Vince Jamael walks into a room with the quiet confidence of a man who has lived enough life to know two things for sure: nothing is promised, and everything is possible. He speaks with intention, laughs with humility, and creates with the kind of clarity that can only be forged from faith, discipline, and the courage to evolve.
“I’m just a man trying to figure it out,” Vince says.
“I don’t have all the answers, but I wasn’t scared to try. I wasn’t scared to follow my dreams.”
Today he is the co-founder of Never Settle, a thriving streetwear brand built with his close friend and business partner Troy Johnson but before the hoodies, the varsity jackets, the sold-out drops, and the community activations, there was just a young kid in Fayetteville, NC with a basketball and a dream.
From Fayetteville to Fashion: The Making of Vince
Growing up in Fayetteville, Vince was the definition of a student-athlete.
“Basketball and academics that was my whole world,” he says.
He was talented enough to be invited to compete in the Junior Olympics and had a future that looked like gym lights, tournament weekends, and full-court presses. But somewhere between late-night practices and early-morning lectures, the fire dimmed. College unlocked a different path.
At UNC Greensboro, the clippers became his calling card.
“I was the campus barber,” he recalls. “Going dorm to dorm, cutting everybody’s hair… and giving them fashion advice at the same time. I didn’t even know I was foreshadowing my future.”
He didn’t know it then, but barbering sharpened more than lineups it sharpened his eye for style, his instinct for business, and his ability to connect with people.
Everything he is now… started there.
New York: Where the Vision Became Real
A decade ago, Vince packed his ambition, his clippers, and his creativity, and moved to New York City the place where dreamers go to become doers.
With his co-owner Troy Johnson, he built The Standard Grooming Company, a barbershop rooted in culture, consistency, and community. Seven years later, it’s a Brooklyn staple and a sanctuary for Black men to look good, feel good, and talk real.
Then came 2020 and life pressed pause.
For the first time ever, the shop closed.
The clippers went silent.
And Vince sat in the stillness.
“It forced me to slow down,” he says.
“It made me ask: If this happens again, how will we take our message beyond these four walls?”
The answer was a single hoodie.
He wanted to create merch for the barbershop, and while searching for another way to say “The Standard,” it hit him:
“If a person is keeping a certain standard… they’re not settling.”
Never Settle was born.
That one hoodie sold out.
Then another.
Then another.
Five years later, Never Settle has 40–50+ products, from varsity jackets to hats, scarves, vests, tees, and full collections that speak to purpose, identity, and intentional living.
“It was supposed to be one drop,” Vince laughs.
“But the hoodie went crazy. That’s when we knew we had something special.”
The Power of Partnership: Troy Johnson
No story about Never Settle is complete without honoring Troy Johnson, co-owner, co-designer, and the brother who has been in lockstep with Vince since day one.
Both Vince and Troy bring sharp creative instincts to the table.
They co-design every piece, shaping the brand’s look, feel, and identity from concept to completion.
While they share the artistic vision, Vince leads many of the structural components of the business but the magic comes from their collaboration. It’s the balance of vision and execution, creativity and consistency, that powers Never Settle.
Together, they didn’t just build a brand they built a lifestyle, a mindset, and a community.
Their partnership is living proof that when Black men build with trust, humility, and shared purpose, entire worlds can rise from a single idea.
The Heart of the Brand: Love, Leadership & Legacy
Behind every idea, every sample, every new drop stands a woman Vince simply calls his greatest blessing: his wife Ribka.
“I wouldn’t be able to do half of what I do without her,” he says.
“She’s the first person who sees everything the samples, the concepts, the colors, the fit. Her feedback is invaluable.”
Their partnership is built on support, honesty, and a belief in each other’s purpose. It is quiet strength. It is everyday encouragement. It is what keeps him grounded, focused, and growing.
Community First: Never Settle in Real Life
This Year, Never Settle partnered with Rethink Food, designing a limited-edition tee where proceeds went to feeding families in need. It wasn’t a campaign it was a commitment.
“We want to keep doing more,” Vince says.
“More events, more givebacks, more impact. Sales are cool, but community… that’s the real focus.”
Which is why being part of the He Did That Marketplace matters so deeply.
“There’s something special about this one,” Vince explains.
“People don’t just show up to vibe they come with the intention to support, to connect, to be in community. That energy is unmatched.”
The marketplace isn’t just a pop-up; it’s a homecoming for creators, dreamers, and believers.
2026 and Beyond: Purpose Over Product
The future of Never Settle is rooted in service.
“More impact. More community. More ways to reach people,” Vince says.
The clothing will grow.
The brand will expand.
But the mission stays the same:
Help people live with higher standards.
Help people choose courage over comfort.
Help people never settle for less than they deserve.
Wisdom from a Man Still Becoming
For anyone dreaming of starting a clothing line, Vince keeps it real:
“Find your hero piece. Start small maybe one or two items. Most of your sales will come from a few key pieces anyway. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Find what you’re good at and lock in.”
And when it comes to walking in purpose?
His advice is simple:
“Just start. Make the early mistakes. Try, fail, learn, and keep going. Years from now, you’ll be proud you bet on yourself.”
The Legacy of Vince Jamael
Vince Jamael is more than a barber.
More than a designer.
More than a founder.
He is a man of discipline.
A man of faith.
A man who honors his roots and builds for his future.
A man unafraid to grow into greatness.
Never Settle isn’t just a brand.
It’s a reminder.
A mantra.
A movement.
A declaration that the standard is not perfection the standard is progress, purpose, and refusing to shrink in a world that needs your shine.
And through every collection, every collaboration, and every community moment, Vince and Troy are proving that the most powerful brands aren’t built on trends…
They’re built on truth.