Dark Horse Jesse driven by sustainability, Salvation Army, and Etsy

My frequent walks to the Dark Horse coffee shop in Golden Hill over the past year have introduced me to many recurring faces. Among those is Jesse, an entrepreneur who sells herb- infused, raw chocolate. His unique outfits have always caught my eye, so I recently I asked him about his look.

The idea of sustainability, he explained, drives his fashion choices. He wants to know where his clothes came from, how they were made, and how they’ll affect the environment.

This was reflected in his outfit. Almost everything that he was wearing was a thrifted piece. He sported a long sleeve, striped button up of pastel stripes. His teal slacks folded, rolled up into cuffs, matched one of the color stripes on his collared shirt.

“I would say that my whole outfit is probably about $20.” Minus the shoes, which he bought brand new from an Etsy shop that makes handmade leather sandals ($30).

The rings on his hands were gifts from family members and friends, with the exception of the small turquoise Navajo ring which he purchased from a consignment store in Ocean Beach.

When asked what inspires his fashion sense, Jesse told me, “I try to think of my seasons, and I start making a lookbook in my head. It happens a lot with people that they sacrifice their comfort for their sense of style. It’s so unnecessary. You just have to get creative with materials. I feel like that’s where natural fibers help a lot. And it helps you break out of the norm too of what you wear.”

Jesse pulls inspiration from cultures around the world. “I look at a lot of old photos, too. Lately I’ve been looking at a lot of old photos of Jamaica. I’m super inspired by that. I’m also really inspired by Africa and textiles. I’m the biggest mixed mutt, so I try to incorporate my blood into my style.”