The Original Reckless Gentleman

BY ADRINECE BEARD

Usually, the word ‘reckless’ doesn’t speak to lady-like or gentlemen behavior, but Anthony Hasan, Jr. says it describes him best as the bold, carefree 24-year-old he is. In his opinion, why pick one when you can be both. What started as his signature hashtag (#RecklessGentleman) on Twitter and Instagram became part of a fashion brand based in Atlanta, but the vision doesn’t stop there.

“I used to model and Reckless Gentleman was like my modeling name or brand,” Hasan explains, “and then one day I wanted to expand it and thought of the clothing brand.” Reckless Gentleman & Lady (RG&L) Clothing is a brand to not only wear but to become he explains.

Having your reckless ways but at the end of the day, you never lose who you are [in] knowing that you’re still a gentleman or lady.

He continues describing his idea of a reckless gentleman or lady as someone who speaks their mind without being disrespectful but straightforward. “It doesn’t have to be words, but it can be actions as well. For example, open the car door for your lady and smack her on the a*s,” he teases.

When asked to give celebrities who fit these descriptions he ponders a while before naming Odell Beckham, Chris Brown and later, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. “[Beckham] comes off as a bad guy but still has good intentions,” he explains, and “when Dwayne plays he’s real aggressive or reckless, but of course, he’s a gentleman.”

His friends, and family, know exactly how he feels supporting him in the days before his website launched when he sold the tees by word-ofmouth or out his car. Actually, his mom still logos the shirts herself using a heat press machine. “I had trouble finding someone who would make them. She picked up the trade. She studied the craft,” he says. “I do everything else when it comes to designs and sales and marketing.”

RG&L Clothing officially launched in April 2019 to include the website; by July, he had reached his first goal in making roughly $1,000 from sales. But he didn’t always see himself as an entrepreneur. “That’s the crazy thing about it,” he says. “Catch me three years ago, I was trying to get into the entertainment industry; acting and modeling; fashion shows here and there. I was in school too.”

I assumed he was a sales and marketing major, but he says he once thought about becoming a family and marriage counselor inspired by his single-parent upbringing. “I’m still in school right now actually. I take online classes at Atlanta Metropolitan State College,” he mentions.

Not only is he a student and entrepreneur, but he is a full-time behavior specialist for Atlanta Public Schools. “I have moments where I hype myself up just because of doing that and being in school along with owning my business. Like I’m doing the damn thing, but I’m always trying to do better,” he gloats, priding himself on work that motivates youth, especially young, black boys. “They’re in need of something; love; attention. My approach is to find out what they need. I don’t raise my voice. I talk to them. But to keep it real, along with being a [high-school football] coach too, it’s exhausting,” he vents. “The part I struggle the most [with] every day is evenly distributing my energy to each thing; because when work drains you one day, it’s truly hard to keep going and give that same energy to my business, coaching or school.”

Hasan says the one thing that keeps him going is knowing that his future is worth it as he’s always thinking of ways to expand his business. One day, he plans to add hoodies and hats to the RG&L shirt collection, a full team, open a store and possibly, turn the name Reckless Gentleman into a nonprofit program. “My brand taught me patience. I don’t want to rush it,” he says. “I’m not really worried about the competition. I’m worried about how I can grow my brand beyond ATL.”

Website: rglclothing.com

Instagram: @rglclothingbrand