Before Bambata Tyehimba was designing jackets, shorts, and custom apparel seen across Dallas, he was a student-athlete walking the halls of David W. Carter High School.
Growing up in Oak Cliff, Tyehimba attended W.H. Atwell Middle School (now known as Judge Louis A. Bedford, Jr. Law Academy) before choosing Carter for its legacy and strong sense of tradition.“There’s a lot of tradition at Carter, and that was part of my reason for wanting to go,” he said. “It made me who I am today. Life is real, and Carter prepared me for the real world.”
A multi-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track, Tyehimba said sports gave him structure and a sense of peace. Practices became a daily reset and a training ground for the discipline he uses as a business owner.
“Anytime we had hard workouts with the football team, I would do the hard workouts first,” he said. “That transitioned into my life. Don’t do the easy things, do the hard things first.”
That mindset, he says, still guides him as the founder of a growing clothing brand, YK1K, known for custom high school, college, and culturally inspired apparel. His designs, including popular Carter Cowboys basketball shorts, have become a staple in the community.
Tyehimba is quick to say his success didn’t happen alone, crediting several Carter and Atwell educators and coaches who mentored him during his teenage years.
“Coach Denman was one of my coaches at Atwelland transitioned with me to Carter. He grew up in the same neighborhood, so seeing him every day showed me I could be a successful Black man too. My social studies teacher taught me how to be positive and humble, and Coach Jackson, my track coach, changed my life. He didn’t let me be sorry; he showed me tough love, and that shaped me into who I am today,” he said.
After graduating, Tyehimba played football at Tennessee State University before injuries shifted his path. Drawing from his upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs and years spent observing his parents run a business, he turned to fashion.
Before fully stepping into entrepreneurship, Tyehimba returned to the classroom as an educator. He taught science at Oliver Wendell Holmes Academy (now known as John Lewis Social Justice Academy at Oliver Wendell Holmes) and Sam Tasby Middle School.
Operating from his family’s longtime storefront and online, his growing brand produces licensed apparel for universities and schools across Texas, including Southern Methodist University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas, and Baylor University, with plans to expand into a larger warehouse space.
“I’m representing my ancestors and the people who came before me, who made sacrifices so I could even be in business,” he said. “That’s a unique and humbling experience, especially as a Black-owned apparel brand.”
For Tyehimba, the journey from Carter Cowboy to entrepreneur isn’t just personal success; it’s a
reflection of the community, educators, and experiences that helped stitch his future together.
“If you have a vision, do your research and start because there’s no perfect way to do anything,” he said. “I appreciate all the love and support, and I just want to pass the baton to the next generation. Without Dallas ISD and Carter, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
