Richard Kauli was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents coming from torn countries. They saw hope in New York and instilled that into him. Attending Brooklyn Technical High School, he was surrounded by high standards, hard workers, and ‘hype-beasts.’ He couldn’t afford supreme, bape or off-white, but loved working with his hands, so he decided to start making his own clothes. In 2022 Richard and Jules bonded over their distaste for the attention economy and mass surveillance of a “free” state, and collaborated on a small collection, Richard making all the clothing and art, and Jules marketing, and setting everything up logistically. After that first collection Richard took over the brand and Jules began work on his new business, though they are still good friends. Those were the beginnings of “FREE”