Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig D. Washington.
Hi Craig D., can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started in Detroit, where I learned early that creativity could become a form of survival, identity, and purpose. I didn’t come into fashion just wanting to make clothes. I came into it wanting to build something that carried meaning. In 2017, I founded Top Notch NME as a streetwear brand, but over time it became much deeper than apparel. It became a lifestyle, a message, and a creative system rooted in legacy, self-belief, and transformation.
The name Top Notch NME represents the idea that the real enemy is not always outside of you. Sometimes it is fear, doubt, limitation, or the version of yourself you have to overcome. That mindset shaped the brand from the beginning. Every design, every symbol, and every collection has been connected to a bigger story.
As I continued growing, I expanded my work beyond fashion into books, storytelling, visual world-building, and brand education. I released books focused on streetwear and brand development, sharing what I’ve learned with other creatives who want to build something of their own. That opened another door for me as an author and allowed me to turn my experiences into tools that could help others.
Today, Top Notch NME has evolved into a full creative universe. One of the biggest updates in my journey is the expansion of Top Notch Universe, a sci-fi storytelling platform connected to fashion, Detroit culture, identity, technology, legacy, and the 2854 code. I’m currently preparing the release of Top Notch Universe Book Two: The Reflection War Volume One, which represents the next chapter of that vision.
Where I am today is the result of staying consistent, learning through every challenge, and refusing to keep my creativity in one box. I consider myself a Cultural Architect because I’m not just designing clothing. I’m building worlds, symbols, stories, and systems that connect back to real life. My goal is to show people that a brand can become more than a product. It can become a legacy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Building Top Notch NME has come with a lot of challenges, especially because I have always seen the brand as something bigger than just clothing. When you are trying to build something original, people do not always understand the vision at first. Sometimes you have to keep going before the world can catch up to what you are creating.
One of the biggest struggles has been doing the work without always having the resources, connections, or support that larger brands have. I had to learn a lot by experience design, branding, publishing, marketing, storytelling, business, and how to keep evolving without losing the purpose behind it. There were times when I had to figure things out step by step, make mistakes, correct them, and keep moving.
Another challenge has been learning how to protect the vision. When you build something personal, it is easy for people to only see the surface. They may see a shirt, a logo, or a book cover, but not always understand the years of thought, sacrifice, and meaning behind it. I had to learn not to let outside opinions control the direction of the brand.
There have also been personal challenges. Life does not stop while you are building. You still have responsibilities, family, losses, pressure, and moments where you question if people truly see what you are trying to do. But those same challenges helped shape the message behind Top Notch NME. The brand is about overcoming the enemy within doubt, fear, limitation, and anything trying to stop you from becoming who you were meant to be.
The road has been difficult, but it also gave the brand its depth. Every challenge pushed me to become more disciplined, more creative, and more intentional. I believe that is why Top Notch NME continues to grow from fashion into books, storytelling, and now Top Notch Universe Book Two: The Reflection War Volume One. The struggle became part of the architecture.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a fashion designer, author, founder, and Cultural Architect. My work centers around building Top Notch NME, a Detroit-rooted lifestyle brand that connects streetwear, storytelling, identity, legacy, and creative education. I specialize in creating pieces and projects that carry meaning beyond the surface. Whether it is apparel, books, visual art, or world-building, my goal is always to make people feel like they are part of something bigger than a product.
Top Notch NME started as a clothing brand, but it has grown into a full creative ecosystem. I’m known for combining fashion with symbolism, coded messages, luxury streetwear, and storytelling. The 2854 code is a major part of that world. It represents transformation, legacy, foundation, and the idea of becoming more than what people expect from you.
I’m also an author. My streetwear books were created to help other creatives understand branding, fashion, and the business side of building something meaningful. Alongside that, I created Top Notch Universe, a sci-fi storytelling platform that expands the brand into characters, mythology, technology, Detroit culture, and legacy. One of my biggest current projects is Top Notch Universe Book Two: The Reflection War Volume One, which represents the next step in turning the brand into intellectual property and a larger cultural universe.
What I’m most proud of is that I never allowed Top Notch NME to stay in one box. I took a brand that started with clothing and expanded it into books, design, storytelling, visuals, and a full world connected by purpose. I’m proud that the work is personal, but still speaks to people who are trying to overcome doubt, build themselves, and leave something behind.
What sets me apart is that I do not just design clothes I build meaning around them. I think in systems, symbols, stories, and legacy. Every piece has a reason. Every project connects back to a bigger vision. Top Notch NME is not just about fashion to me. It is about identity, culture, and creating something that can outlive the moment.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe luck has played a role, but not in the way people usually think about it. I don’t see luck as something that just happens out of nowhere. I see it as preparation meeting timing. A lot of the opportunities I’ve had came because I stayed consistent long enough to be ready when the door opened.
There have been moments that felt like good luck being seen by the right people, getting interviews, receiving recognition, or having my work connect with someone at the right time. But behind those moments were years of building, learning, designing, writing, and staying committed even when there was no guarantee that anyone would notice.
I also think what people call bad luck can sometimes become part of your foundation. Some of the setbacks I’ve faced forced me to think deeper, move differently, and become more intentional with my work. They helped shape Top Notch NME into something stronger because I had to learn how to create through pressure.
For me, luck has been less about chance and more about alignment. When your purpose, discipline, and timing start moving together, things begin to open up. I’m grateful for the good moments, but I also respect the difficult ones because they helped build the vision I have today. Top Notch NME, the 2854 code, and Top Notch Universe all came from learning how to turn obstacles into meaning.
Pricing:
- Top Notch NME apparel — pricing varies by collection, release, and product type.
- Books by Craig D. Washington — available through major online retailers; pricing may vary by format and retailer.
- Top Notch Universe titles — available/coming through online book platforms; pricing may vary by release format.
- Limited releases and special projects — pricing announced at launch or by inquiry.
- More information available through Top Notch NME and Craig D. Washington official platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.topnotchnme.com and https://www.craigdwashington.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigdwashington/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18z2MQjgVS/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-d-washington-9694482a
