Atlanta influences everything, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
From the day Atlanta’s native son Bem Joiner said “Atlanta Influences Everything,” the city of Atlanta’s mantra was born. The company founded by Tory Edwards, head of operations and content; Joiner, head of innovation and civic; and Ian Ford who oversees creative, built on those words and it has now morphed into events like the highly successful 404 Day, Atlanta United uniforms, local and international community collaborations, and now a new retail store at the airport.
Expanding from the AIE hub on Edgewood Avenue, the latest outpost opened on Concourse B today with notable guests scheduled to be in attendance such as Mayor Andre Dickens.
“This is big, not only for us but for the city we love,” Ian Ford told Capital B Atlanta. “We know and believe that Atlanta really does influence everything. And now we are on a huge stage to share this belief with the world. This is the busiest airport in the world, with millions of people touching down every week. And now these people get to experience our brand — our rallying call for the people that make this city so important, so beautiful and so influential. In the words of Jeezy, we are putting on for our city.”
The airport store offers travelers a curated selection of exclusive apparel, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, sweatshirts and items from local creators.
“The Atlanta Influences Everything brand represents more than a clothing line. AIE is an extraordinary representation of Atlanta’s history, culture, small-business commitment, and the many attributes that make Atlanta great,” Odie Donald, former chief of staff to Mayor André Dickens said to Capital B. “Just as important, to have an entity that represents the unique path of entrepreneurs connected to new and dynamic opportunities at the world’s busiest airport is a testament to why Atlanta is truly the gateway to the world. I was honored to play a role in developing programming that provides new opportunities to the small business engine that makes the city and ultimately our world great!”
With this new store, the founders believe this new era elevates Atlanta’s influence on a global stage.
“Atlanta Influences Everything was built in service of this city, so being in the world’s busiest airport is a full-circle moment for us,” Edwards said. “It’s not just a milestone for our brand; it’s a win for Atlanta’s small businesses, creatives, and the community we’ve been showing up for over the past decade. This space lets us share the spirit of Atlanta with the world, while making sure the people who call this city home see themselves in it, too. At our core, AIE is what happens when culture and commerce show up for community.”
For cofounder Joiner, a proud Atlanta native from the west side and product of the city’s public schools who remembers taking field trips to the airport, this moment is particularly special.
“We started off as a consultancy helping brands that were trying to break into the Atlanta market understand Atlanta from a bottom-up cultural standpoint,” Joiner said. “And then we created the shirt to amplify that particular work. Who knew that 10 years later, the shirt and the ideology would make it into the airport? For us, that’s unbelievable but deserved.”
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