About Fifty Karats
Fifty Karats is a Miami-born streetwear brand founded in 2013 by Udo Ihem. Built on a single principle — make the work, not the noise — Fifty Karats has grown from a homegrown idea into a brand with an international following from Miami to New York to Paris to Seoul.
The Make Money Not Friends story
In 2015, we released the original Make Money Not Friends nylon bomber jacket. It wasn't designed to be a slogan piece — it was designed to be the jacket we wanted to wear. The phrase resonated. The jacket sold out. It came back. It sold out again.
In February 2016 it made Hypebeast’s street snaps and W Magazine’s 55 best coats of New York Fashion Week.
A decade later, the Make Money Not Friends Jacket is still the flagship of the line. The Jacket II is the same jacket with a more minimal front: same cut, same fabric, same construction. Both are cut, sewn, and shipped from Miami. Both carry the Make Money Not Friends graphic across the back and the Fifty Karats™ logo on the collar; the original also carries the logo on the chest.
What we make
The catalog has expanded around the original idea: jackets, sunglasses, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants, jewelry, and accessories. Every piece is made for people who move with purpose. Some highlights:
- Make Money Not Friends Jacket — the original 2015 bomber, in black, with limited color runs coming.
- Make Money Not Friends Jacket II — the same jacket with a more minimal front.
- Quest Messenger Bag — genuine leather, with the Fifty Karats braided strap.
- Haloe Blü jewelry — the Inner Haloe pendants and Inner Halo ring by Carelaa x Twelve’Len, and artist pendants by Deswitit and Dimithry Victor.
- Conductor Sunglasses — premium acetate frames in Sapphire, Black, and Topaz.
- Blackjack Sunglasses — clean, polarized, all-black.
- Make Money Not Friends Hoodie — slightly cropped fit with chest emblem.
From the archive
More of the story is in Explore:
- In the Press — New York Fashion Week, W, GQ, The Fader, Vogue Korea and The New York Times.
- Fifty Karats Forever — five years, on the highway signs.
- Hollywood Beach Chronicles — the jacket in three new colors, 2017.
- Kodak Black: The Tracksuits
- The Homies Only — the parties.
Authenticity
If you're buying a Fifty Karats piece outside of fiftykarats.com, double-check it. The brand has been imitated since 2015 — there are knockoffs of the Make Money Not Friends Jacket on Amazon, Etsy, and various drop-ship sites. The real ones come from us. Always have.
The real ones come from us.
Where we're based
Fifty Karats operates out of Miami, Florida. Orders ship from our Miami fulfillment center to customers across the US and internationally.
Connect
For wholesale, press, or collaboration inquiries, reach out at fiftykarats@gmail.com. For order questions, the same address works.
FAQ
Who founded Fifty Karats?
Udo Ihem founded Fifty Karats in Miami in 2013.
What is the Make Money Not Friends Jacket?
Released in 2015, it's the original Fifty Karats nylon bomber jacket and the brand's flagship piece. The Make Money Not Friends graphic runs across the back; the Fifty Karats™ logo sits on the chest and the collar.
Is Fifty Karats a real brand?
Yes. Fifty Karats has been operating since 2013 and is the originator of the Make Money Not Friends jacket and slogan. Counterfeits exist on third-party marketplaces — buy direct at fiftykarats.com to confirm authenticity.
Where does Fifty Karats ship from?
Miami, Florida. We ship to the US and internationally.
What's the difference between the Make Money Not Friends Jacket and Jacket II?
The front. The Jacket II has a more minimal front design. Everything else is the same: the cut, the fabric, the construction and the graphic across the back.