For Riverhead founder of popular clothing line, giving back to local kids is the sweetest part of success

Growing up off Doctors Path, positive role models were few and far between for Anthony Harris, a Riverhead native who found himself heading in the wrong direction by the time he reached his teens.

He dropped out of high school in 11th grade, despite being in honors classes.

“Being smart wasn’t cool,” he says. “I was around the wrong people.” So Harris spent his time “on the streets” instead — where sooner or later, he knows, he was bound to end up in serious trouble.

“I was a just knucklehead,” he says, looking back on those days.

Harris, now 32, credits the woman who would become his girlfriend and the mother of his son, Laura Cohen, with turning his life around. They knew each other in high school, but never dated until five years or so after he left school.

“She told me, ‘You’re too smart to be on the streets. You’ve got to do something with your life. Don’t waste it.’”

Perhaps looking to impress the young lady, Harris paid attention. He took an exam at Suffok County Community College and scored high enough to get his equivalency diploma without having to take the GED exam. He enrolled at Suffolk full-time, with thoughts of becoming a social worker.

His aspirations led him to an internship as a mentor at Timothy Hill Childrens Ranch in Riverhead. He loved the work and when the ranch offered him a full-time job, he jumped at it.

“I have a passion for working with kids,” Harris explains. “I have three younger brothers that I basically raised. I was a father figure to them.”

But Harris has another passion, too: clothing.

“I started making clothes for myself because I wanted something unique. Then my friends asked me to make some for them, so I did. And then more people wanted my products,” he says.

“I didn’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m gonna start a clothing line,’” Harris says. “It just happened to me.”

And happen it did — especially after he met rap star 50 Cent at a book-signing. The rapper liked his clothing and wanted to wear it. Things took off from there, Harris said. His clothing line, LIR Clothing, has adorned reggae artist Mavado, Haitian musician and presidential candidate Wyclef, and cast members of Real Husbands of Hollywood. It’s also been worn by NFL and NBA players.

“It’s been very successful,” Harris says. His line of T-shirts, tank tops and sweat shirts is currently in 13 stores, with more lined up. “A few celebrities helped me get over the top.”

But the young entrepreneur says he’ll never forget where he came from.

“I want to do everything he can to give kids a positive role model,” he says. “I came from the same place. None of us had any role models. I want to let children know they can better themselves, make something of themselves. Stay in school, don’t give up. They can be anything they want to be.”

Every year for the past three years he’s hosted a back-to-school event at the town park in the neighborhood where he grew up. He throws a party for kids and their families, complete with food and soft drinks, a bouncy-house, face-painting and balloon animals. He gives away school supplies, backpacks and LIR T-shirts. This year, for the first time, other local businesses helped sponsor the event, which has grown to attract more than 150 children, he said.

Harris, now the father of an 11-month-old son, is planning to expand his good works for area children. He plans to undertake a Thanksgiving food drive this year and host a Christmas bowling and pizza party at Wildwood Lanes.

“It’s important to give back,” Harris says. “And just as important to get that message across to our kids. When you make it, never forget where you came from.”