After winning the HBO Max streetwear competition The Hype last week, Chicago designer Justin Mensinger broke down. It was clearly an emotional victory, carrying the spirit of his late father with him and using inspiration from his grandmother to tell incredible stories with his designs.
Throughout a grueling competition that pitted him against a stacked lineup of other rising stars in streetwear, Justin stayed true to his vision and relied on his deep experience and strong technical skills to outlast his competitors. Justin pulled out a victory against the immensely talented Kai Nguyen in the final challenge to bring home $150,000 and the ultimate co-sign from the show’s judges, Bephie Birkett, Marni Senofonte, and Offset.

But Justin secured his first major prize well before the finale, after turning a woven blanket from his childhood into one of the most beautiful hoodies the internet has ever seen. Bobby Hundreds appeared as a guest mentor-slash-judge on the episode and was blown away by Justin’s work, offering Mensinger a collaboration with The Hundreds on the spot.
Storytelling is paramount in streetwear, and Justin’s message consistently came through loud and clear, even when incorporated subtly into his designs. Mensigner championed mental health and suicide awareness with many of the messages he embroidered into his pieces, which were all constructed sustainably using primarily upcycled materials. The Hundreds family is passionate about supporting both of these important causes, so it was a natural fit to work together.

To celebrate the sustainable spirit of Mensinger’s work, we supplied him with a heaping pile of scraps, leftovers, and rare finds to turn into something completely new and unique. The two Pullover Hoodies, a T-shirt, Shorts, and Bucket Hat in the collection are all 1-of-1 and handmade by Justin himself. The collection also includes a Graphic T-shirt designed by Mensinger that features his flip of The Hundreds’ signature Adam Bomb on the front and the message “Sometimes I Get Trapped Inside My Head” on the back. A portion of proceeds from the The Hundreds X Justin Mensinger collaboration will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an amazing organization that provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.


I caught up with Justin after his win to get his thoughts on reality television, find out what it’s like to meet Cardi B, and try to get my hands on one of those blue blanket hoodies.
DUKE LONDON: First of all, how does it feel to be the champ?
JUSTIN MENSINGER: It feels good to win the competition however I don’t feel totally satisfied because I know there’s so much more I have to do as a designer. I feel that the challenge of life is never over and victory is great but it can be deceiving. Every day is a new day we must tackle and continue to progress forward. I want to make sure I keep applying pressure and growing as a designer and individual.
Was this your first experience with television? What was the experience like? Did you make any friends you’ll keep in touch with or keep working with in the future?
This was my first experience with television. My experience with television is that as long as you’re focused on what you’re doing, the cameras are just an afterthought. During the competition, I was so focused on what I was creating that I didn’t really take the time to internalize that it was all being filmed. I got along with the other designers on the show and friendships were made. Ultimately I feel like there may be animosity towards me because I won but I don’t take it personally.

When you watched the show back, was it what you expected it would be? Did it stress you out all over again watching the challenges?
Watching the show back it was slightly different than I expected it to be. I’m incredibly happy with how it turned out. I didn’t feel any stress watching the challenges over again, but I did feel a ton of anxiety not knowing what was going to be shown next. The reality of living through my experience again from a third-person point of view is interesting and also somehow gratifying.
How did it feel having Bobby offer you a collab on the spot?
It felt amazing to have Bobby offer me a collaboration on the spot and I was not expecting it at all, I was completely caught off guard. I feel truly grateful and honored for the opportunity. The way Bobby carries himself is something I respect and I didn’t realize that mental health was a topic that spoke equally strong to both of us.
We know Bobby is cool and all, but cmon, how was meeting Cardi B?
Meeting Cardi B was cool, she is definitely an icon. I appreciated her support of my hoodie during the Offset challenge. Although my encounter with Cardi was brief it was definitely a memorable experience.



How did you manage the balance of designing for the challenge at hand and also staying true to your vision and style?
I think reusing materials and creating silhouettes consistent with my brand allowed me to meet every challenge and stay true to my style and vision. I never felt that I was unable to combine my vision with the assignment. I think my history of doing a lot of commissioned work prepared me to meet the challenges with ease. Everything came naturally to me I never felt too stressed during the competition.
How did your prior experience, especially in the sewing department, help you outlast the competition on the show?
My experience sewing and being able to turn around a high-end production quality garment within a day definitely was useful. I also have experience with altering patterns and doing whatever I have to in order to make things work. I think the greatest asset I possessed that helped me last until the end was my resourcefulness.
150 racks is a huge amount of money, what did you do first with it? How will it affect your mission?
I plan on reinvesting all the prize money once received into my business and continuing to create garments reusing materials. It will be the jump start I need to get more machines as well as hire help for production. My mission is to stay true to reusing materials. Having the resources in place to have a larger impact is something I’m looking forward to.



What was the most valuable piece of insight you got from the judges on the show?
My favorite insight from the co-signers was to be conscious of my placement of graphics. I think great design is about balance. I also received insight into creative direction and styling which I plan to improve upon. All of the insight was valuable and I’m grateful for all of the feedback I received.
You do a lot with a little, upcycling old garments into unique new ones. What do you look for in vintage garments or accessories that could be transformed into something new? What was the hardest source material to cut ever, in terms of not wanting to ruin something so great?
I primarily search for jeans and sweatshirts to reuse that are heavyweight or nicely worn in. I have never really been afraid of ruining anything I have cut up because any mistake is a happy accident that can be corrected by manipulating the fabric or patching pieces together. I try to avoid very rare or sought-after vintage garments that can be worn as they are. Many of the things I cut up are fairly basic and I may use a graphic or print from one piece but I try not to deconstruct anything that has a life of its own.


How important is upcycling, vintage culture, and sustainable manufacturing to the future of streetwear (and fashion as a whole)?
I think reusing materials is something that is extremely valuable and cuts down on excessive waste and energy. There is so much clothing in circulation and most of it ends up in a landfill. Reconstructing garments is about 100 times the work of creating a normal cut and sewn garment if done well. I don’t mind putting more effort into what I do because I know it’s leading to a better future and even if it’s not the ultimate solution I feel good knowing I’m saving materials that may otherwise be wasted. In terms of the industry at large, I think it’s definitely going to grow and change the world.
If people watched the show, they know the struggle you’ve been through and how important it is to you to be in tune with your mental health. How do art and design help you cope? And why is it important to put these messages on the clothing for others to absorb?
Art and designing to me is an escape because the process of creating is therapeutic. When I’m making something I can release the pent-up energy and thoughts in my head into a physical form. The act of working with my mind and hands keeps me occupied and takes away from me getting lost in my head. I think it’s important to share knowledge and universal truths in my work so that I can connect with people and possibly impact their outlook as well. I like to challenge conventional thinking through my thoughts and actions but not in a forceful way, more of a subtle way through what I create.

What do you want to do next?
I want to continue to build my brand and at some point independently own flagship stores in Chicago, LA, and NY. I also want to build my own team and factory in LA for production and continue to reuse materials.
OK, last question, and it’s more of a request. How the hell can we get our hands on one of those blue blanket hoodies from the show? And I think everyone at home would like to know where they can send their favorite childhood blankets for the same treatment.
The blanket hoodie on the show was a 1-of-1, but I do have more blanket hoodies on the way soon. I think I may open up a commission inquiry on my site soon but I got a few projects to finish up first before I allow the floodgates to open.
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THE HUNDREDS X JUSTIN MENSINGER COLLECTION DROPS TONIGHT AT 9 PM PST
We couldn't be more excited to congratulate @justinmensinger on winning the first season of @thehypeonmax! What better way to congratulate than with an exclusive collaboration. 👀
The Hundreds by @justinmensinger is coming this Sunday 9PM PT / Midnight ET pic.twitter.com/XZbPE48hg0
— The Hundreds (@thehundreds) August 27, 2021