Mark Launiu
MADE MOBB co-founder wins top award from his community, aims to inspire Island kids (and leave a legacy for his own)
Mark Launiu always felt a bit like an outsider, he said. While the serial entrepreneur now leads KC’s iconic streetwear brand MADE MOBB, Launiu grew up humbly as an immigrant within a small community in South Kansas City. So his recent honor as Samoan Business/Entrepreneur Award of the Year was a pleasant surprise, he said….
Fashion show designs space for KC streetwear to walk alongside Western fringe, crochet couture
The Kritiq fashion show is a runway of representation, said Mark Launiu, describing the origins and evolution of one of Kansas City’s premiere creative showcases. “I just wanted to see people that looked like me, designers who don’t have the opportunity to showcase their skills and their talents,” The Kritiq founder and co-founder of MADE…
Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl catchphrases score big for KC merch makers, driving business into the end zone
Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. When the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce opens his mouth, fans roar, social media lights up, and makers across…
2023 Startups to Watch: MADE MOBB drops community pride as KC streetwear brand hits X
Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its eighth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2023’s companies. Click here to…
‘This is our era’: How one local streetwear brand got the ball rolling for an exclusive KC Comets collab
Soccer fans can kick off their weekend with a one-day-only sale of a limited-edition apparel collaboration between Kansas City’s premier indoor soccer team and its top streetwear brand, said Vu Radley. “We found this really cool, creative space with the KC Comets where we could pay homage to their vintage jerseys and mix it with…
