FAITH, FASHION & VISION: The Josuah Wesley Story

JOSHUA WESLEY

Styling With Purpose, Building With Faith

At 25 years old, Dallas, Texas native Joshua Wesley is carving out his own lane as a stylist and clothing brand owner. His work exists at the intersection of fashion, individuality, culture, and faith, with styling serving as both his creative outlet and a foundation for the larger vision he is building through his brand, DonWes. From styling NFL athletes to navigating the world of Paris Fashion Week, Wesley's journey has taken him further than the clothes themselves. His story is one of creative growth, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and a commitment to keeping Christ at the center of everything he creates.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

A Childhood Rooted in Personal Style

Wesley's introduction to fashion began at home, specifically through his mother. She instilled the importance of looking your best in Wesley and his siblings, making it a priority that they were dressed appropriately every time they left the house, regardless of the occasion. That expectation started early. In elementary school, Wesley was not allowed to wear athletic clothing casually. His everyday wardrobe consisted of jeans paired with a nice T-shirt or a polo. Athletic wear, in his mother's eyes, was reserved for sports practice. What began as a rule eventually became part of Wesley's identity. By middle and high school, he was choosing his own clothes and beginning to develop a personal sense of style. Like many young creatives, he looked toward culture for inspiration. Rappers and NBA players became major influences, with figures such as Chris Brown, Russell Westbrook, Kelly Oubre Jr., and A$AP Rocky helping shape his understanding of fashion and individuality.

FROM PASSION TO PROFESSION

Realizing There Was Something Bigger in His Eye for Style

For Wesley, styling did not immediately begin as a career path. It started as something he simply enjoyed doing. That changed as people began responding to the looks he created. The outfits he put together for his clients consistently attracted compliments, but what stood out to Wesley was that the looks were not necessarily what people were seeing from other stylists. His ability to find pieces that felt different and create combinations that stood apart made him realize that his eye for fashion could become something more than a personal passion. Styling became a career.

STYLE WITHOUT LIMITS

Individuality Over Labels

When it comes to his approach to styling, Wesley stays true to himself. His philosophy is rooted in individuality and intentionality. He is not interested in putting someone in a designer label simply because the name carries status. Instead, he looks for pieces that people may not necessarily have or think to wear. His goal is never for his clients to look like everyone else in the room. He wants them to stand out. For Wesley, the outfit should do the talking while still allowing the person wearing it to feel like the best version of themselves. His approach is also centered around accessibility. Looking fashionable does not always mean spending an excessive amount of money. Wesley believes you can find a great outfit almost anywhere. Regular retailers can produce looks that appear expensive when the right pieces are selected and styled intentionally. Ultimately, he wants every look to communicate his client's vision down to the smallest detail.

STYLING HIS BROTHER

The Story of Joshua Wesley and Anfernee Orji

Wesley's relationship with NFL player Anfernee Orji goes back much further than fashion. The two have known each other since middle school, initially growing up playing against one another in Little League football. Over time, their friendship became much closer, and Wesley now considers Anfernee another brother. That relationship eventually developed into a professional creative partnership. When Anfernee signed with the New Orleans Saints, Wesley remembers hearing that the team would frequently tell his client that he was one of the best-dressed players there. Years later, seeing strangers compliment Anfernee's outfits during Paris Fashion Week became another significant moment for Wesley. For him, those experiences provided tangible confirmation that what he was building as a stylist was beginning to resonate beyond his immediate circle.

THE CLIENT WHO PUSHED HIM

Growing Through Creative Challenges

Working with someone as close to him as Anfernee has not always been easy—and that is exactly why Wesley believes the relationship has contributed so much to his growth. Anfernee can be particular about what he wears and is not afraid to tell Wesley when he does not want to wear something, even when Wesley believes the outfit works. Rather than allowing those moments to create frustration, Wesley has learned to use them as opportunities to think differently. Working with other clients may sometimes be easier, but Anfernee has challenged Wesley to think outside the box and become more intentional about creating looks that fit the individual rather than simply reflecting his own preferences. Their friendship has also created a foundation of trust. Wesley has helped transform Anfernee's style from his high school days into the way he dresses today, allowing him more freedom to push creative boundaries.

WHEN THE VISION BECOMES VISIBLE

Paris Fashion Week and the Validation of the Work

Some of Wesley's proudest moments have happened on the international fashion stage. During Paris Fashion Week in 2025, Anfernee was featured by the official Paris Fashion Week Instagram account on the final day of the event. More recently, seeing Anfernee featured as the cover image of a PAUSE Online Instagram post during another trip to Paris gave Wesley another moment of reassurance. Those moments represented more than social media recognition. They showed Wesley that the creative decisions he was making behind the scenes were translating visually and gaining attention within fashion spaces. Paris Fashion Week also exposed Wesley to a side of the fashion industry he had previously experienced primarily through social media. Being physically present at the event expanded his perspective and encouraged him to think bigger as both a stylist and a brand owner. Conversations with other brand owners and creative directors gave him insight into how they approached collections, developed ideas, and brought their concepts to completion. Those experiences have since influenced how Wesley approaches his own collections.

FROM STYLING TO DONWES

Building Something of His Own

Wesley's interest in creating a clothing brand grew naturally from his relationship with fashion. Growing up, he frequently found himself shopping at stores such as Zara, Urban Outfitters, and H&M. Eventually, he began asking himself a simple question: if he was already spending money supporting other brands, what would it look like to invest that same energy into something of his own? That question eventually became DonWes. The brand represents faith, identity, growth, and living boldly through Christ, expressed through streetwear. For Wesley, DonWes is about being unapologetic about his faith while remaining relevant, stylish, and culturally connected. The message is not necessarily, “Look at me, I'm a Christian.” Instead, it communicates something more personal: this is who he is, and his faith is part of everything he does. Through every collection, Wesley hopes people see Christ through the brand and feel encouraged to draw closer to Him.

THE STYLIST BEHIND THE BRAND

Bringing His Creative Eye Into DonWes

Wesley's experience as a stylist naturally influences the way he builds DonWes. His understanding of styling allows him to approach photoshoots and campaigns from a creative perspective without necessarily having to rely on someone else to construct the looks. He also pays close attention to industry trends, identifying what may gain traction while finding ways to reinterpret those trends through his own perspective. Rather than simply copying what is popular, Wesley looks for opportunities to put his own twist on it. The result is a brand that exists within contemporary streetwear while remaining connected to his personal identity and faith.

FAITH AT THE CENTER

Fashion With a Greater Purpose

For Wesley, faith is not separate from his career. It is the foundation underneath it. His relationship with Christ heavily influences the way he approaches the fashion industry, entrepreneurship, and creativity. If something he is creating does not honor Christ or help others see Him through the work, Wesley does not want to pursue it. That commitment also shapes how he handles recognition. Wesley acknowledges that receiving recognition for his work feels good, but he does not want status to become the reason he creates. He stays grounded by keeping Jesus Christ at the center and remaining connected to his faith. In his perspective, none of the opportunities or recognition he has received would have been possible without God.

LEARNING TO PIVOT

The Reality Behind the Creative Process

The entrepreneurial journey has also taught Wesley that things rarely go exactly according to plan. Products do not always arrive on time. People do not always follow through. Plans sometimes fall apart. Instead of allowing those challenges to stop him, Wesley has learned how to pivot and find another solution. One of the more difficult lessons has been understanding that not everyone who says they want to help will necessarily follow through. There have been moments when he relied on people to contribute to his brand only to find that they did not fulfill their commitments. Those experiences have taught him to keep moving regardless. Rather than allowing a lack of support to divert him from his vision, Wesley has learned to adapt and remain focused on what he is building.

THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Expanding the Vision

Wesley's ambitions extend far beyond his current position. Over the next five years, he hopes to grow DonWes into a brand that touches the lives of many people. He envisions becoming a vendor at ComplexCon, earning a place on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, and eventually opening a DonWes flagship store in Dallas. His ambitions as a stylist are equally expansive. Wesley hopes to work with artists throughout the entertainment industry, styling them for tours and incorporating pieces from DonWes into their wardrobes. His goal is to continue developing both sides of his career while allowing his work as a stylist and his work as a designer to strengthen one another.

STILL BUILDING

The Story That Has Yet to Be Finished

Despite the accomplishments that may make him appear established from the outside, Wesley views himself as someone who is still working to break through. He currently works with Anfernee full-time throughout the year, along with several other clients he styles occasionally. While others may look at his work and see an established stylist, Wesley knows there is still another door he is trying to open. He is still building his client roster. Still growing his brand. Still learning. And he believes he is close. As a brand owner, this stage of his journey has taught him the importance of remaining faithful in the small things. Wesley understands that success does not always happen immediately. He believes God is continuing to develop him both professionally and personally, and that the opportunities meant for him will come according to God's timing.

FAITH IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT

What Joshua Wesley Wants to Leave Behind

When Wesley looks at the story he is currently writing, he hopes people remember one thing above everything else: he never gave up. His journey is about more than fashion. It is about creativity, perseverance, entrepreneurship, identity, and faith. He wants to be remembered as someone who continued to believe in the vision even when the results were not immediate. Someone who kept moving when support was limited. Someone who remained faithful through the small stages of growth. Most importantly, he wants his story to reflect his relationship with Jesus Christ. For Wesley, everything—from the styling opportunities to the development of DonWes—comes back to the same foundation. Faith it till you make it. And through every chapter still waiting to be written, he intends to keep Christ at the center of it all.

Follow Joshua’s Social Media Pages Here

Personal Instagram: @_joshuawesley

Styling Instagram Page: @styledbyjwes

Brand Instagram Page: @donwesstudious