An actor with several movie credits to his name, Nico East has also released four EPs under the stage name, Boss Champs. Last year, he added another round to his arsenal by launching Polished, a lifestyle company.

Based in Los Angeles, East and business partner and fellow Jamaican Errol McCall are principals of the fledgling business. They manufacture an assortment of leisure wear including clothes, handbags as well as home decor.

East, who is from Independence City in Portmore, said he was encouraged to start Polished by associates.

“I started a clothing line because I’ve always had a fashion sense that resonated with others. People would constantly compliment and/or ask me where did I get this piece or that fit and oftentimes it would be from exclusive catalogues, special order, or custom because I believe strongly in individuality,” he explained. “I’ve always been exploring the clothing in different iterations from my teen years until now, and in 2021 I finally found the right collaborator in Errol McCall to help bring my visions to life.”

McCall also operates his own company, ENE Trends. He co-designs the pieces and handles most of “the technical and physical side of the actual design work”. East’s role is to bring creative direction to those designs.

He did not disclose the startup cost for Polished, but said the venture officially started in February 2021 with a Bomber jacket and casual wear. Since then, the Polished brand — which is sold online at buypolished.com — has expanded to backpacks, purses, watches, umbrellas, belts, home decor and travel gear.

The clientele to date is mainly American with Jamaicans gradually warming to the products which are designed to suit diverse buyers.

“Our target market really spans all ages and walks of life for those that desire a luxury lifestyle and design. We started with young adult males as that is the age group I belong to and my lifestyle would first reflect. Then expanded to women as I have a predominantly female following and often work closely with a variety of models,” said East.

A US resident for over 20 years, East has appeared in a handful of independent movies including Portrait of a Woman (2009), Sealing Your Fate (2010), and Aleta: Vampire Mistress (2012).

As Boss Champs, he has recorded a number of songs. His latest EP, International Commodity, was released in February.