Ouigi Theodore is a boutique owner + brand designer who has one of the most underground stores in New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago that’s become an internationally sought-after shopping destination. Ouigi also launched a unique clothing line called BKc for the traveled, streetwise fashion individual. In addition, Ouigi was a mentor with Stoked in 2005 (Skate & Surf Mentor) and recently made us his charity partner through his work with Toyota Matrix’s 5th Door Project-which donated $5,000 to Stoked. Lastly, he took Stoked Steve snowboarding for the first time 9 years ago. Brooklyn born and raised, Ouigi is a definite inspiration to Stoked and our youth. Check out his site at: http://www.thebkcircus.com/
Stoked: What are you Stoked about these days?
Ouigi: The possibilities within what we are doing at The Brooklyn Circus and how it continues to affect people all over the world, young and old.
Stoked: What is your definition of success?
Ouigi: Building a legacy and an environment that others can be inspired by and have enough faith in to build along with you.
Stoked: What inspires you to do what you do?
Ouigi: My staff, our clients worldwide, and my family for sure.
Stoked: How do you get motivated to take on major challenges?
Ouigi: Thinking that I should always go through things instead of around them. I honestly feel that time is never wasted and that experience is everything, so I welcome the challenges. The human mind is an AMAZING instrument; take charge of it and it’s incredible what you can overcome.
Stoked: How important is it to have a supportive community within your fieldof work?
Ouigi: It’s very important. The support we’ve received from our peers and clients actually motivate me to continue when things get hard, if you have that coupled with a supporting staff then you never feel like it’s work, even when things are hard.
Stoked: Who has played an important role in your life/career?
Ouigi: All the women in my family. I was a focal point in the family and they nurtured my creativity, treated me like a king and gave me all the love they had in their hearts. They mentally and emotionally invested in my dream. Also my girlfriend for always listening to my wild ideas and promoting my vision.
Stoked: Any life lessons you’d like to pass on to our youth?
Ouigi: Respect, passion, and discipline are the fundamentals of my success. Respect yourself, people’s opinions, other cultures and your interests. Find your passion, it’s not out there, it’s inside of you. When you find your passion, learn to respect others and become disciplined in everything you do, the world will be your playground. The pain of hard work is temporary, read, read, read and then read some more. Surround yourself with people who are not afraid to fail, yet always work to succeed. Don’t regret anything, it’s all experience.
Stoked: What have you learned from a particular action sport (snowboarding,skateboarding, or surfing)?
Ouigi: You can do anything you set your mind to. There is more out there than where I am from.
Stoked: Why is it important to support a program like Stoked?
Ouigi: It gives inner-city youth an opportunity of a lifetime. To be involved in sports that are not available where they are from and to have real professional mentors, that’s major. The youth of today need mentors that they can speak to, unlike the images they see on TV.
Stoked: Any advice for our youth?Ouigi: Build relationships with the elders in and out of your community, they hold lessons that you will not find anywhere else.
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