Entry Level x Euphoria Market
Founder of Entry Level, Jackson Wheeler
In 2017, Jackson Wheeler arrived in Washington, D.C., chasing a dream: a career in law. Working grueling hours as a paralegal, Jackson’s sights were set on the LSAT and a future in courtrooms. However, as the pandemic swept in, it brought more than layoffs — it forced Jackson to confront the hard truth that he didn’t want to be a lawyer at all.
“I was burnt out, unhappy, and feeling really hopeless about my career,” Jackson recalled. When COVID-19 cost him his job in 2020, what felt like a dead end instead cracked open a new path. With no job prospects and a lot of frustration, Jackson turned to something he had never seriously pursued before: his creativity. In the small studio apartment he shared with his then-new girlfriend, Jackson sketched the early designs for what would become his clothing brand, Entry Level.
Armed with 50 t-shirts and a cardboard box, Jackson launched his first collection in April 2021 — and to his amazement, sold out in a week. “I told myself if I sold even half, it would be a win,” he said. “That first sell-out showed me I could actually do this.”
Entry Level was born not just from Jackson’s circumstances, but from a bigger vision of wanting to tell the stories of workers — their struggles, dreams, and frustrations — through streetwear. Staying true to his values, he committed early to ethical manufacturing. “I would have felt funny selling designs about workers’ rights if they were stitched together in a sweatshop,” he said.
The name “Entry Level” came naturally. Sitting at his desk with a blank notebook, Jackson wrote it down on his first try. It clicked instantly — a perfect reflection of the experiences he wanted his brand to represent.
Today, Entry Level has grown beyond Jackson’s expectations. Through local pop-ups, collaborations with like-minded creators, and loyal customers, the brand thrives, helping fund Jackson’s next big milestone: his wedding with the same girlfriend who helped him ship those first 50 tees.
“Every new drop is still scary,” Jackson admitted. “But it reminds me I’m still pushing myself. Still proving something. Still staying true to what Entry Level was always meant to be.”
Find Jackson vending at Euphoria Market on Sunday, June 1. Jackson and Euphoria Market are also collabing on an exciting piece highlighting one of the most classic high school films through a custom bootleg tee. The high school film is yet to be announced. You won’t want to miss out.
