Alumni spotlight: @thetrent_setter

By Taya Coates

December 10, 2020

Influencer Justin Trent Johnson talks about how his VCU experience led to making big moves.

Photo Credit: @thetrent_setter on Instagram.

Johnson is a spring 2020 graduate of VCU’s fashion merchandising program. A Portsmouth, Virginia native, Johnson’s hard work ethic led him to accomplish his dream of moving to Los Angeles post-graduation. A true jack of all trades, Johnson runs his own creative consulting agency, Accustomed 2 Style that offers styling services and photography. He also manages his Instagram, @thetrent_setter, on which he has amassed over 14 thousand followers.

Taya Coates: What drew you to a career in fashion, just in general in the beginning?

Justin Johnson: I would say I was interested in fashion all throughout middle school and elementary school. When I got to high school, I thought about pursuing fashion because I was always helping my friends pick out outfits. I was always inspired by Pharrell and different people like that in the fashion industry. So I just wanted to pursue it when I got to college.

TC: I saw that you minored in general business. How did you decide to bring it into your degree?

JJ: Well, initially, I was a business major when I first got to VCU, just because I was kind of scared to do fashion just because of what other people would think. But after my freshman year, I realized, like, I didn't want to do business, it just wasn't for me. I had to literally bring my GPA back up. That's how bad I was during my freshman year. Then I got into the School of Arts for fashion my sophomore year. So my freshman year I was a business major, then I changed it to fashion.

TC: What experiences at VCU, in the fashion program, or just VCU in general, have prepared you to be where you are now, as your own brand?

JJ: I would say being involved in the fashion program, like not just taking classes but making sure that you're doing something outside of class. For instance, I did Serene Culture and we put out fashion shows during the time that I was in school. So just being able to experience like, putting on a fashion show handling models, styling, all that gave me the, I would say, the opportunity to grow more in fashion. I started that my freshman year, like the end of my freshman year, and then we continued up to my junior year.

TC: Yeah, I definitely think getting involved is important especially now because it's all virtual. I try to get those opportunities wherever I can.

JJ: Also, I would say the classes have helped me a lot too. Computers For Fashion was one of my favorite classes.

TC: Me too; I love Ms.Cook!

JJ: Yeah, Ms.Cook was amazing. Line Development and Portfolio Development were some of my favorite classes too. That was Ms.Cook as well, so shout out to her.

TC: What is it like being a black influencer? How do you manage expectations of being an entrepreneur and influencer?

JJ: It’s a lot but I wouldn't want it any other way. I've always had a platform in a way. Being an influencer has brought me a lot of opportunities in the fashion industry because connections are very important. I feel like being an influencer and a creative definitely opened up a lot of doors for me. If you are trying to become an influencer or tap into that, I would say being consistent is very important. And making the right connections. Other than that, I feel like I always say, only pursue it if it's your passion.

TC: Is it more work than people think?

JJ: Yeah, I definitely think it is more work than people think. People think that being an influencer, you just post pictures of your outfits. But I mean, you have to really not only be creative but be able to balance all of it - balance school, balance being an influencer, and doing whatever you want to do creatively. So it takes a lot.

TC: How did you sort of divvy up your time while you were doing everything?

JJ: For instance, I made sure that I was able to incorporate what I was doing with school too. Like the fashion show and being able to join different organizations helped me creatively. So just being able to balance that. Also, don't focus too much on school, like I mean, if you really want to do something, don't let school be something that's holding you back.

TC: Yeah, I think, especially in the fashion industry, as opposed to others, like you really have to get that real-world experience. You can have an 'A' in this class, but that's not going to get you a job, you know, you have to have everything.

JJ: You have to have experience and be consistent and be able to stand out as well. Like, what are you bringing to the table that's different from everybody else?

TC: What do you think is different about your page compared to other Black influencers?

JJ: I'm inspired by colors a lot and I just like art in general. So I think my page reflects who I am as a person. I'm very particular about what I post. I feel like everything you see on my page is very organized, but in a way is still artsy because I like to incorporate a lot of different colors, and just whatever I'm inspired by.

TC: I like how you do like your color themes. I tried to do that with my feed, and it was so much work.

JJ: Oh, yeah, it takes a lot like I literally lay everything out. I take a lot of pictures in general, but I save it for the right time. Just so it'll match. Whatever I'm inspired by, whether its scenery, palm trees, or celebrities, I post to make my page fun. I want people to come on my page and keep scrolling because they like everything.

TC: Has there been an opportunity you've gotten because of your page that you're really excited about?

JJ: Well, I would say I got an internship because of my page. I wouldn't say because of my page in general, but because of reaching out and my platform and being able to make connections with people via social media. That was what was able to secure me an internship out here. So that's why I stress, make connections, reach out and use your platform because you never know who's gonna see it or what they're gonna think about your page.

TC: So I know the pictures that you take with your friends always go viral, so can you walk me through the creative process behind the scenes?

JJ: So if we're going somewhere, for instance, or having an event, we plan out what we're going to wear and what the color is. I would say it’s definitely a collaborative effort. I'm more so the one making sure everyone is together, making sure everyone is seen. If I'm not taking the picture, I'm making sure whoever is taking the picture gets the right angle and the right background. A lot goes into it. Sometimes, the ones that go viral are the ones that are unplanned. A lot of people don't know that. Obviously, the ones we planned go viral too, but a lot of the ones that have gone viral are ones that we didn't even think would.

TC: Why do you think that is?

JJ: I think because people like organic. People like not forcing it. You don't want to force it too much, but you also want to make sure what you're putting out is good.

TC: Yeah, I noticed that definitely, like you see people posting ‘make Instagram casual again,’ we're straying away from this kind of like, perfect image. Right? Do you feel a certain pressure at all to present a certain image?

JJ: I feel like sometimes you can feel a little pressure, but it's not you're not supposed to. I feel like with any social platform, Instagram, Twitter, whatever, like, it's easy to get caught up in, “Oh, I need to do this way. Oh, I'm trying to do this,” but if you're just consistent, and it's what you love to do, and that's enough in itself, everything else will fall into place. So just make sure that you actually enjoy doing what you do and that you're consistent with it.

TC: As a recent grad in this COVID world, how has moving to L.A. been?

JJ: First, it was tough. I planned to move when I first graduated in May. But the internship I initially had was canceled, so I didn't really have a plan to move out here. I kind of just said to myself, like, I don't want to stay in Virginia, I want to move before 2020 is over. So whatever I got to do for that to happen, like I'm gonna do it even if I didn't have a job or internship. I just prepared myself to save up enough, and regardless, I was moving. It just so happened that in October, I got the internship, and I literally just packed up and moved.

TC: I'm going to switch a little bit and talk about your business ‘Accustomed 2 Style.’ What has been a setback that you had to overcome?

JJ: I had the idea of creating my business since I was in high school. Then when I got to college, I really wanted to pursue it. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. I just know that I just knew that I enjoyed styling people, but I wanted to offer more than just styling. So I was, you know, really thinking of ways to set myself apart or what other things I can incorporate. Make sure that you're planning it out and having a plan, but there's always going to be setbacks. I think I procrastinated launching just because I didn't know if I would get any clients or get any people who would want to support it. But once I did, I saw how many people did then that just kept me going.

TC: How has it been adapting your business because of COVID? Are you doing virtual styling?

JJ: Right now, I've been working on my brand. I have my T-shirts, and I'm coming up with some other ideas as well. I've had a few clients here and there that I've styled virtually, but it's been kind of put on pause. Not a lot of people are trying to get styled right now. But the internship is really helping me. Incorporating what I’m learning from that into my business is what I'm working on right now.

TC: Being a black person in the fashion industry, what have you learned? How has being Black shaped your experience as you're starting your career?

JJ: I feel like it's helped me just because I feel like we all stick together in a way, and I feel like we're just creative. I just feel like having people like me supporting me, and being able to tap into my creativity with other people is what really has helped me. I feel like most of my inspiration comes from Black people and people of color. So I feel like, that's really been important in my business, and whatever I want to do.

TC: So, where did you get that sense of community from?

JJ: I would say my friends, honestly, just my friends from back home. We've always been super supportive, and we're all so talented. We bounce ideas off each other all the time. So it started with them. And then, at VCU, I was able to connect with a lot of creative people there too.

TC: That's great. Yeah, that's what I love about what our founders, Taniya and Nana, are doing with BLK In Fashion. They're trying to create this community.