Craig D. Washington

Streetwear Beyond Fashion: Lifestyle and Influence

Craig D. Washington — Founder & Visionary Designer

Top Notch NME is a Detroit-rooted luxury streetwear brand operating at the intersection of fashion, narrative, and cultural architecture.

For press, collaborations, or official inquiries:

contact@topnotchnme.com

Born: May 27, 1983
Nationality: American
Occupation: Cultural Architect, Author, Founder & CEO
Years Active: 2017–present

Known For:
Building identity infrastructure through fashion, narrative, and systems; Founder of Top Notch NME (a Cultural Operating System); fashion authorship; cultural storytelling; Streetwear Beyond Fashion: Lifestyle and Influence

Notable Works:

Streetwear: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Own Brand
Mastering Streetwear Expansion
Streetwear Beyond Fashion: Lifestyle and Influence (Aug. 19, 2025)

Awards:

Award of Literary Excellence, The Reader’s House Magazine (2024)

Media Feature:
Reader’s House Magazine – The Streetwear Vanguard
https://readershouse.co.uk/craig-d-washington-the-streetwear-vanguard/

Website:
https://www.topnotchnme.com

Early Life and Background

Craig D. Washington was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where the city’s music, street culture, and industrial grit deeply shaped his worldview. Growing up in an environment defined by resilience and creative self-reliance, he learned early that identity is something constructed, defended, and expressed.

At age 13, Washington began experimenting with fashion by customizing clothing and footwear for friends and family. Largely self-taught, he developed an approach rooted in authenticity, discipline, and independent creative expression—foundational principles that would later evolve into a systemized design philosophy.

Career

Top Notch NME

In 2017, Washington founded Top Notch NME, a Detroit-rooted luxury streetwear brand that operates as a Cultural Operating System rather than a conventional fashion label.

Rather than following seasonal fashion cycles, Top Notch NME is structured around narrative continuity, symbolism, intentional scarcity, and long-term cultural impact. Apparel, accessories, footwear, and travel goods function as artifacts within a broader identity framework—designed to carry meaning, discipline, and legacy rather than trends.

Drawing inspiration from music, art, and Detroit’s creative lineage, the brand is recognized for blending elevated craftsmanship with street-level authenticity while building a cohesive ecosystem that merges fashion, storytelling, and systems design.

Design Philosophy

Washington identifies not simply as a designer, but as a Cultural Architect—building identity infrastructure through fashion, narrative, and systems.

His design philosophy centers on self-mastery, legacy, and authorship. Through symbolic language, bold visual expression, and layered storytelling, his work positions fashion as cultural infrastructure rather than disposable consumption.

Collections such as the Cold Heart Collection explore themes of resilience, emotional endurance, and transformation, reinforcing his belief that clothing can function as a tool for personal alignment and long-term identity construction.

Authorship and Publications

Craig D. Washington is widely recognized for his contributions to streetwear education and fashion entrepreneurship through authorship, using books as foundational texts within his broader Cultural Operating System.

Streetwear: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Own Brand
Introduces core principles of branding, production, and market entry for aspiring designers.
Mastering Streetwear Expansion (Oct. 14, 2024)
Explores advanced strategies for scaling, community building, global positioning, and digital growth.
Streetwear Beyond Fashion: Lifestyle and Influence (Aug. 19, 2025)
Examines streetwear’s expanded role across culture, media, business, and lifestyle—positioning fashion as an architectural force within modern identity systems.