Princeton Faure, is a local fashion designer of the brand Le Phresh. The brand will be releasing a new line of merchandise this upcoming summer season.

Faure did not always show a strong interest in fashion.  While attending high school at James Logan High School in Union City, he found himself infatuated with “Turf Dance” a popular Bay Area style of dancing.  He spent his time during lunch breaks dancing and putting on a show for the crowd.

In high school, people would call him “Fresh Prince,” and he aquatinted himself with a popular clique labeled as “Phresh Pham.”  When the clique graduated, they passed the name down to him and he has stuck with it ever since.

Faure was born in San Francisco and raised in Union City. He admits, “San Francisco made me and Union City raised me.”

Clothing designer Johnny Cupcakes played a role in inspiring Faure to start a line of his own because it gave him some clarity on how to begin a business.

“You don’t always have to follow a certain standard to do what you want to do,” Faure states.  Although he is not pursuing higher education at the moment, he says Johnny Cupcakes has taught him how to branch out in his own way in life.

Faure learned his business ethics from his mother, who owns a business of her own as a life coach for women.

“We are now The Phresh or Le Phresh. Classy, yet bold and blunt,” he says.

His French and black heritage was his motive behind changing the brand name.  Faure says the brand is currently going through the copyright process to authenticate the name.

“The best way I can describe my own style is to wear whatever I want,” Faure said.
He has always showed an interest in fashion as a child.  His father, along with his five sisters were his fashion consultants as he grew up.  “I learned my sense of style from them,” he says.

“I would like to make [the line] a nonprofit, and that’s where the youth comes in,” said Faure. “I want to open a youth center later down the line so kids can do what they want to do, like I’m doing for myself.”

His brand represents self-fulfillment. “Not being told what you have to do to get to where you want to be in life,” he said.

Faure believes that the youth are the future.  His brand motto is “Opening Opportunities” because he is willing to offer opportunities to other people and to not hold them back from their endeavors.

“I just want to be able to sell clothes for people who have nothing and that just need something to put on their back,” he said.

Faure worked at Chuck E. Cheese’s for three years. He estimates using about 75 percent of his income every two weeks from Chuck E. Cheese’s to invest in his brand.

Since starting Le Phresh in 2009 Faure says he has spent over $4,000 dollars in merchandise and supplies toward his brand.  While he has made most of the money back, he says it not enough to profit from.

While his website and online store were under construction, he was selling beanies from his bedroom, and promoting himself through Twitter.  He would coordinate times and locations to meet people to give them their merchandise.

“I was driving in the car the first time I saw someone walking around in my beanie, I lit up inside,” Faure said.

He also released a set of breast cancer awareness shirts that featured the brand name with a pink ribbon in the middle of the front of shirt.  Faure says he donated a portion of the proceeds to a Breast Cancer Awareness walk in Sept. 2013.  So far he has sold 200 pieces of clothing overall.

“You shouldn’t have to try to be different,” Faure said.  He believes that self-expression is vital and he is learning how to cater to all different shapes and sizes and personalities.

Terrell Gates, James Logan alum, believes the community loves Le Phresh. “The cool thing about Le Phresh is that it brings people together,” Gates says. “This brand is way more than just a clothing line to me.  It’s a friendship that motivates me to be the best at whatever it is I want.”

“Fashion is fast, it is hard to stay original,” Faure said.  He has learned many things about the fashion industry by starting his own brand.  “Opening opportunities with the locals so we can grow together.  That’s Le Phresh.”