This (still) ain’t luck: How a decade of grit proved these urban heroes are ‘more than just clothes’

MADE MOBB’s ‘collaboration is community’ mindset takes the stage as streetwear brand named an Urban Hero

Earning the title “Urban Hero” allows the owners of MADE MOBB an opportunity to publicly give themselves flowers, they said, sharing a twist on the slogan from one of their most popular tees.

A sticker sheet shows past “Give Your People Flowers” wordmark designs; photo courtesy of MADE MOBB

MADE MOBB — a Crossroads-based streetwear brand and community hub — was one of five awardees recently named Urban Heroes by the Downtown Council of Kansas City. Mindful of the accomplishment, co-owners Vu Radley, Mark Launiu, and Jesse Phouanphet paused their signature hustle — just briefly — to celebrate MADE MOBB’s growth and their own individual successes along the way, the trio explained.

“I think when you’re entrenched in and doing a lot of the work of a small business, you don’t zoom out a lot,” Phouanphet said. “So winning the award also was a chance for us to give ourselves flowers and recognize the impact for ourselves. It was just cool to just reflect and be a part of that.”

“It was a moment to smell the flowers too,” Launiu added. “Because, like Jesse said, we get so locked into our own journeys as a small business. And it’s hard enough for small businesses just to survive.”

Click here to shop MADE MOBB or here to check out one of the brands “Give your people flowers” designs. (A new drop for spring 2025 is expected in May.)

But MADE MOBB and its founders have done far more than survive the day-to-day, open-to-close perils of more than a decade in business, slinging T-shirts, dad hats and some of Kansas City’s most iconic designs.

“We tell everybody, ‘We can’t write big checks to anybody, but we can give our time, our talent, our knowledge, and give back to the community that way, especially through the youth and up-and-coming small entrepreneurs. … Collaboration is community. Community is collaboration. Without the two, it doesn’t work.”

— Vu Radley, MADE MOBB

Vu Radley and Mark Launiu at the original MADE MOBB storefront on Grand Boulevard in 2017; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Founded in 2013, the streetwear venture — one of Startland News’ past Kansas City Startups to Watch — regularly collaborates on apparel drops with partners ranging from the Kansas City Chiefs, Worlds of Fun, KC Current, United Way, Quik Trip, and UMKC to fellow small businesses like SewKC, the Kansas City Pioneers, Vine Street Brewing, and Cafe Cà Phê.

Its owners judge student pitch competitions and raise funds for their neighborhoods, mentor fellow creatives, and lead cross-industry educational sessions, touching on investing, real estate and, yes, starting a clothing brand.

ICYMI: Start small, build demand, then scale: Founders offer blueprint to creating streetwear brands that outlast today’s trend

Launiu was honored as Samoan Business/Entrepreneur Award of the Year in 2023 by the Samoan Community Organization and the Big Uce Youth Outreach. Radley was named a Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Hall of Fame Laureate in 2024.

Jesse Phouanphet, co-owner of MADE MOBB, works the crowd in September 2024 during a First Friday drop event for a collaboration with UMKC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

A shopper checks out an exclusive MADE MOBB apparel collaboration with UMKC during a September 2024 drop party event at the store; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Shoppers peruse vintage Kansas City apparel from vendors outside MADE MOBB's Southwest Boulevard storefront in September 2024; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Their annual fashion show, The Kritiq — set to return May 18 at The Abbott — and other MADE MOBB-led events showcase local creatives while raising awareness about mental health, frequently focusing on breaking stigmas for men. And the brand recently wrapped a soccer tennis tournament and festival alongside Café Ollama and Café Cà Phê to benefit Ryogoku Soccer Academy in Kansas City’s Northland.

Up next: MADE MOBB’s First Friday block party will gather vendors from across the city, food trucks, and music performances May 2 at the 221 Southwest Blvd. shop, followed by more pop-ups later in the month in recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

Click here to follow MADE MOBB on Instagram to keep track of coming events.

MADE MOBB owners Vu Radley, Mark Launiu, and Jesse Phouanphet accept an Urban Hero award during the Downtown Council’s annual luncheon; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Fellow Urban Hero award recipients included Jaynell “KK” Assman, founder of Care Beyond the Boulevard; Kristin Riott, executive director of Bridging the Gap; Chris Sally, owner of Iconic Development and community advocate; and Octavio “Chapto” Villalobos, KCPD Officer at Westside CAN Center.

MADE MOBB owners Vu Radley, Mark Launiu, and Jesse Phouanphet accept an Urban Hero award during the Downtown Council’s annual luncheon; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“These individuals and organizations are dedicated to making connections — not only in their communities — but throughout downtown through their roles as nonprofits, developers, retailers, and impact makers,” said Jared Campbell, resident engagement project manager at the Downtown Council, in a statement. “These award winners exemplify the spirit of collaboration and innovation that makes Downtown Kansas City a vibrant and thriving community.”

Once the MADE MOBB co-owners did their homework on the award, they realized that it was a really “big deal,” Radley noted.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for something so esteemed,” he continued.

“It was a cool opportunity for us to shake hands with people that are doing great things in the city,” Phouanphet added.

 

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The trio said connections, collaboration, and innovation are the ethos of MADE MOBB.

“We try to give back as much as we can,” Radley explained. “We tell everybody, ‘We can’t write big checks to anybody, but we can give our time, our talent, our knowledge, and give back to the community that way, especially through the youth and up-and-coming small entrepreneurs.”

“Collaboration and community has always been the biggest part of MADE MOBB,” he continued. “Collaboration is community. Community is collaboration. Without the two, it doesn’t work. We are 12 to 13 years in because of the community. So when you take things from the community, you’ve got to give back.”

“We are community based,” Launiu added. “So it’s cool to see how they summarized us, like, ‘MADE MOBB, a community-based small business.’ That’s cool to see because we’re more than just clothes.”