Anthony Ramirez II
Reshaping The Bronx narrative through culture, commerce, and community pride, from Arthur Avenue to LaGuardia's departure gates.
The Spark
Anthony's mission started with frustration and a heartbreaking discovery. As a lifelong Bronxite, he was tired of the reactions he got when people learned where he was from. The turning point came in 2006, while he was working at a South Bronx after-school program. He and a friend went looking for positive, inspiring Bronx imagery for their students' walls and found almost nothing: zoo ads, Yankees posters, and a "Bronx" movie that was actually filmed in Vancouver.
When he asked his students what they wanted to be when they grew up, the answers almost always involved leaving the borough behind. They believed nothing good had ever come out of The Bronx. So Anthony and his friend pooled $2,500 each in saved lunch money and started creating the positive narrative their students couldn't see.
“We never set out to sell t-shirts. We set out to change what people picture when they hear The Bronx, and everything we build serves that.”
Building the Brand
Anthony and his brothers possess an infectious love for their borough and an unwavering commitment to their community. They have the power to reshape perceptions through sheer force of will, inspiring others to see The Bronx in a new light.
From The Bronx was established in 2006 with a clear mission: improve the borough's image and share its rich history and culture with the world. Twenty years in, the company designs, produces, and sells original Bronx-themed merchandise, from apparel and accessories to art prints and home goods, and leads Arthur Avenue food tours that international press have called among the most authentic New York experiences. It operates as a cultural platform, collaborating with local artists, photographers, schools, and nonprofits, with work featured in MoMA's collection and collaborations with Adidas and the artist JR.
In 2024, From The Bronx became the first Bronx-based business to join LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B Holiday Market. Its products have been sold in New York City, Korea, and Japan, and its collaboration with French artist JR on the South Bronx (S)heroes project was featured in an HBO documentary.
Forged in Challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic tested the company's resilience. When access to outside vendors was cut off, Anthony and his partners brought production in-house, teaching themselves screen printing, heat pressing, sublimation, and even mug-making to keep a continuous flow of new, limited-edition merchandise. That capability never left: today From The Bronx runs its own production floor for quick-turn releases and partners with local printers for larger runs.
The Vision Ahead
Anthony's long-term vision is to make From The Bronx the definitive global brand for Bronx culture: gear worn proudly by locals at home and Bronx expats around the world. To get there, he plans to grow wholesale accounts, expand the brand's permanent retail footprint beyond The Bronx Beer Hall and LaGuardia Airport, and grow Mainland Media's storytelling arm producing video and editorial content focused on Bronx stories.