In a fashion landscape oversaturated with hype, drops, and resale markets that flip culture into commodity, TJ Wessels is making a bold statement — and printing it on the chest. His brand, Not For Resale, isn’t just clothing. It’s a manifesto.
In a fashion landscape oversaturated with hype, drops, and resale markets that flip culture into commodity, TJ Wessels is making a bold statement — and printing it on the chest. His brand, Not For Resale, isn’t just clothing. It’s a manifesto.
I felt utterly inspired by her outfit to edit it entirely in my style with a lot of pink and blue. Thanking her for her effort to meet with me this day, I left the premises after two hours of shooting.
My next stop was due to be the outskirts of the city. That was where I met up with the following model: Livia.
“I wanted to make something that was for the people who actually care,” Wessels told BlvkBook. “Not just to flex, not just to sell. Something with soul.”
Streetwear Meets Fine Art
What sets Not For Resale apart is how seamlessly it lives in both the streetwear scene and the fine art world. Wessels, with a background in visual design and cultural theory, treats each collection like a conceptual project.
You might find:
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A deconstructed hoodie printed with archival protest images.
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A T-shirt referencing Virgil Abloh’s “Figures of Speech” exhibition, but reworked to critique fashion capitalism.
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Or a varsity jacket embroidered with phrases like “Own Nothing / Love Everything” — poetic, cryptic, and deeply personal.
This kind of intentional layering has drawn attention from both underground fashion circles and contemporary artists. And unlike most labels in the hype economy, Not For Resale isn’t chasing clout — it’s chasing meaning.
From LA Streets to Global Eyes
Based in Los Angeles, the brand is rooted in DIY ethos — small batch production, ethical sourcing, and organic growth. But its message has reached far beyond city limits. Celebrities, stylists, and tastemakers have been spotted in NFR pieces, but there’s no mass marketing machine behind it — just word-of-mouth and authenticity.
Wessels has also used the brand as a platform to collaborate with visual artists, writers, and photographers, turning his pop-up events into immersive, multi-sensory experiences. These are more than just “drops” — they’re culture capsules.
“Keep that pose. It’s perfect.”
The Future of Fashion is Personal
In a time where resale value often defines a garment’s worth, Not For Resale offers a quiet rebellion. It reminds us that what you wear can still mean something. That art and identity are worth more than hype.
At BlvkBook, we believe the future of fashion belongs to creators like TJ Wessels — artists with vision, integrity, and the courage to say: this isn’t for resale — it’s for real.