of the world?
My education in streetwear really came from Japanese street culture. The world is massive, it’s never a small world. That’s why I used to call my brand Peas & Carrots International—not nationally known, but internationally known. Whenever I traveled, I made it a point to tap in, not to chase fame, but to be recognized globally and respected locally. That’s always been important to me.
If we never really had money, we’ll built everything on a kind of barter system, trading creativity, art, and style. It taught me a lot. Being able to learn from different places around the world is something I value deeply. I’m grateful that people so far away connect with what I do and actually listen.
Last year, K-Swiss announced that you would be the new Creative Director for the K-Swiss Racquet Club (KSRC) line. How it all happened?
In 2018, we collaborated with K-Swiss on the Classic 66 “Made in Japan.” I already knew how iconic that silhouette was in Japan, so the project felt like a real connection, blending culture, nostalgia, and modernism.
Around that time, K-Swiss had brought back some of the original leadership, and one of them, the president, invited me to a sales meeting. I knew I wasn’t there by accident. I was in the middle of a Puma rollout, and he understood the timing.
So I looked at him and said, “What do you need from me?”
He laughed “You get it, don’t you? We need a creative director.”
It was that simple. And I was like, “Sign me up.”
What’s next for Carrots?
I’ve got two drops coming with K-Swiss, along with my Spring collection, introducing Onions by Anwar Carrots, another vegetable joining the family. Right now, I’m thinking about how far I can plant these seeds and what the harvest might look like.
There’s always someone just starting out and trying to put their work out there. What advice would you give them?
Face your fears, man. Don’t wait until tomorrow, start now. Stop running from what scares you.
Images courtesy of Anwar Carrots
Interview with Anwar Carrots by Yoji Afura
A Suave Cartel Media original series “SPEAKING WITH”
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