Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Briggs.
Hi Todd, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
# The Road to THRTL + GEARS: My Story
It all started back at Black Bike Week 2013 in Myrtle Beach. I was out there rolling with my motorcycle club, Ghostface Ryderz MC, soaking in the energy, the machines, and the brotherhood. My club president pulled me aside and suggested I create a motorcycle streetwear clothing brand. With over 20 years of experience as a graphic designer and a background working in the fashion retail industry, the idea struck a chord, and thoughts started racing through my head.
Right away, I realized I needed equipment. That is when I decided to start doing my research. Pulling on what I learned way back in high school print shop class, I went on Amazon and bought my very first screen-printing press. I printed my very first THRTL t-shirt right there in my living room. The rush and excitement began to hit me because I knew I was finally creating my very own streetwear brand.
Before I knew it, I started designing and creating the Throttle t-shirt collection. I used being a member of a motorcycle club to promote the brand at all of the club events and soon found myself having my very own fashion show at one of our club nights in 2014 with the help of some of my members as models. Now, what started as an idea was really becoming a full-throttle clothing brand. The next year would be the next phase in which a longtime friend of mine suggested that I open my own retail store, and it was a great suggestion that I ran with. I was now the proud designer and owner of my first Throttle Gear Apparel Co. Flagship Store, located right on one of the main streets in the city of Philadelphia—Broad Street. Talk about being excited; it was so surreal.
Within the first year of the store being open, I was now creating a buzz around the city. Customers were coming in and shopping, and people began being seen all around the city wearing THRTL. This led to the creation of a jingle, “ALL WE WEAR IS THRTL,” by a club member named VOICE, but I called him nephew.
What came next, though, you couldn’t prepare me for. With THRTL only being a few years old, I received the news that THRTL had been nominated for the upcoming Philly Hip Hop Awards (our city’s version of the BET Awards) for “Best Urban Clothing Brand.” What made it even more exciting is that THRTL was in the category with two of Philly’s longstanding streetwear brands, Bellargo and Milano. At that point, you couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t on my way. I didn’t win, but the nomination and the experience were all that I needed. Fast forward, and THRTL was nominated two more years. Those three nominations landed me so many connections that I realized I really won. Connections like THRTL being featured in several Philly hip hop and R&B music videos, featured in not one but two horror movies, four editorials in fashion magazines, and a full editorial in a motorsports magazine.
Now, it was time to really move full throttle and up my game with more creative designs and adding newer, advanced printing equipment.
After two and a half years of being open, we unfortunately had to close our first flagship store due to the owner selling it to a local developer. We took a year and a half break from doing the store, but we continued with the brand doing vending and pop-up events until we could secure another location. With that being said, around 2018, we were lucky enough to secure a new location in the college district of our city. And with our new location, we started a full build-out of what now became our flagship store. This was a bigger move, a different move, but it was a move that we felt as though we needed. We also started searching for brand ambassadors and models, local and out of state, which led us to now doing bigger photoshoots, entering fashion shows and competitions, and adding a lot of merchandise to our new line as far as not just t-shirts, but now we’re adding sweat suits, socks, hoodies, joggers, leggings, tank tops, crop tops, you name it, we thought about adding it to our collections. We started adding new merchandise to our website, updating our website, started new collections which now became our MOTOCICLETA collection, our GEARS DEPT. collection, GREASE & OIL collection, our 1885 collection, as well as designing several mascots to go along with some of our collections.
Fast forward to today, and we are lucky enough to still be around. Over the last two years, we’ve been featured in New York Fashion Week 2025 and New York Fashion Week 2026, and we have also been asked to be featured in Paris Fashion Week in the Summer of 2027. We have now created our own team of brand ambassadors along with our own team of photographers that we hope to get featured in upcoming publications. We also created our own podcast, called the Throttle Gear Fashion Collective, which is now getting ready to be featured in 2027 on Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. We are looking forward to reopening our flagship store in the fall/winter of 2027, which has been a great journey, and we look forward to bringing Throttle back to the retail circuit.
That entire journey set off a relentless drive for building the foundation of what Throttle Gear Apparel Company (THRTL + GEARS) would become. Born from the concrete jungles, the brand found its roots in the raw energy of urban landscapes to reflect the true pulse of street culture. Blending motorsports aesthetics with high fashion, we set out to build a rebellious spirit and unapologetic authenticity that defines everything we do. From those grassroots days in the living room to releasing collections that resonate with diverse subcultures, the journey has been an incredible ride of resilience, innovation, and staying true to the craft.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Honestly, our biggest tests didn’t happen right at the beginning—they hit us right in the middle of our journey, where most brands usually end up quitting.
First, it was the real estate battle. We opened our first retail location, built up our local presence, and then a developer bought the entire block and forced us out. We didn’t let that stop us. We picked up, rebuilt, and opened a second storefront—only for the exact same thing to happen with another developer.
But the second store closure was even tougher because it coincided with COVID-19, and during that same time, I was diagnosed with cancer. Trying to undergo aggressive chemotherapy while fighting to keep a brick-and-mortar store afloat during a pandemic was one of the most taxing experiences of my life. Ultimately, I had to prioritize my health and make the hard decision to close that second location so I could focus on surviving and getting healthy.
On top of the physical locations, we had continuous team challenges—specifically with talent. We spent a lot of time giving local models the tools, knowledge, and blueprint of what it takes to embody true streetwear culture, but a lot of them just weren’t getting it. Streetwear isn’t just posing for a camera; it’s an attitude and an authentic lifestyle.
Instead of letting those setbacks defeat us, we used them as a filter. We decided to strip everything back and rebuild from the ground up. Today, we’ve overcome those hurdles by forming a much smaller, hyper-dedicated core team of models and photographers who truly understand the vision and live the culture.
Now, the landscape has shifted again. Our newest challenge is navigating a space saturated with fast content creators, digital influencers, and AI-generated fashion. But at the end of the day, an algorithm can create a pretty picture, but it can’t replicate real grit, real life experience, or true street culture. We’ve survived real-world battles, and that authenticity is something synthetic media will never be able to touch.”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about THROTTLE GEAR APPAREL CO?
**Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know?**
Throttle Gears is a full-on, motorcycle-based urban streetwear brand. What started purely as a motorcycle apparel line has developed into a brand for everybody. Anyone can wear Throttle Gears every day, just like any classic brand that has stood the test of time.
What I really want everyone to know is the quality and comfort. I take deep pride in the merchandise I put on people’s bodies. From the feel of the fabric to the durability of the designs and printing, everything is crafted so you’re not just buying something to wear a few times—it’s built to last for months and years.
**What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for?**
I am a veteran graphic designer with over 20 years of experience, as well as an experienced screen printer and apparel printer. I specialize in taking concept designs and translating them seamlessly into high-quality finished products.
**What sets you apart from others?**
What sets me apart is my ability to rapidly generate and execute creative concepts. I can come up with 20 different ideas in the blink of an eye, sit down at my computer, and bring those ideas to life in less than a couple of hours.
To me, a great designer doesn’t just make graphics on a screen—they know how to take that art, transfer it onto real physical materials, and handle the print production from start to finish.
**What are you most proud of brand-wise?**
I’m most proud of the growth, success, and overall direction of THRTL + GEARS right now. We are transitioning from being a local brand to putting Throttle on the forefront of the global stage for the entire world to see.
**What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc.?**
I want your readers to embrace Throttle for what it is, try out our gear, and join the movement. When you buy from us, you aren’t just a customer or client—you become part of the Throttle family. My goal is to see everybody around the world wearing Throttle.
You can check out our full collection at www.thrtl.com and follow us everywhere on social media @thrtlngears, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Twitch, and Kick.
How do you think about happiness?
“What makes me happy about THRTL is our resilience—being able to keep pushing forward no matter what challenges come up. Seeing the success of something I built from the ground up, and having that drive to never give up, makes me incredibly proud. I’m building this for the long haul, and I want to see Throttle thrive for many years to come.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thrtl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrtlngears/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrtlngears
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrtlngears
