I always get asked "What is Knucklecutterzclub?", so if you have also been wondering yourself.. you're in the right place. The conversation started with Fernthebarber and myself at the school. If you follow either of us on Instagram, you know that we fuck around and talk shit 25/8. So you could imagine how many random conversations we have about anything and everything. One day Fern just said, "Yo! Lets start a club" and with out question I said "Im down!", then off to bullshit some more. Then after almost a month, I texted Fern Secondknuckle Cutters, Fern said what about Knucklecutterzclub.. he emphasized the Z. I liked the flow and we stuck with it.
We didn't push it hard at first. Just hashtaged it here and there, didn't even think people would notice, but right out the gate we started getting comments asking what's Knucklecutterzclub? Still not really going forward with or talking about any plans to brand anything for probably about another month or so, Fern decided to created a Instagram for it. Probably after too many White Claws and some shooters!
Ok ok, now to start to answer the question. The meaning behind the name is from literally cutting your knuckle while giving a haircut. IYKYK. Everyone in our industry has cut their knuckle, and if you haven't yet you eventually will. Doesn't matter if you are the best cutter in the world. We all have done it. So what better way to create a brand that mocks it all. A way for barbers/stylists to relate to one another. Doesn't matter what stage you are in your career, cutting your knuckle instantly humbles the fuck out of you!
Now for the word "club", it's not a literal term in the sense of needing to meet a certain criteria or fees to pay. Its not some gang and you have to get jumped in or anything like that. Knucklecutterzclub is just a group of close friends that see eye to eye on many levels and a way to connect with others in the industry. We didn't create this to judge anyones skill or character. Our goal was always to build an inclusive community using social media. Egos don't exist with us.. trust me we will call you out on it soon as your head cant fit thru the doorway. Just be you.
Knucklecutterzclub started with just me and Fern, but now is also Brandon @youngbv_, Ghost @Ghostthebarber and Zach @Zach.Hernandez90 proudly reppin! If you aren't following them, you should. More people meant more ideas to grow the brand, at the end of the day we are always making each other better people and professionals with our honest yet brutal feedback. Sometimes asking each other if a picture is good enough to post. Some don't make the cut. (no pun intended).
Finally getting that figured out we came up with a logo and began putting it on our Instagram stories. We began going strong creating whatever buzz we could on Instagram. Hashtagging it on every single post. Making stickers, handing them out and putting them everywhere and anywhere we could. I think the best spot for the stickers we made was on the back of cell phones cases since mirror selfies is a thing. Now instead of the "What is Knucklecutterzclub?", we started getting "How can I be in the club?".
Here it is, this started organically. From two barbers with a need to create something that represented our lifestyle. If something felt forced we put it on pause, somethings we revisited some we haven't. This was created to be an outlet so like wise everything that grows from this will be created with the same energy. Hard to explain but it just needs to fit. Dont ask us, we will ask you.
We do love the support and would like the opportunity to support back. Use the hashtag #Knucklecutterzclub for shoutouts. Now listen, we are NOT out here telling you to cut your knuckle on purpose to be part of this. (but if or when you do tag us on your post). We created this to have fun. Not in it for money or recognition. All hair we cut falls to the same floor on this place we call earth and we all bleed the same when we cut that knuckle. We are all the fucking same.
So that's MY long winded answer but if you ask Fern he will respond with some random shit like, "its like trying to explain what water tastes like". Might just start answering with that from now on.
I think it took us a while to give a straight answer because we didn't know where we wanted to take it or how it would be received. We didn't want anything to sound forced.. like I said we wanted the answer to come to us organically and fueled from our need for a creative outlet. So everything that has come from Knucklecutterzclub has been fueled from our creative needs and our supporters wanting more.
Before I end, just want to take the time to give a shout out to those day one supporters! We had no idea what we could create but you believed some great shit was in the works. I also want to give thanks to all our new followers. Stay tuned! We have some things in store.
Whats next for Knucklecutterzclub?
Hopefully when this quarantine is over we can push it a lot more. Right before it hit we had came out with some capes thanks to ILLUZIEN that we will still promote. Also had big plans to go to Babercon and Connecticut Barber Expo with CLIPPERDEPOT but got cancelled. Lets see what the rest of 2020 lets us do physically out on the road but we will keep doing our thing thru social media. Doubt people will stop cutting their knuckles any time so we won't stop anytime soon!
RAZO.:
@razothebarber