7 minute read
Mine Your Business
By Max B. Marcus
Like the hardest gemstone on earth, Charlie Lapson is equally as tough and durable as a diamond. He has forged his way to success in the hyper competitive fashion and luxury goods industry, for several decades. “So how did Charlie reach the top?” one might ask. Well, it all started with his burning desire to find the right fit for himself as a young man, learn everything he could about his chosen profession, hone his skills over years of hard work, and then push, push, push to the apex of the mountain.
Charlie Lapson, a resident of both Florida and California, was “on the scene” once again, at this year’s Miss Universe Pageant, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on May 16, 2021, adorning the beautiful contestants from all corners of the world with his gorgeous creations. Many of the ladies hail from countries where Charlie has spent precious time and found an abundance of inspiration from their rich cultures, traditions, and bountiful offerings from each of their beloved homelands. The “sunshine state” takes great pride in welcoming these bright and beautiful ladies from all around the world, and for Charlie to be on hand to provide his expertise and his dazzling jewels, is nothing new for this businessman powerhouse. Charlie has spent years building a multi-million-dollar empire in luxury goods and dazzling jewelry, and he delights in sharing his artistry with the world. What better way to showcase one’s creations, than to an international audience on live television?
The Spark(le)
Charlie’s story starts years ago; born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and Miami Beach, Florida. He was surrounded by creative types within his own family, so he was already off to a great start. As a youngster, his older sister, an aspiring artist herself, would take Charlie by the hand and guide him on countless tours through many of the grand museums and art galleries in New York City. What a treat this was for young Charlie, being exposed to such awe-inspiring works of art and design was a priceless gift that he has benefited from his entire life. It was during those early years that Charlie’s bolt of inspiration was ignited. He knew he would pursue a life in the creative arts, but which path would he take?
Shaping His Skill
He began his search at the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York City, and it was there that he learned that being a serious artist/designer was not for the faint of heart or the indolent. The curriculum required focus, practice, precision, and patience. All the disciplines that many youngsters are too restless to ease into. His knack for precision sketching felt right to him; his flair for fashion led him to realize he needed to expand his fashion design education. He set his sights on the Fashion Institute of Technology, the place where many of the biggest names in the fashion world got their start, like Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and more, and that is where Charlie honed his skills and gained the knowledge to navigate the ultra-competitive industry. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Charlie was ready to dig deep and carve out his path toward success.
Cutting His Teeth
While still attending FIT, Charlie and his best buddy decided to get a jump start on their careers and set up a booth at a local buyer’s convention in Manhattan. Being young, fearless, bold, and driven, they were an instant hit. Buyers from across the country were flocking to their booth, where they had music pumping, models strutting in their designs, and excitement filling the air. Big orders were placed, and they were off and running with their new venture.
The next big challenge, one many startups learn the hard way, was how to “scale up” so they could fulfill the big orders that
were pouring in. This is where the real “deep dig” begins; searching for, vetting, and contracting with manufacturers and vendors must happen with great care. That, in and of itself, is an entire business discipline. In brief, Charlie was able to not only fulfill the mountain of orders that were coming in, but he was soon sought out by other major fashion manufacturers to lead their design teams and develop collections for their brands. Some very recognizable names were created by Charlie Lapson.
Accessorise
During his years of creating fashion, Charlie realized that he wanted to expand his repertoire (diversify his offerings) and began dabbling in precious metals and stone jewelry. Drawing upon his natural artistic ability, Charlie starts each creation as a blank canvas and turns it into a personalized work of art. Color, texture, and unique shapes are the hallmarks of his collections. It is for these reasons that he has been recognized around the world with awards and honors for his work. Soon after creating his first jewelry collection, he was thrilled to see his pieces quickly become coveted by many in the music and entertainment industry. It was during this time that Charlie began styling some of the biggest names in show biz, like Jennifer Anniston, Eva Longoria, Usher, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, Sarah Jessica Parker, Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry, and many more. Charlie continues to be the “go-to-guy” and “rock star” within the Latin entertainment industry. Many of the biggest names are styled by Charlie, wearing his designs on the red carpet, on stage, on film, and on camera including Jennifer Lopez, Victor Manuelle, Marjorie De Sousa, Cristián De La Fuente, Angélica María, Ninel Conde, and Pedro Moreno, to name just a few.
Trouble and Triumph
One of his most memorable (and nerve racking) events happened one day during the airing of a live home shopping network program. There he was, presenting his latest jewelry collection with a specific amount of “air-time” to present his creations. Charlie had brought a collection of his exquisite, luxury leather goods, handcrafted in Italy. The gorgeous handbags were placed just o set, but within eyesight of the show’s producers and hosts. Desperately hoping to get the chance to present them to the viewing audience (there was so much riding on that happening, but that’s a story for another
time) there really wasn’t any time allocated for those items to be presented or sold to the viewing audience until, at the last second, one of the most dynamic hosts showed up for her time slot. She glanced over, saw the beautiful handbags and called out to the producers to let her and Charlie present his goods. “Long story short”, they sold out in a ash, and that my friends changed the entire landscape of selling designer handbags on home shopping networks.
Lord of the Bling
Fast forward some twenty plus years later, and Charlie is still dazzling audiences and clients around the world. He’s the “main man” when it comes to adorning celebrities for Telemundo, Univision, mainstream networks like ABC, NBC, CBS television programs, cable networks, national and international beauty pageants, and awards shows like the Golden Globe Awards, the Grammys, the Academy Awards, Premios Lo Nuestro, and more. You can nd Charlie’s beautiful creations in fashion and beauty magazines, television shows, films, and social media from coast to coast and around the world. Charlie has struck gold with his bling empire, and is not slowing down any time soon. Charlie’s exquisite goods can be found in specialty shops, online, and on home shopping networks around the world.
Sharing the Bounty
While the world of glitz and glam keeps Charlie Lapson busy, he is dedicated to and passionate about his philanthropic work with the international charitable organizations he supports. For many years he has worked with Cancer Care groups, Children’s Educational Foundations, St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, GLAAD, Amigos for Kids, Care Resource, The Creative Coalition, and various other worthy causes, as he believes it’s his mission to give back and lend a helping hand, whenever and wherever he can.
