LOCAL LOVE

AVENTURIST

LOCAL LOVE HOMEgrown Goods

BUYING LOCAL IS EASY WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY AS FASHIONABLE AS MIAMI. HERE ARE OUR PICKS FOR THREE OF THE HOTTEST MAGIC CITY–BASED FASHION CREATORS AROUND.

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

BE COOL

IN THE CLUTCH

A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST WHO HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM HOME FURNISHINGS TO JEWELRY BY STORM, ELIZABETH SUTTON RELOCATED TO MIAMI MID-PANDEMIC IN 2020. HER VIBRANT WORK IS FULL OF LOCAL VIBES. WE’RE LOVING SUTTON’S MIAMI CLUTCH PURSE—AN HOMAGE TO THE THRIVING LOCAL ART SCENE. (ELIZABETHSUTTON.COM)

Johanne Wilson combines her love of art and her passion for social justice to create what she calls “fashion that celebrates us.” As people color, she and her husband, Terrance, wanted to wear clothing that represented their experience. But they soon found that the fashion industry wasn’t offering many options. So, in 2015, COOL Creative (COOL is an acronym for Create Out of Love) was born. What started as an illustration project has turned into a fashion brand offering clothing and accessories. COOL Creative’s pieces are now sold in their Little Haiti storefont, as well as in boutiques and select Macy’s stores (including macys.com). Johanne says she and Terrance hope their work will “uplift and unify people as they embrace their differences.” people as they embrace their differences.” At right, Johanne shares her take on At right, Johanne shares her take on designing a fashion line that looks chic designing a fashion line that looks chic while celebrating culture and commuwhile celebrating culture and community. (createoutofl ove.com) nity. (createoutofl ove.com)

Voyette’s Marvelous stiletto features laces and bling; the Tonya stiletto in denim is fi nished with chains and the brand’s signature barbed wire heel. Left: COOL Creative’s store in Little Haiti; below: Terrance and Johanne Wilson with their daughter, Valencia.

Shoe-In

Miami-bred shoe designer Voyette Lee’s collection—called Voyette—is a star on the rise. “I wanted to create an aff ordable shoe collection that is attainable to everyone,” Lee says. Everyone, indeed: Her designs have been spotted on the feet of celebs from Venus Williams to Nicki Minaj, from Saweetie to Jenna Dewan. “I’m known for being just a bit dramatic,” Lee says. “I created a heel—what is now my signature— to replicate barbed wire. To me, it is sleek, showing a woman’s elegant, feminine, chic sense of style, and then you see the heel which shows she’s nothing to mess with!” (voyette.com)

AVM: Describe your aesthetic.

Johanne Wilson: Fresh, clean, bold, and inspirational. There are a lot of military infl uences in our pieces. We are pushing the message that it is time to organize, to get involved in our community, and to join organizations on a local level that are doing the work. We drew inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement for the styling of the signature collection. We referenced photos of the Black Panthers, drawing from a time when young people were active. We also got inspiration from the TV show A Diff erent World. The young, educated, conscious hip-hop vibe is [featured] throughout the collection.

What’s the story behind your Icon line?

Terrance is a certifi ed master of illustration. In an eff ort to teach his daughter about historical icons—like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Nina Simone, and more—he created a collection of original drawings for her. I loved them, [so I] put them on clothing and the rest is history. The vision has always been to teach and reintroduce the icons to the next generation. ... As black designers we believe that it is important for us to bring our perspective to fashion.