CONTENTS Throttle gear apperal Check out the latest t-shirts collection
VICTORIA WRIGHT Upcoming Fall/Winter collection.
Philadelphia kids fashion week
URBANE
Photos from Fashion week for Kids.
See the latest collection. The story behind Urbane.
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VICTORIA WRIGHT
The latest collection for Fall/Winter 2017 that will soon be hitting stores in September 2017; Inspired by the strong cosmopolitan woman of New York City.
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URBANE
URBANE SS17 “TSC” (The Story Continues) Collection. It tells the story of a cancer survivor’s experience.
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THROTTLE GEAR
A clothing brand, a community and a movement that firmly believes in the power of pursuing your dreams and passions in every second of your life.
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PHILADELPHIA KIDS FASHION SHOW
Coverage and Photos from the Philadelphia Kids fashion week.
ek
From the editor As a fashion exhibit for Designers, Makeup Artists,Models , Photographers, Brands and Fashion Enthusiast ; we are proudly releasing our summer issue of High Voltage fashion magazine. We know that it will be scored by designers, photographers, models, stylists and retailers, as well as by our non-industry readers, to see
liberia international fashion show Coverage & Photos from Runway Liberia International fashion show
what is happening in the fashion world, and this issue won’t dis-
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RUNWAY LIBERIA FASHION SHOW
Created by Junda Morris- Kennedy, Runway Liberia(RL) is the biggest event showcasing Liberian Fashion, Music & Arts on an international platform. Check out the Photos from the fashion show.
appoint. Apart from anything else, the breadth of photography and styling emphasizes the versatility and the originality of the creative side of fashion. We are thankful to fashion designers, brands, photographers, make up art-
CLASSIC MAN BE SPOKE
ists, content writers,
Get the cool summer looks
editors who volunteered to create the high voltage fashion magazine. We will continue to thrive and present the artistry of the various designers and brands.
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CLASSIC MAN BE SPOKE
Euro-centric modern men’s wear. Get the cool summer looks.
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MIDSUMMER MADNESS
Clyopatra Couture presenting the MIDSUMMER MADNESS fashion show. The TRIBE Collection.
Priyanka Priyanka Editor
VICTORIA WRIGHT DESIGNS INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER
VICTORIA WRIGHT
V Photographers Kaushik Sarkar Abhirup Sarkar Make up Daniella C Hyde In photo Victoria Wright
ictoria Wright’s personality-rich clothing isn’t for those who want to go unnoticed. Her upcoming collection is inspired by the strong cosmopolitan woman of New York City. Style for this urban jungle hopping from work, to happy hour with friends, to art gallery openings, galas etc. Her motto of late is “Less is more”. She focuses on bringing just a few important and subtle details into each of the designs so as to not over power. In this interview she speaks with the same grace and enthusiasm that characterizes her garments. Your creative process ? My creative process really varies each season. The typical formula is that I find inspiration, develop a concept and color story, sketch my designs, drape/pattern-make, make prototypes to test fit and proportion, and then create the final samples for the photo shoot. My inspiration always comes in different forms whether its from an art exhibit, traveling to a new city, or seeing an inspiring film.
VICTORIA WRIGHT DESIGNS
INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER What sparked your interest in fashion?
FALL/WINTER COLLECTION
My interest in fashion began when I was very young. As a child my mother always encouraged my creative curiosity and taught me art history. So from a very young age I knew I wanted to be some sort of artist. My favorite thing to draw was always
Are y o u s e l f taught did you fashion
women in fantastic dresses. What made you take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it? One day when I was about 12 or 13 years old I realized that I could turn my interest in drawing and imagining clothing into a career. I became very interested in learning how to turn my two dimensional ideas into a real wearable creation. So, I learned how to sew, how to pattern make, and was accepted into Parson’s The New School of Design and then Moore College of Art and Design where I expanded my fashion education.
or study design?
I studied fashion design at Parson’s the New School for Design and Moore College of Art and Design. During my college years I also completed internships at Walter Baker and Rebecca Taylor where I gained invaluable industry knowledge. How has your work evolved since you began your own label? Since I began my namesake line, I’ve definitely refined my style, nar-
rowed d o w n who my customer is, and altered my focus on more on timeless designs and textiles rather than trend driven styles.
About your current collection for the editorial? My current collection is for Fall/Winter 2017 and will be hitting stores in September 2017. I was really inspired by the strong cosmopolitan woman of New York City. I sort of envisioned her in this urban jungle going from work, to happy hour with friends, to art gallery openings, galas etc. I imagined this fabulous woman’s life and tried to create pieces that she could wear for various events and for places she would be going as she lives her life. I used some really interesting and graphic animal prints in a very subtle way to sort of evoke that “urban jungle” idea while still remaining very timeless and sophisticated. I also took inspiration from the 70’s and 80’s for some silhouettes and color combinations. I was really inspired by how fashion in the late 70’s and 80’s changed to reflect the working woman and the female’s evolving role. I gravitated towards that idea because I think it is more relevant than ever today as women are excelling in various fields and have more opportunities to live the life the choose than ever before. Even though there is still work to do in order to achieve pay equality, lessening the gender gap, providing better maternity leave, etc. I still wanted to celebrate women and how far we have come while giving them pieces to wear while continuing to make great strides forward.
VICTORIA WRIGHT DESIGNS FALL/winter COLLECTION
Model - Lexus McKinney
You’ve been active in the field of design for some time, have you noticed an evolution? I have definitely noticed a change in how women are buying clothes and a change in the type of clothing they buy. Not so long ago, women were buying and wearing the same brands head to toe but now we are more interested in creating a individual identity with the clothing we wear. There has also been a change in how women buy clothing. They are more interested in a personal experience when purchasing clothes. Women tend to prefer going to smaller boutiques rather than to the mall. There has also been a surge of online shopping where women can personally curate their own wardrobe with the swipe of a finger or click of a mouse. There is so much choice available women can really use the web to find unique pieces that no one else in their area will have and can style them in new unexpected ways inspired by photos they can see and share on Instagram, pinterest, etc. So overall I see the trend is moving towards a distinct individualism in dressing. What do you think of designers who try to be trendy? I think it is important to pay attention to trends but designers should be careful not to get too caught up in trends since they often fade quickly. In the current fashion landscape there are so many fast fashion companies who can spit out trendy pieces faster, and at a lower price so I find that those kind of pieces aren’t the most successful for a contemporary line such as mine. That being said I do think it is good to acknowledge and utilize some larger trend themes which can be interpreted in a way that will be wearable even after the more specific trend has passed. For example, the statement sleeve is a big trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. So I have paid very close attention to this trend while trying not to over exhaust the idea. What’s a typical day of work like? A typical day of work is hard to describe because every day is a little different for me! Depending on the time of year I take on various different roles. Right now I am in my designing and product development phase so I am researching a lot to define my concept and color/fabric story. After I gather enough research and have a firm idea of my vision for the season I draw various styles and then narrow down which pieces I think will be the best sellers. Afterwards I start draping, pattern-making, making prototypes, testing fit, and then creating the final samples. After the design process I change roles to be a marketer and sales person in order to promote and sell the line to potential new buyers and existing accounts.
Who or what inspires you? I find inspiration all over. Street style from around the globe, art exhibits, vintage fashion, films, you name it! I feel most inspired when I am travelling. I just love to see how people from different places dress, where they go for leisure, and to experience their culture. How would you define your style? I would define my style as feminine minimalism. I like to mix subtle feminine details and soft textiles with simple silhouettes that complement the female form. Your biggest talent? I think my greatest talent is to play with different textures and fabrications to make a very simple silhouette or a basic everyday garment into a statement piece. I love finding unique fabrics and using them in new and exciting ways in my designs.  What are the challenges of your profession?  There are a lot of challenges in the fashion industry as it is a very competitive industry. My biggest personal challenge has been juggling the many different roles I have to play being a fashion startup. I do everything from designing, sample development, managing production, selling the line, marketing, etc. It’s a lot of job roles to take on so its definitely hard work. But of course, I love it! Overall in the fashion industry, I find it is really difficult to get my brand out there for enough viewers to see and buy. Its hard to compete with larger brands who have more capital and influence. Breaking into the market is one of the biggest challenges for sure!
Have your pieces become more appealing to people as a result? I believe so! I have seen an increase in sales, followers, and overall interest in my line since I’ve refined my work. What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work? I’m very interested in looking at how women all over the world are dressing. I love to follow blogs such as the Sartorialist, Facehunter, and Atelier Doré to get a sense of what real women are wearing and how they are mixing and matching different pieces to create their own individual style. I think its not so much about wearing one brand head to toe anymore but more about really creating your own look with various pieces, maybe some designer, some vintage, and some basics. I look at these sort of things and think about how my customer can mix and match my pieces in her wardrobe. What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company? The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t please everyone and not to take things too personally. I always love to have feedback about my designs but it got to a point where I was struggling to listen too everyone’s opinion and still maintain my own creative vision. I’ve learned to listen to feedback selectively and not too sweat it too much if someone doesn’t like my design. Fashion is such a large and subjective indiustry that its impossible to create something that everyone will lvoe! I learned its better to focus on my customer and to hone in on what she is looking for in a garment.
VICTORIA WRIGHT DESIGNS FALL/WINTER COLLECTION Model - MELY DONG
What advice would you give to young designers? My advice to young designers is to intern and work for fashion companies while you are in school/post graduation. This is the best way to figure out how the industry works and who you are as a designer. After working for other design houses they can have a great idea of what they want to focus on, what they like designing, if they want to start their own company, and if so, they will be better equipped to run their own business. What would you like to achieve in near future? My goals for the near future are to expand my line’s reach into more boutiques so that it can reach more customers. I am also interested in expanding my e-commerce business because more and more this is becoming the new way which women are shopping. Are you superstitious or do you have any rules you live by? I suppose I can be a little superstitious in a way because I definitely believe in karma. I always live by the golden rule: treat others how you wish to be treated. I think that’s an important rule in business and in life in general. I think if you put good energy into the world then good energy will come back to you.
What’s your motto? My design/style motto of late is “Less is more”. I focus on bringing just a few important and subtle details into each of my designs so as to not over power. My ultimate goal with my designs is to give my customer clothing that makes her feel good and makes her feel confident to go out, live her life, and accomplish her own goals. So I definitely want my customer to wear the dress rather than the dress wear her. What is the importance of fashion? I find that the importance of fashion is in its ability to help us identify who we are, to celebrate our individuality, and most of all to have fun! On work-life balance I’m probably the worst at work-life balance. My studio is in my home so if I feel a sudden strike of inspiration, or if can’t sleep I can go upstairs to my work space and get right to work. My husband and I have definitely spent nights where I’m sewing and he is watching something on Netflix next to me keeping me company. So my life and my work are pretty well intertwined. I don’t necessarily think its such a bad thing though because I love what I do and my husband, family, and friends are so supportive. What are you working on at the moment? I have just began working on my Spring/Summer 2018 collection. The designs are just about ready and our product development has begun. I’m hoping to have the collection ready by mid July for the photoshoot.
What are your main professional objectives? My main professional objectives are to continue the growth and reach of my company. I’m hoping to have my brand available at boutiques across the country and one day even overseas. Which of your pieces are you most proud of? I am particularly proud of my Stevie Blouse. I designed the blouse inspired by Stevie Nicks for my Spring 2017 collection and it amazed me with how well it did! I sold so many I had to do a second production run this season. The piece is super versatile and looks good on women of a variety of ages, sizes, skin tones, it’s really a great garment that works for almost anyone. I love how easy it is to wear also. It looks great with a chic pencil skirt for work or a casual pair of jeans for the weekend. For the Fall I included the style again due to its popularity. I re-imagined it with silk and a modern guipure lace. Its definitely dressier but will be perfect for the holiday season in my opinion. It still looks fabulous with jeans and would be great for a night out but still can work paired with a long skirt for a cocktail party or even a gala! Do you think there was a crucial turning point in your career as a designer? There was a very specific and crucial turning point in my career. After I graduated from fashion school I was thrown into a very unfriendly and competitive environment vying for the few jobs that were available in a damaged economy. I always had wanted to have my own line, but felt it would be wiser to work for an established company before starting the venture. I worked several internships, some freelance positions, and retail positions all while creating my own designs to keep my creative spirit alive. One day, I was at last offered a job at a fashion company in New York. The only problem was they wanted me to move to NYC and start working right away. When I asked for a week to transition, the offer was rescinded. I was so disappointed and almost defeated as this goal I had been working towards, and thought I had achieved, was so quickly taken away. A week later I was contacted by a board member from the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator and the reality of having my own line seemed possible. I took the plunge into entrepreneurship when they offered me a residency at the Incubator in 2014. I officially established my company and haven’t looked back since!
Check out her website at www.victoriawrightdesigns.com
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UPCOMING FASHION WEEKS IN US EAST COAST
NY Fashion Week
September 7 - 14, 2017 at Various Locations in New York www.nyfw.com
Philly Fashion Week
September 18 - 23, 2017 at Dilworth Park, Philadelphia www.phillyfashionweek.org
DC Fashion Week
September 16 - 24, 2017 at Various Locations in Washington DC www.dcfashionweek.org
AC Fashion Week
September 14 - 16, 2017 at Showboat Hotel Orleans Ballroom, AC www.atlanticcityfashionweek.com
LIBERIA INTERNATIONAL FASHION SHOW FASHION SHOW
29 RUNWAY liberia international Coverage by: Kaushik Sarkar Photographer www.pixilens.com
Runway Liberiais the biggest event showcasing Liberian Fashion, Music & Arts on an international platform. Check out the Photos from the fashion show.
PHOTOS FROM THE RUNWAY LIBERIA INTN’L FASHION SHOW
DESIGNER: JPRATT
PHOTOS FROM THE RUNWAY LIBERIA INTN’L FASHION SHOW DESIGNER: DAHN LE
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VARIOUS
PHOTOS FROM THE RUNWAY LIBERIA INTN’L FASHION SHOW
EPHI 210 BY MIATTA SANDY (SIERRA LEONE)
PHOTOS FROM THE RUNWAY LIBERIA INTN’L FASHION SHOW
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COOL SUMMER LOOKS
CLASSIC MAN BE SPOKE
Photography By Kaushik Sarkar
COOL SUMMER LOOKS
BY CLASSIC MAN BE SPOKE
ery cool and Euro-centric modern custom wear for men. Created in partnership by two active duty military personal. Classicmanbespoke brand gives us a unique sense of style and looks. Classicmanbespoke is a owned by Ashley Ellis and Demetrius Threadgill. Here’s what they had to tell High Voltage Fashion .
help people get quality custom clothing at an affordable price. Looking around the market it was very view businesses providing a total bespoke look and we wanted to help people develop their fashion sense. Are you self
develop our own personal fashion sense. In the beginning we had an obsession with shawl lapels and would only have jackets/ blazers made in that particular style.
What made you guys take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it? We wanted to
taught or did you study fashion design? We are both self taught and our styles are constantly evolving. How has your work evolved since you began your own label? Our fashion style is constantly evolving as we
Have your pieces become more appealing to people as a result? Growth and being comfortable in our skin. As our fashion sense has evolved we are able to help our clients push the boundaries of what they thought was possible.
CLASSICMANBESPOKE COOL SUMMER LOOKS Model - Eric Wright
What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work? The why and how does it influence our business. It’s a drive to get people to understand why we do what we do. What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company? Communication and patience is key. What advice would you give to young designers? Be patient and work hard. What would you like to achieve in near future? We would like to continue to build our clientele and grow. Are you superstitious or do you have any rules you live by? Live everyday like its your last and treat all people with respect. What’s your motto? Carpe Diem What is the importance of fashion? Fashion is important because it allows you to be while making you comfortable in your own skin. On work-life balance? Taking advantage of every opportunity and enjoying life. What are you working on at the moment? Continuing to develop our business and website and growing our brand. What’s a goal you’d dream of achieving? Having a successful business that allows us to expand into different ventures. What are your main professional objectives? To expose people to fashion and allow people the ability to design their own clothes. Who or what inspires you? We find inspiration in traveling so we are often inspired by different cultures and the people that created it. What’s a typical day of work like? We are both active duty military so we usually communicate through the day and work on business ventures at night. How would you define your style? Euro-centric modern What are the challenges of your profession? Developing a niche and target audience. Describe your current collection for the editorial. Our current collection of suits are modern fashion forward styles that are versatile enough to wear in the boardroom or a night on the town.
CLASSICMANBESPOKE COOL SUMMER LOOKS Model - Brett Erik
Check out their website at www.classicmanbespoke.com
THROTTLE
LATEST TSHIRT COLLECTION
THROTTLE GEAR APPAREL
Photographers: Kaushik Sarkar & Abhirup Sarkar Make up by: Danielle C Hyde
THROTTLE GEAR Apparel was founded by, Todd Briggs, in 2012 on the foundation of his passion for motorcycles and de stress while riding. What started as a simple design created by staring
THE BRAND’S PERCEPTION FROM THE OWNER HIMSELF
at a motorcycle for hours has since evolved into a new streetwear brand and a movement.
To start a business is to put oneself
have a unique communication style
out in the open for failure and suc-
that is what I would call one of a kind,
cess. I believe that my time in the
though I have had difficulty coping
greater than myself. Whether through scholastic
US Navy, my experience as a graph-
with it. With this brand, I want peo-
achievement, organizational notoriety, or personal
ic designer, my relationships with
ple to speak with more than just their
family and friends, and other diffi-
words. Whenever you walk out the
cult/rewarding life situations have
door in the morning you should be
It has always been my intention to build something
development, I have always yearned to create something that could really speak to people on a primal and personal nature.I believe that through fashion and the building of a lifestyle brand, I can really reach people on a soulful level and make them feel good about themselves in some way.
prepared me to
ready to speak
take this brand
to the world and
to a successful
tell it you’re ready
place. I believe I
to handle all the
have the tangible
challenges
business, social,
are thrown your
and
way. You should
skills
leadership to
bring
be
that
comfortable
this business to
in the way you
I have talked to countless people regarding my
a place where it
look and the way
business endeavor and all conversations and in-
can really make a
that
difference.
yourself. This is
teractions have been positive, even the critical evaluations of my actions.
Throughout my life, it has often been easier for my personality and soul to shine through my actions rather than my voice or anything like that. As those that know me will attest, I
you
carry
a battle I fight every day and I want to create something that helps others in their fights and our collective mission. That is what Throttle Gear Apparel is all about.
THROTTLE GEAR APPAREL LATEST T-SHIRT COLLECTION Model - Katherine Claypoole
We are a clothing brand, a community and a movement that firmly believes in the power of pursuing your dreams and passions, every second of every day; that anyone and everyone is capable of reaching their biggest goals in life if they push themselves hard enough. We believe there are no shortcuts in reaching those goals and we are not afraid of putting in the necessary work to reach them. Life after the military challenged me to take my unique experiences - the successes and failures, my tenacity and positive approach to life - and create something inspiring. This culminated into a clothing brand that serves as that constant reminder of what you dream of in life and challenges you to reach for it.
THROTTLE GEAR’s popular slogan “Feel It, Embrace It, Live It” has a very powerful meaning….., “Feel It”… Like the raw power from siting on a motorcycle, feel the power of life that has been given to you. Use it all to your highest ability, use each sense to failure. “Embrace It”… Embrace your life, never settle for anything less. Always perform every task above and beyond your best. Never quit, never think you are ever a failure. To embrace your life is to complete and live your life. “Live It”… Live your life to the fullest. That statement speaks for itself. Meaning take your time but live each and every day to the fullest. Live it like the open road. THROTTLE GEAR is about being flexible and unusual. What has been created is a brand, a lifestyle, a movement. Stay tuned for there is more chapters to come. Welcome to the wonderful world of "THRTL"
THROTTLE GEAR APPAREL LATEST T-SHIRT COLLECTION
Model - Ben Sherer
Get your t-shirt at www.throttlegearapparel.com
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PHILDELPHIA KIDS FASHION WEEK FASHION SHOW
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PHILADELPHIA
KIDS FASHION WEEK Photography by: Darius Rhodes
Photos from the Philadelphia Kids fashion week.
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DESIGNER: MAJEEDA MOANE
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urbane The story behind “THIS COLLECTION IS AN ADDITION TO MY FOUNDATION COLLECTION THAT RELEASED LAST FALL AND TELLS THE STORY OF ME TAKING MY CANCER SURVIVOR EXPERIENCE AND USING THAT AS A FOUNDATION FOR HOW I WAS GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE.”
Here is the designer Jason who breaks all bariers of life and creates unique designs. What sparked your interest in fashion? Growing up I was always interested in fashion. In college I was they guy showing up to that 8am class with a blazer and bow tie. What made you take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it? Once I graduated college in 2015 I felt like it was the perfect time to start something of my own. I spent a lot of time investing in other peoples brands and really felt it was time to invest in myself for once. Also throughout my life I have been through a lot and I just wanted to have a creative way to tell my story. What better way than fashion right?
Photographers Abhirup Sarkar Kaushik Sarkar
T
he importance of fashion ? I think fashion has a huge affect on everyday life. As people we crave individuality and self expression and thats what fashion is. Its a way for us to express ourselves by the way we dress. And as designers we are able to help people express themselves. We are able to make people feel amazing. Fashion isn’t about the clothes its about how they make us feel when we wear them. Are you self taught or did you study fashion design? I have never studied fashion. I am learning new things within this process every day. I graduated
from Rutgers Camden with a degree in marketing and i taught myself graphic design and web design throughout college. So with having that background it made it easy for me to figure out have to be effective in the fashion industry. I currently have no one working with me and handle all aspects of the business myself. How has your work evolved since you began your own label? When I first started the biggest obstacle I had was finding a high quality manufacturer that was able to produce the quality that I wanted for my brand. I can honestly say every product I have released thus far,
even though it hasnt been many, has lived up to my expectations. I am very big on delivering an amazing detailed product to my consumer. There’s a new designer every day so you really have to find a way to differentiate yourself. I put a lot of time into my products some times up to 6 months to perfect a product before it releases. I’d rather release two perfect designs than 10 mediocre designs. All the products I release have a story within them with the symbolization I use or color schemes. Have your pieces become more appealing to people as a result? I believe my pieces have become more appealing to consumers. My fall collection from last year was really the statement collection. It showed my versatility as a designer and my want to take chances and be different. I never design for the likings of my consumer. I design for what I think is dope and what my heart tells me to. My brand isn’t for everyone and that was one of the toughest things I had to realize throughout this whole process. What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work? Right now I use everything around me as inspiration. The music I listen to, the books I read, the bloggers I follow and even the people around me like my friends and family. I try not too pay too much attention to the hypebeasts and entertainment industry because I am about creating my own way and not conforming to what is considered “trending” or “Poppin” around me. I have tunnel vision for my brand and my want to tell my story and inspire people with it is inspiration to me. What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company? The biggest lesson I have learned is to stay consistent. There’s times I get frustrated and think about taking a break from designing because the brand is not growing as rapid as I want it to. But then I look back on other brands before me and remember that nothing happens overnight, especially in fashion. It takes time and consistency to build a brand that people get that emotional attachment to and truly love. I only started URBANE two years ago so my brand is still relatively new and to see the rapid progress I have made so far with features in Philly Fashion Week, Philly. com, Huffington Post & many more is just a constant reminder that this is my calling.
URBANE LATEST COLLECTION
Model - Kenneth Gamble
URBANE LATEST COLLECTION Model - Kemely Gomez
What advice would you give to young designers? Just start. That is the biggest piece of advice I will give any young entrepreneur. So many of us talk about doing something and investing in ourselves but we have that fear of failure in the back of our minds. Even when I started I told a few friends that I wanted to be a clothing designer and the first thing they said was “Everybody is a designer now and everybody has a clothing company”. That comment kept me on the fence for about a month before I started. Young designers you need to just start the process even if you dont know how to go about doing it. All of the resources you need are available you just have to search for them. My last piece of advice would be to stay true to your vision. I have so many people making suggestions for my brand and I always listen but I design what I want to design. I dont conform to the Kanye’s of the world or the Supremes and produce that product because it sells or what’s trending. I stay true to my vision and create what I want to. That is true freedom, having creative control. What would you like to achieve in near future? In the near future I plan to get my product in some high end department stores such as nordstrom, Barneys, Saks Fifth. I know thats where my brand belongs, next to the other premiere brands in the world. I know I have something amazing to offer thats bigger than my clothes. What are you working on at the moment? Currently I am in the process of working on a new Varsity Jacket in addition to re-releasing my fall collection from last year. What’s a goal you’d dream of achieving? My short term goal right now is to walk in New York Fashion week then off to Paris Fashion week. Thats every designers dream. To showcase on the biggest stage the world has to offer and kill it! If you could live the life of another artist, who would it be and why? I would want to live the life of Jeremy Scott. He is the biggest influence to me honestly. He doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks and designs for his liking which has forced the fashion audience to buy in to him and his designs. He paved his own way and I am looking to do something very similar in the near future. What are your main professional objectives? Having my brand URBANE is amazing but I do have my consulting company Avenue Black. Avenue Black is a consulting company that helps designers deliver higher quality products to their consumers and give young entrepreneurs insight on how to maximize their business. I love helping other individuals prosper and this type of service is very much needed, especially in Philly where competition is way too high and collaboration is slim to non-existent.
Which of your pieces are you most proud of? Last fall I released a suede zip-up dress shirt and this is by far my favorite piece to date. It challenged me creatively to deliver something different to the market, which I believe the market was not even ready for. I took a lot of chances on that design but it delivered on every aspect of the piece, From sizing to quality and comfortability. I believe I killed it Do you think there was a crucial turning point in your career as a designer? The turning point for me was finding the manufacturer. Most designers it takes them 5 years to find one that can deliver quality and I was able to find it in two years. I have the ability to create anything I want with no limitations and that is the greatest feeling in the world. You’ve been active in the field of design for some time, have you noticed an evolution? I really try not to pay attention to the industry of fashion, I pay more attention to the business aspect of fashion. Looking at where “Fast Fashion” is the forefront of fashion and looking forward to the shift back to high quality garments that aren’t easily disposable. What do you think of designers who try to be trendy? I think designers who try to be trendy are afraid of failing. They are afraid of creating a product and not selling any of it. To me these designers are selling out. They are confirming to the norms around them rather than taking chances and truly creating what is burning to come out of them. I see so many designers stick to designing just t shirts because they are afraid of failing and getting outside of their comfort zone. Which I feel like is why you see so many brands come and go every year. I never want to be comfortable. I want to continue to challenge myself and push innovation in the fashion industry. What’s a typical day of work like? I am a store manager at Aldo full time. So at times its difficult being a full time designer as well. My schedule sucks and I work every weekend. I’m normally up until 3-4am talking to my manufacturers or designing new styles or curating photo shoot concepts. Eventually I will move into designing full time but right now I know my brand is not at that point yet. Through my time of working retail I have learned a lot hands on about customer service and how to effectively run a business and manage people. Your biggest talent? I think my biggest talent is my work ethic and will to not want to be comfortable. I played basketball in college and I have always been my hardest critic. I was never the tallest or the strongest or most talented on the court but there were very few people who were going to out work me. I feel like I have translated this to the fashion industry. I am always studying fashion and the business aspect of it trying to learn as much as I can.
Taking steps back from my business to really analyze things and notice of something is working or its not. And if its not working I find a solution, make adjustments and move forward. What are the challenges of your profession? The challenges are getting to that breaking point. That point where you get that first wholesale order or the break where you get that celebrity to buy into your product. That’s where I am at right now and its frustrating because you know you have an amazing product and story but the most difficult part is getting it seen by as many people as possible so that you get that traction. I know once I get that traction I know how to keep it. Can you reveal some of your favorite places in the world? For some reason before every collection I have releaseed I have found my way to Wynwood, Miami area. The art in that town is just an amazing inspiration to create. Describe your current collection for the editorial. In the editorial is my URBANE SS17 “TSC” (The Story Continues) Collection. This collection is an addition to my foundation collection that released last fall and tells the story of me taking my cancer survivor experience and using that as a foundation for how I was going to live my life. At age 2 I was diagnosed with a wilms tumor (Cancer of the kidney). I had my right kidney removed and went through Chemotherapy. Today I stand a cancer survivor of 24 years. The foundation collection came about because when I was going through my treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia every morning I would wake up and play with these building blocks. Looking back that was me taking everything Iv’e been through and using that as a foundation for how I was going to live my life. The color blocks on the back of the products symbolize that. The “93” is the year I was diagnosed with cancer. Everything on these products tells a part of my story. And my goal is to inspire millions of people with my story.
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