Bambata Tyehimba picked up an interest in fashion while catching flights to Africa as a kid. His parents, mom Akwete and dad Bandele, ran the Pan-African Connection bookstore, art gallery, and resource center in South Dallas, where he soaked in African fashions, patterns, and textiles in addition to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. So when Tyehimba decided to create his own streetwear brand, YK1K, he wanted it to be about more than just passing fads. His unique appliquéd designs include local high school and college basketball shorts, satin and leather varsity jackets, hats, and shoes. He has Malcolm X-themed hoodies and Dallas ones emblazoned with Big Tuck lyrics. The products are designed and printed at the Pan-African Connection.
Since the brand’s launch in 2014, it has been sported by rap icons such as Mario Bradley and BigXthaPlug. But Tyehimba wants to ensure that his brand leaves a lasting mark. Each piece nods to notable figures in Black culture. From the Malcolm X hoodie to the HBCU shorts that are sported on the front page of their website, the pieces that make up YK1K’s inventory serve as tributes.
“The legacy is a huge aspect of my life because now I realize it’s not just about me,” he says. “My father passed away in 2012. He might not physically be here anymore, but he left a [business] tool for his children to use to transcend to the next generation.”
Yk1k Young Kings letterman jacket, $150
YK1K Football Camp tee, $40
YK1K Dallas Dior, $125
YK1K socks, $10
This story originally appeared in the July issue of D Magazine with the headline “Family Flex.” Write to feedback@dmagazine.com.