Inspiration can come from many places. For 2nd Coat founder Folarin Folayan, seeing a Porsche convertible inspired him to reimagine the classic knit polo shirt. Panels on the body were inspired by the lines of the car. The collar was removable, a playful nod to taking the top off of the sports car. This is one of the many fun ways that the emerging brand is reimagining menswear staples and merging them with more casual streetwear sensibilities.
“I still like graphic tees, but I've also always liked dressing a little more elevated at times,” says Folayan. “So, it's always been trying to find that balance between the two.”
Founded in September 2024, 2nd Coat is just barely a year old. Its name holds multiple meanings. Not only is this Folayan’s second attempt at a clothing brand, it's also meant to be like your second coat of fur. “I want people to think of the brand as an extension of themselves,” says Folayan. “You should feel a deep connection to every piece that you buy from us.”
Folayan has no formal design training. As a result, his references for all of 2nd Coat’s designs are refreshing and unconventional. Aside from his take on the polo shirt that took cues from a Porsche 911, Folayan has also flipped sweaters through galactic gradient patterns, zip cardigans channeling Greek gods, and even button-up shirts that take cues from a pattern he saw on a cocktail napkin. Every piece is something that could be the focal point of your outfit, but is still understated enough that it can live in your closet for seasons to come.
Beyond the clothes themselves, 2nd Coat has also been able to grow its community by using TikTok to its advantage. Folayan uses the brand’s official account to give followers a look at products, styling tips, and offer playful commentary on current style trends with the perfect dose of trolling weaved in. It's a great example of a young brand meeting the audience where they are and building something that feels organic.
Ahead of ComplexCon 2025, we caught up with Folayan to learn more about 2nd Coat, the exclusives it is planning to bring to Las Vegas, and more.
Check out the rest of the ComplexCon 2025 Brands to Watch here.
Is this brand your first venture in fashion?
This is my second brand. My first was a vintage-inspired graphic tee brand called Brother Bear Supply that I started in 2022. It was a lot of pop culture icons like Drake, Kanye, LeBron, Kobe, that type of stuff. It started off as a way for me to just gain experience. I couldn't get a co-op at the time for school, so I was like, “Let me just start something that I've always wanted to do,” which was to make clothes. Eventually, it was time to transition to something a little more serious.
I always wanted to transition to something like 2nd Coat, but I didn’t really have the knowledge of how to get things made. I don't really have any experience whatsoever. I used something that's simpler as a launching pad and eventually got to that place. I started 2nd Coat in September 2024.
Do you feel like part of that transition was tied to your own personal style evolution?
I would say my style has always been a balance of those two things. I still like graphic tees, but I've also always liked dressing a little more elevated at times. So, it's always been trying to find that balance between the two.
How did you initially get into fashion growing up?
My parents. They both immigrated from Nigeria, but my dad always had a very good sense of style. I would always copy what my dad was wearing. Then, I started looking at a lot of rappers. I had two older sisters and we'd have BET on [TV] all the time. I started trying to dress more like those guys. Eventually, it just became a deeper love for fashion. I would draw outfits. I would draw sneakers. I just kept getting deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole.
How would you describe your dad's outfits?
It was very much menswear, but I feel like he added his own swag to it. He didn't look like every other dad wearing jean shorts. He was wearing a lot of pleated trousers and dress shoes. He'd wear suits a lot, but when we'd go out he'd be wearing a lot of straight leg jeans, white T-shirts, and some loafers. It was kind of like Denzel Washington vibes.
Who were some of the rappers that you were looking at?
Kanye. A really big influence was Chris Brown. I'd watch his music videos and I really liked dancing, so I would try to dress like him.
How did you eventually decide you wanted to take that step and formally start a brand?
I was making a gift for my friend. I designed a graphic T-shirt for him for his favorite UFC fighter. It was really bad. It was terrible. But he loved it. I showed all my friends before I gave it to him and they were like, “Yo, you should try to do this.” So, I made a few designs and I started marketing it on Instagram with my friends. It did alright. TikTok definitely helped out a lot.
Did you take any classes or are you self taught?
I do have some experience from university courses with Photoshop, but most of it is self-taught from YouTube videos and just playing around with Photoshop.
How has it been learning that process of designing cut and sew for 2nd Coat?
I usually start off with something I want to reference. I honestly kind of disregard the limitations of what I can actually do in terms of textiles and prints. I just design what I like and what I think looks good. From there, I’ll figure out how I can make it actually happen. I'll take it to a manufacturer and they'll basically tell me, “Your idea may not be possible,” and we go back and forth to figure out how to make it possible. There's always something new.
What has been the biggest lesson you learned producing something?
I would say the first product that I ever made for 2nd Coat. It's honestly the most viral one. It was the planet sweaters. I thought you could sew the sweaters to make the gradients that I decided on. In actuality, you can't do that. You have to actually print that on a flatter knit surface so that it doesn't show the white under base when it stretches. It was basically three months of us trying that one thing out. It was stressful, but it ended up being my best product to date.
How would you describe the offering that you create for 2nd Coat?
It's menswear with very strong streetwear influences. But I like being able to keep things artistically free. I like finding the balance between being unique and having strong design references, while still being able to wear it on a day-to-day basis. I like to draw inspiration from things that people don't necessarily look at and think to draw inspiration from.
Hopefully in the next year or so, I’ll release collections of at least three pieces at a time: a pant, shirt, and a jacket.
Is there anything you haven't had a chance to create yet that you're especially eager to try and execute?
There's a long list. I really want to make a fleece jacket based on Chinese constellations. That was actually the first design I ever wrote out, but I want to make sure that I execute it correctly. I’ve been thinking about it for almost two years.
What is your favorite item that you've made so far and why?
First would be my knit sweaters just because it's the first one I made that went viral. I put a lot of effort and time into it, so obviously I really love it a lot. And then the second one would actually be the removable collar on the polo. I know other people have definitely made removable collars, but it was a lot of back and forth about making the collar work. I feel like it's one of my most engineered garments I’ve made.
You are big on TikTok. How has that helped you grow your audience?
I would say without TikTok and Instagram, I wouldn't be where I am today. I don't know how people would've found me otherwise. There's obviously been ways for people to get their name out there, but I feel like social media is the platform to really get your name out there quickly. You have to be able to execute and do it right because it is very easy for it to fall apart after one viral video.
What are some of your future goals with 2nd Coat?
I have boxes and boxes of stuff at my parents’ house right now. My first big goal is to get a space to start working out of. I really want to get into making pants. A lot of my pieces have been tops. I feel like that is a really big step for my brand. Once I'm into that, I feel like that will usher in a new era where you can see people wearing my brand from head to toe, really fitting it into their lives.
What are you bringing to ComplexCon? What do you guests’ main takeaway to be after visiting the booth at ComplexCon?
I'm going to have some of the knit jackets at ComplexCon. I'm going to have the A knits in three new colorways. I'm also going to have the beanies in five colorways. People haven't even seen the beanies yet. I'll also have the polos there. I will have a long sleeve version as well.
In terms of the main takeaway that I want people to get when they come to the booth, I want it to feel like you're stepping into someone's home. I want people to feel very welcomed when they see the pieces. And then not just to see the pieces, but meet me, chat, tell me how they found out about me. I think clothes are a part of your life, but they're not your life. So, that's what I want to treat the experience like.