HVF Summer 2017 Issue

CONTENTS 

Throttle gear apperal 

Check out the latest t-shirts collection 

VICTORIA WRIGHT 

Upcoming Fall/Winter collection. 

URBANE 

See the latest collection. The story behind Urbane. 

Philadelphia kids fashion week 

Photos from Fashion week for Kids. 

VICTORIA WRIGHT 

04 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. 

68 URBANE 

URBANE SS17 “TSC” (The Story 

Continues) Collection. It tells the story of a 

cancer survivor’s experience. 

THROTTLE GEAR 

44 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. 

54 

PHILADELPHIA KIDS 

FASHION SHOW 

Coverage and Photos from the Philadelphia 

Kids fashion week.

From the 

editor 

liberia international fashion show 

Coverage & Photos from Runway Liberia International fashion 

show 

RUNWAY LIBERIA FASHION SHOW 

29 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. 

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 

what is happening 

in the fashion world, 

and 

this issue won’t disappoint. 

Apart from 

anything else, the 

breadth of photography 

and styling emphasizes 

the versatility 

and the originality 

of the creative side of 

fashion. 

k 

CLASSIC MAN BE SPOKE 

Get the cool summer looks 

We are thankful to 

fashion designers, 

brands, photographers, 

make up artists, 

content writers, 

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. 

CLASSIC MAN BE 

36 SPOKE 

Euro-centric modern men’s wear. Get the 

cool summer looks. 

58 

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 

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. 

Photographers - 

Kaushik Sarkar 

Abhirup Sarkar 

Make up - 

Daniella C Hyde 

In photo - 

Victoria Wright 

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.


INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER 

What sparked your interest in 

fashion? 

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 

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. 

FALL/WINTER COLLECTION 

Are 

y o u 

s e l f 

taught or 

did you study 

fashion 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, narrowed 

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. 


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. 


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

HIGH VOLTAGE FASHION 

MAGAZINE 

DID YOU KNOW OUR MAGAZINE WEBSITE HAS 

TWO NAMES ? 

WWW.HIGHVOLTAGE.FASHION 

WWW.HVFMAGAZINE.COM

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


DESIGNER: DAHN LE


VARIOUS


EPHI 210 BY MIATTA SANDY (SIERRA LEONE)


VARIOUS

COOL SUMMER LOOKS 

CLASSIC 

MAN BE SPOKE 

Photography By 

Kaushik Sarkar


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 

What made you guys take fashion 

more seriously and make a 

career out of it? We wanted to 

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. 

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 


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. 


Be patient and work hard. 


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. 


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. 


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. 


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 


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 


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 

at a motorcycle for hours has since evolved into a 

new streetwear brand and a movement. 

It has always been my intention to build something 

greater than myself. Whether through scholastic 

achievement, organizational notoriety, or personal 

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. 

I have talked to countless people regarding my 

business endeavor and all conversations and interactions 

have been positive, even the critical 

evaluations of my actions. 

THE BRAND’S PERCEPTION FROM THE 

OWNER HIMSELF 

To start a business is to put oneself 

out in the open for failure and success. 

I believe that my time in the 

US Navy, my experience as a graphic 

designer, my relationships with 

family and friends, and other difficult/rewarding 

life situations have 

prepared me to 

take this brand 

to a successful 

place. I believe I 

have the tangible 

business, social, 

and 

leadership 

skills to bring 

this business to 

a place where it 

can really make a 

difference. 

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 

have a unique communication style 

that is what I would call one of a kind, 

though I have had difficulty coping 

with it. With this brand, I want people 

to speak with more than just their 

words. Whenever you walk out the 

door in the morning you should be 

ready to speak 

to the world and 

tell it you’re ready 

to handle all the 

challenges 

that 

are thrown your 

way. You should 

be 

comfortable 

in the way you 

look and the way 

that you carry 

yourself. This is 

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

HIGH VOLTAGE FASHION

FASHION & LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY 

Follow @pixilens on Instagram. 

For Bookings 

DM on Instagram or send a text at +1 267 388 1041 

www.pixilens.com

PHILDELPHIA KIDS FASHION WEEK 

FASHION SHOW 

58 

PHILADELPHIA 

KIDS FASHION 

WEEK 

Photography by: 

Darius Rhodes 

Photos from the Philadelphia Kids fashion week.

PHOTOS FROM THE PK FASHION WEEK 

DESIGNER: MAJEEDA MOANE


DESIGNER: RASHIDA VSCADA


DESIGNER: YOUNGODS CLOTHING


DESIGNER: YOUNGODS CLOTHING


OTHER DESIGNERS


OTHER DESIGNERS


OTHER DESIGNERS


ADVERTISE 

WITH 

US 

FREE * 

for more info email us at 

contact@hvfmagazine.com 

*Limited time offer

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

The 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


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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 

Get your favourite Urbane style at www.avenueblack.us

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MIDSUMMER MADNESS FASHION SHOW 

FASHION SHOW 

87 

clyopetra 

couture 

fashion show 

Photographer: 

Ludah Media photography 

Clyopatra Couture presenting the MIDSUMMER 

MADNESS fashion show. 

The TRIBE Collection. Check out the photos from 

the fashion show.

PHOTOS FROM THE MIDSUMMER MADNESS FASHION SHOW



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HVF Summer 2017 Issue

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