Miles Culture — Black-Owned Brooklyn

“That’s the number one question I get,” Ty Holloway, designer and owner of MILES Culture, says with a smile. “No, my name is not Miles.” But the name of the Crown Heights boutique fitted with graphic tees, leather goods, tactical bags and jewelry, does carry multiple meanings.

It’s one part homage to Ty’s mother Martina (maiden name Miles), who he describes as thoughtful, strong and close to his heart. The word also reflects the protective, long-lasting nature of his streetwear designs: camo, flannel, durable leather, hidden pockets, multifunctional. “It’s something that can be with you for miles and miles, right?”

MILES Culture, which celebrated one year in July, carries signature tees and hoodies with original photos that the team screenprints in Ty’s hometown of Philly. Keeping with the “miles” theme, graphics tell a cohesive story through subjects that are in motion. Pickup trucks. Horses. A pitbull named Pete (Ty’s favorite).

Alongside the store’s military-inspired items like tactical suspenders and bright camo tops, you’ll also find delicate, one-of-a-kind jewelry made by local designers. We're fans of Amber Poitier's sculptural leather cuffs and chokers, as well as the edgy metal rings, necklaces and earrings by Maiko Suzuki and Lorraine West Jewelry. Many shops claim to have a little somethin’ for everybody. MILES Culture truly does.

Ty, 34, is proud of his Philadelphia roots — the brand’s tagline is “Brooklyn based with love from Philly” — but MILES Culture gives heavy nods to Brooklyn. Walls are finished with Biggie and Lil’ Kim lyrics in hand-painted calligraphy, bars from the Queen Bee marking a corner for women’s accessories. The store also doubles as a community space through its Under Construction event series, where musicians and visual artists are invited to showcase and perform.

What makes MILES Culture’s piece of Nostrand Ave. even more special is the close-knit network of other Black businesses along the same stretch (Martine’s Dream, Rituals and Ceremony, Paws and the City and Urban Asanas, among others, are steps away). “I have a new confidence knowing that so many people want me to do well,” says Ty. “It’s a whole community of support.”