There are two dope pieces of Derrick Rose merch in the streets right now, and they’re made by 36-year-old South Side native Demarco Sams. He’s the CEO and designer behind the brand, Everybody Eats Apparel. Sams, who goes by “Marco,” is one of Rose’s closest friends; they grew up together.
Growing up in Chicago, Rose and Sams had a close knit group of friends. “We didn’t care who had what between us. You know what I mean? As long as I have it, you would never go without it,” Sams told The TRiiBE. That mentality would serve as the inspiration behind his brand, Everybody Eats.
The clothing line, which launched in 2016, is a cross between sports and streetwear. During the week of Rose’s retirement tour in Chicago, Sams debuted two special pieces: a hoodie and a T-shirt with Rose’s likeness and signature on the front and the words “I Am Forever Grateful” on the back.
Sams first sold the limited collection at “Derrick’s Last Game,” a ceremonial exhibition match at Simeon Career Academy featuring Rose, his oldest son PJ, students and alumni on Jan. 3. Both items are available on everybodyeatsapparel.com; the hoodie is $150 and the T-shirt is $80.
“I am forever grateful” holds a deep meaning for the friends, Sams said. Rose wrote it in the Instagram caption for a post he made in September right after announcing his retirement.
“I’m forever grateful to be able to call Derrick a brother,” Sams said about the meaning behind the phrase. “What he’s done for the game of basketball and the city, he gave everybody hope. I am forever grateful.”
Sams talked about the first time he and Rose crossed paths. It was during a youth basketball championship game when the two were no older than 9 years old. According to Sams, they were on opposing teams, and Rose got the better of him. From that moment, a lifelong friendship formed.
A self-taught artist, Sams credits his mom for his love for fashion, which started at an early age.
“Every pair of Jordans, Avirex leathers, all that type of stuff, my mama bought me this type of [stuff] in the 4th, 5th grade. So I had a love for clothes and fashion already,” he said.
His mother passed away when he was 12 years old. He then lived with his grandmother and older brother, and was responsible for dressing himself. That’s when Sams started to realize that he was a trendsetter.
“Everybody’s like, ‘Where you get this from? Where you get that from?’ [It] never made me think, like, one day you’ll have a [fashion] line,” Sams said. “It was more so that I just liked dressing myself.”
For high school, Sams went to Simeon Career Academy, alongside Rose. As teammates, they won a state championship in 2006, cementing their brotherhood. Their friendship has withstood the test of time; Sams has been by Rose’s side every step of the way during his decorated NBA career.
“It was like I was a part of that [Bulls] team to a certain extent. We all hung together,“ he said.
In 2016, when Rose was traded to the New York Knicks, Sams said that it was Rose’s buddy and teammate Joakim Noah — who also ended up with the Knicks that year — who put all eyes onto his Everybody Eats clothing line. Noah wore one of Sams’ shirts to his “Welcome to New York” press conference. Sams made the move to New York, too, seeing it as an opportunity to study fashion in one of the industry’s capitals.
As the brand continues to gain traction today, Sams plans on opening a storefront location in Chicago in the near future, with plans to carry his merch, along with Rose’s Adidas shoe line.
Sams also has plans to work with Chicago native, NBA champion and former six-time NBA All-Defensive player Tony Allen; the Memphis Grizzlies will retire his No. 9 jersey on March 15.
For fans, Sams’ latest drop will be a forever piece in their wardrobe, as it commemorates the retirement of an NBA legend.
“Always bet on yourself,” Sams told The TRiiBE. “You might not see the results as fast as you may want to see them. But just trust the process.”
The post Meet the man behind the Derrick Rose ‘I Am Forever Grateful’ merch appeared first on The TRiiBE.
