Cultura con carácter: How JEFES inks DINKC’s hometown team with drops of KC Latino hustle

Laedan “DINKC” Galicia draws a fine line between his creative mediums: skin, pen, fabric, and paint — now from a artists hub in Kansas City’s Columbus Park neighborhood. From his signature tattoo style to his JEFES clothing line, DINKC’s bold perspective is leaving a mark on Kansas City culture (and the Super Bowl).

“With JEFES, I wanted to create something that reflects the grind, the hustle, and the culture of KC,” Galicia said. “These pieces are for the people making things happen.”

Each football season, he drops new designs, featuring his signature “JEFES” character, eye-catching typography, and Kansas City imagery. This year’s release includes the JEFES DINASTIA, JEFES KC, and the JEFES 3-Peat collection, celebrating the Chiefs’ continued success.

Click here to shop DINKC’s Super Bowl-bound designs.

“Every year, I release new designs, and people hit me up saying, ‘Hey, when’s the next drop?’ It’s been taking off year by year,” he said.

Click here to follow DINKC on Instagram.

The evolution of JEFES

DINKC’s entry into apparel design was organic. His first sports-themed designs came during Kansas City’s Super Bowl run against San Francisco in 2020.

While visiting family in Mexico, he saw how much his cousins loved Chiefs merchandise and saw an opportunity to blend his passion for art with his cultural roots. He began creating and selling his own Chiefs-inspired designs, reimagining the team as “Los Jefes” to better connect with the Latino community.

“I started designing merch that incorporated Latino and Mexican cultural elements,” he explained. “People really resonated with it, so I kept going: making shirts, hoodies, and stickers. Every year, it just gets bigger.”

Starting from home with a vinyl plotter and heat press, his designs have grown in popularity. Today, they’re available online, his space at Tiger Alley X in Columbus Park, and at local pop-ups, where fans can grab limited-edition gear.

Click here to check out DINKC’s gallery of creative work.

 

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From murals to ink

DINKC’s artistic journey has been anything but linear. Originally a muralist and gallery artist, he later translated his high-contrast, black-and-white aesthetic into tattoo artistry — first creating the designs beneath the ink; now holding the needle himself.

“I just started last year, in July. I did my apprenticeship, ran through everything, and now I’m fully licensed,” he said. “Tattooing is just another art form for me and a way to reach a different market.”

Before JEFES, DINKC made a name for himself in the tattoo world with his surrealist black-and-white designs. Blending skulls, sacred imagery, and street art influences, his tattoo illustrations tell stories on skin.

“I’ve always been about creating art that speaks to people,” he said. “Tattooing gave me that direct connection, but with JEFES, I can put that same energy on something people wear every day.”

Tiger Alley X in Columbus Park; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

A collective of creatives at Tiger Alley X

DINKC has expanded his vision to Tiger Alley X, a creative hub that opened in March 2023. He moved his business from Kansas City, Kansas, to Tiger Alley in July and fully integrated his storefront and studio by September.

DINKC and his collaborators at Tiger Alley X have big plans for the space, including Second Friday events, pop-up markets, and cultural gatherings to build a tight-knit community of local artists and entrepreneurs.

“We’re all really good friends with the other businesses here. We just want to bring a good community day, start building that up,” he said.

DINKC has his sights set on even bigger projects. One dream collaboration: partnering with the Kansas City Chiefs or taking his JEFES concept to Mexico for an official game release.

“I would love to do an actual official Chiefs collab,” he said. “Get a few local artists together, have our takes on it, and release something custom for a game in Mexico.”