We Didn’t Plan a Barber Event. We Built a Creative Shift.

Where do barbers go when they’re stuck?

That moment hits all of us eventually. Sometimes once. Sometimes multiple times. You’re moving through life, doing the same cuts, the same content, the same routine, and you start asking yourself: what’s next? Or worse, you stop asking altogether.

I’ve been a barber for almost 15 years now. I’ve felt those walls. I’ve seen how fast your fire can burn out when you’re uninspired, and how perspective can completely change your drive.

Sometimes inspiration shows up by chance.

Other times, you have to go find it.

And once in a while, it finds you while you’re on the way to something else entirely.

I never pictured myself being part of creating something like this. I’m not an event planner. I don’t do run-of-show documents or wear a headset. But this was different. This was about building an experience, not just hosting an event.

What I am obsessed with is how people learn.

How we grow.

How we think.

And how we can be pushed just enough to see things differently than we did before.

That’s what this event became for me.

Most events don’t push us like they could

We’ve all been to barber expos. They serve a purpose.

You get to test new tools, learn a quick technique, network, maybe take home a goodie bag. You leave with something.

But for me, the best moments, the ones that actually shift your perspective. The ones that challenge you or catch you off guard. They happen when you’re made to rethink something you thought you already had figured out.

This event was different from the start. It was in our home city. Which, let’s be real, is the hardest place to pull something like this off.

People in LA already know you. They’ve seen you grow up in the industry. They’ve seen your best work, your early work, and everything in between. That familiarity made this feel more personal, and honestly, a little more pressure-filled.

At first, we thought about keeping it small. Intimate workshops. Maybe just a hands-on class. We weren’t even sure what kind of crowd it would draw. Would people show up JUST for that?

But the more we leaned into it, the more clear it became. This couldn’t be like every other show. We wanted to build something that blended education, culture, creative thinking, and real-time connection, all within a fully scheduled flow that moved across four floors of a beautiful historic building in Downtown LA, Hudson Loft.

Team Building experience

Most companies today run some type of education summit. We do too. And every year, we challenge ourselves to bring something new. This was our fourth event, and maybe it was the pressure of it being in our home city.

Every touch point was designed to be memorable. To shift perspectives. To challenge habits. And at the end of it all, still be fun.

When you love what you do, you naturally move with more intention. You connect more deeply to the people, the work, and the culture around you.

Over three full days, we got to learn, grow, and reset with global ambassadors from all over the world. And every time we do this, the mission stays the same:

Build a stronger team.

Grow together.

Push the culture forward and raise the standard.

We’re going to keep expanding that circle too. And if you’ve ever wanted to be part of it, here’s some advice: Be real online. If you genuinely use the products and they align with your style and belief, show us. Share how you use them. Talk about what they do for you. You don’t need a huge following. What brands care about most is authenticity and value.

The connection to community always comes first.

That’s how our ambassadors show up and that’s what we look for in others too.

What we created together was bigger than expected

Now lets push it to one day before WOS took place. We started with what we knew works: education.Education is the foundation of growth. If you don’t find challenges within your space, you’ll become stagnant. It allows us to expand and broaden our horizons, and through that process, we discover the methods that truly work for us. Another topic many barbers ask for is a look & learn or hands-on portion, and that’s exactly what we added were those two elements. A look & learn class led by our very own Zach Ignacio and his Paradox team taught a sold-out group of 85 people through an intense hands-on precision cutting experience. It was amazing to see. It moved fast. It brought people together.

But I knew it needed more. Not just more content, but more meaning. Something deeper. Something that pushed people out of autopilot and into real thought.

That’s when we built the Brand Blueprint Workshop.

It wasn’t about likes or engagement. It was about identity. About clarity. Helping people figure out who they are in this industry and where they actually want to go.

Three creators. Three different journeys. Three interactive sessions.

I remember coordinating the details with Julius every night while I was in Seoul and he was in LA. We were working across time zones, balancing both our schedules, and trying to build something meaningful beyond a standard class format. Miguel was also developing his own direction for the session, and all of us were figuring it out in real time. That challenge pushed us to slow down, dig into our own journeys, and create something people could actually experience and walk away with.

Where creative thinking came to life

You don’t have to throw an event to experience this kind of shift.

But you do need to ask yourself:

• Am I stuck?

• Do I feel inspired by what I’m doing right now?

• Am I building the kind of space, mentally or physically, that actually pushes me forward?

Barbering will always be about skill. But if you’re not growing as a person, your work will plateau.

Your next breakthrough might not come from a new clipper or better camera. It might come from a new environment. New people. New thinking.

World of STMNT LA was built on that belief.

And because it was in LA, our home, it forced us to dig deeper than ever before. We didn’t want people to just walk away with product knowledge. We wanted them to leave with more clarity. More connection. More confidence to grow in their own lane.

The WOS Experience: Built to Be Felt

The night of World of STMNT was more than just a show. It was a fully immersive experience designed to make people feel something.

From the moment you walked in, we wanted it to be a celebration of the craft. Every floor had something different and every corner of the space was built with intention.

We had viewing stations, photo ops, a full sensory bar, live music, and an open bar with food. Not just to entertain, but to show how much we value the people and the culture that got us here.

The Creator Worlds were a standout moment. We created rooms that gave you access to how we think, what inspires us, and what our creative spaces actually look and feel like. You weren’t just seeing visuals, you were stepping inside someone’s process.

And for the first time ever, we launched our own STMNT Candle Shop, where people could take home signature scents for their space. We also featured a live interactive custom T-station where guests could choose their own designs.

Throughout the evening, we hosted three live showcases, each one highlighting something different. One featured our US team, another spotlighted our global team, and the third was a precision-focused set from friends of the brand.

We also ran live panels that included voices who have inspired us throughout our journeys. Those conversations added another layer of depth to the night and reminding everyone that education and inspiration can go hand in hand.

There was so much happening, but it all tied back to one goal: To remind barbers, stylists, and creators that this industry is worth celebrating.

This wasn’t a pop-up. It wasn’t a marketing push. It was culture in motion. And it was built for everyone who sees barbering as more than a job.

What Stayed With Me

This experience reminded me that environments are everything. They can stall you. Or they can spark your next chapter.

This event proved that when you lead with intention, the right people show up. People who want to build. People who want to connect. People who want to evolve.

It also reminded me that none of this happens alone. Without a team, you can only go so far. This was a big moment for all of us and it would not have happened without the people who helped shaped it from the ground up over the years.

So whether this was your first STMNT experience or you’ve been riding with us for years, just know that this is who we are.

Not just a product brand.

A culture builder.

A team.

And a platform for barbers who want to grow past the chair.

A memorable night that I’m so thankful to have shared with my home community, where it all started for me. My roots, my growth, my inspiration. Thank you, LA! We look forward to next years at maybe a NEW LOCATION in the world? 🤓 

Sof!