Up Next: How Guy Anthony Is Making His Mark and Democratizing Luxury Fashion With Grover NYC

Like many kids growing up, the early years of Guy Anthony’s Eastside Detroit upbringing informed much of the inspiration that drives him today. From the city’s signature gators and minks to the fashion presentations every Sunday at church, Anthony learned early on that dressing well was important.

From the beginning, style has become a central part of Anthony’s life, marked by OOTD calendars long before the existence of social media. “Mr. Best Dressed”—as evidenced by his superlative titles in middle and high school—went on to study at Michigan State before transitioning to Bauder College in Atlanta, Georgia. However, with limited school resources and no internships in sight, Anthony pursued a career in public health and activism—a cause that stemmed from his experiences as a young person who journeyed through an HIV and bipolar disorder diagnosis between the ages of 21 and 26.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony recalls being in a “state” when he took the season of solitude as a sign to revisit his fervor for fashion. Missing a creative outlet in his life, Anthony drew sketches during a manic episode, with jazz playing in the background. It was Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us” that ignited the spark for the brand’s name. Coupled with his love for New York as a now-Brooklyn resident, Grover NYC was born.

Anthony turned to Fiverr, with only a modest hand-drawn sketch, to begin pursuing what he refers to as his “visual calling.” He had used the platform to help build his nonprofit Black, Gifted & Whole years earlier and hoped he could find a factory to work with. Working entirely online, he eventually connected with a vendor that helped him learn the ins and outs of production.

From 2020 to 2021, Anthony recalls putting pen to paper to understand every aspect of the business he was taking on. The designer officially formed the business in 2021 and had his first sample in hand in the following year. Anthony officially launched Grover NYC in 2022 with a unisex messenger bag named “BALDWIN” after iconic writer and activist James Baldwin. The introductory style debuted in vibrant orange, a choice Anthony says was his way of making a “grand entrance” onto the fashion scene.

Naming each new style is just as intentional, which Anthony considers a form of personal expression. His most recent launch, the AILEY Unisex Wallet, pays homage to Alvin Ailey, the world-renowned dancer, activist, and founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Reflecting on the significance of the legacy of those who came before him, Anthony shares: “I'm a Black queer man living in America, and two people that were instrumental in who I am and my art are James Baldwin and Alvin Ailey. I went to a performing arts middle school and high school. One of the first dances that we did in middle school was “Revelations” by Alvin Ailey, and I have to pay homage to him. One of the first books that lived with me for years after I read it was Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. These are two Black queer men that were open at a time when it was criminalized. For them to be who they are—and be so proud of who they are—and then also impart their art to the world, I stand on their shoulders. But not only them, I stand on the shoulders of Black designers that most people don't talk about, like Ann Lowe, Patrick Kelly, or Tracy Reese, who's also from Detroit like me.”

For Anthony, who considers himself an all-around artist, affordable luxury accessories are his current canvas of choice. In addition to encouraging people to remove binary ways of thinking regarding fashion choices, he also wanted to ensure his designs were priced to appeal to younger shoppers as much as his “grandma or her friends.”

“I'm successful because of word of mouth. The whole world doesn't know about Grover, but the girlies that know know, and they're telling the other girlies,” Anthony dotes over his customer base. “Once they see the quality of the bag, they think that they're getting over on me. I'm like, ‘No, this is my love letter to y'all. You deserve affordable luxury too.’”

Although Grover NYC is exclusively available online, Anthony promises exciting things to come for up-close-and-personal experiences with the brand in the future. The world has only gotten a glimpse of Anthony’s vision for Grover NYC; he foresees a full leather line of goods later down the road. While the self-funded designer is still basking in the recent launch of his latest release, his plans include the exploration of affordable luxury keychains, messenger bags, and carry-ons, to name a few. However, Anthony insists that “slow and steady” is how he wants to run his race.

“I'm not out here trying to compete with my brothers, Brandon Blackwood, Telfar, or Sergio Hudson,” Anthony reflects. “I'm competing with myself. I am gradually doing what feels good for Guy and the brand.”