Emore'J Couture: DC's John Galliano?!

Emore’J Couture sure knows how to have a good time and he really knows how to put on a show!

There may be a lot of attitude coming down the runways nowadays, but there’s no attitude whatsoever with this 23-year-old DC designer.

When I sat down to interview Emore’J Couture after the Menswear Collection Show at DC Fashion Week, I had a heart-to-heart talk with a man of deep passion and intense feeling.

Let’s continue to explore the depth of talent and creativity in this young DC designer as he speaks about his personal experiences in the nation’s capital and beyond.

How long have you been showing at the DC Fashion Week?
I have been showing at DC fashion week since I was 17 Years Old. I was actually Ean Williams first “Youngest Designer” of DC Fashion Week.

What is your opinion about DC Fashion Week?
I truly appreciate DC Fashion Week for the services that it provides to let me express myself with no restrictions. As a young student, I never had that so I had to create my own events. I’m truly happy that DC Fashion Week has played an influence in the way I conduct and go about business!

How would you describe the fashion scene in DC?
I would describe the fashion scene for men in DC as openly creative. Men have the option to try so many looks and styles of clothing that is amazing. I enjoy the risk that I see men starting to take.

It’s not common to hear DC described this way…
I think I am looking at it from an urban perspective, and that’s coming from the Black community, because at first it wasn’t like that. In the Black community, it was always hoodies, shirts, and big clothing—oversized clothing—men hiding their bodies.

What do you see happening?
Now in the Black communities, it has definitely changed because men are bolder. The clothing is fitting a little sleeker. They’re going more toward a European type of fit with the clothing, which is excellent. So you’re seeing men playing with colors. You’re seeing the men with their pants more fitted than before and experimenting with dress shoes rather than athletic apparel. So that’s the change that I’m coming from.

How does the DC Black community stand up against LA?
I feel that LA is extremely laid back and is not as fashion forward as DC. I currently reside in DC; however, I frequent LA often conducting business in Fashion Media. I feel that, compared to LA, DC is more cutting edge, very daring, which is a good thing. It’s great to see people trying new looks when it comes down to fashion and being themselves.

How does Emore’J Couture play a role in the DC scene?
I play a role in this scene, because I’m always on a whole other level when it comes to men’s fashion. I normalize what may seem daring, horrific, scandalous, and over the top.

How would you describe your experience as a Black designer?
I think it has been bittersweet. If you may see my work, it is very over the top: my work has a lot of expression and emotion. Sometimes living in the US, it can go over their heads because they don’t get it, they understand it. They don’t look into it deeper—they don’t research.

Do you feel that you would be more accepted elsewhere?
I’ve been told that a lot of people overseas would definitely appreciate my work because they’re more into researching the collection—looking deeper into it, looking at the symbolism that’s going on within my collection. I feel that, in America, they do love me and they appreciate my creativity. But at the same time, it kind of goes over their head because of the symbolism, the meaning, and the purposes.

What does the future hold for Emore’J Couture?
I am moving more into fashion entertainment, such as I have my own show on YouTube—Emore’J Couture TV. I do a lot of event hosting: I interview a lot of up-and-coming artists, designers, models, and producers; I cover a lot of events. So, I am moving more into fashion entertainment because I believe that is what I want to do. I love fashion design, but my heart is really in production as in creating events and creating a whole mood.

Any closing words for the readers around the world who may be aspiring designers?
It’s easy, just do it! I mean who cares, jump into it. Do it; if it’s wrong, do it again! If it’s not right, fix it up and just keep doing it and doing it and doing it. As you go on, if you are smart and wise, eventually it will get better. But there is no other advice than to do it!

For further reading, see my first exclusive interview with Emore’J Couture.



Photo top left, Copyright Shy Magazine.
Photos & slideshow Copyright DC Fashion Week.

Emore'J Couture at Washington DC Fashion Week

Prior to the Menswear Collection Show at DC Fashion Week this Saturday, I had the wonderful privilege of interviewing one of the youngest designers in the Washington DC fashion scene.

Beyond the resourceful creativeness of this talented 23-year-old designer, however, there stands a humble young man who has been shaped by adversity.

Refusing to allow nothing hold him down, Emore’J Couture has risen to the top simply by following his passion and dreams.

So, I’m honored to introduce you to the man, Emore’J Couture—a source of inspiration for both you and me!

Can you tell me a bit about where you are from and how you grew up?
I was born & raised in Washington DC. Growing up in the urban city of Washington DC was tough, considering I’m naturally an artist and love visuals. DC at the time when I was growing up and attending middle school and high school was not big on fashion design or fashion support groups. Learning to design, produce events, and market myself was all self taught.

How did this adverse situation shape you?
The rough experiences I received in school, such as bulling, harassment for being creative, and ridicule helped me charge my creative energy in a positive way to become greater than my environment.

What kind of formal training in fashion design did you have?
None! I didn’t have any formal training. I do want to take that up one day, some actual sowing classes and maybe a fashion design degree…but up to now I have been going off on my own natural talent to create.

When did you really feel the urge to design?
I knew I wanted to do design when I was in high school. I enjoyed creating unique looks for myself and others. I was more focused on wearing shocking outfits than school itself.

So, now, do you design with the goal of shocking the audience?
That’s exactly what I am doing. I love to be a shocker to keep your eyes open and jaws dropping. That’s my whole purpose—to continue to showcase creative art, avant-garde fashion, high fashion.

What led you into designing?
Certain factors and influences that led me to design were freedom of expression, appreciation of my natural talent, and the art field itself.

Do any of these factors influence your designs?
Various attributes inspire my designs and premieres of a new collection. It can be a situation in my life, which could be good or bad; so I will create a collection off of my emotions and how I feel at that time. Certain political situations in society have influenced my collections; for example, my APPARATUS Collection. This collection represents the lack of emotion, love, and compassion that humans have developed for one another.

What other political situaions affect your designs?
I could definitely first say the gay marriage influenced my collection a lot, because of how it was banned or made illegal. Even some of the garments, I have two females tied together, bonded together—and to me that symbolizes love. That’s likely an example of a political statement that I was bringing through my collection.

Tell me more about how your personal emotions come into play…
When it comes to my personal style, I kind of go off of the emotions and how I feel that day. If the sun is out, I would rather give a very preppy J. Crew look, but if it is cloudy and just dull, then I make a cloudy emotional dark type of feel with my garments. When it comes to a collection, it kind of goes off of something happening in society, or how I feel about technology, or how technology is changing. That’s kind of how you see it in my new collection: it’s very dark; a lot of the flesh is covered up. It’s pretty much how I feel about society.

Does any one thing in particular guide your creativity?
I really don’t have any groundbreaking philosophy, except that my collections usually leave people thinking about things other than fashion, such as sexuality, spirituality, and diversity.

How would you sum up the Emore’J Couture look?
I would some up my particular look or style of design as unpredictable: you never know what Emore’J Couture will bring to the runway!

So, who is the Emore J Couture kind of man?
I would say it would have to be your bold type man, definitely a celebrity figure, to wear my garments. My work is just for art purposes, just to showcase artistically. Other than that, if there is a huge extravaganza coming up, then my pieces are definitely worn. But it’s definitely not ready to wear!

Continue to the second interview with Emore’J Couture.

Photo top Copyright Shy Magazine.

Photos middle left & right, Copyright Emore’J Couture.

Photo bottom left, Copyright Shy Magazine.

The Menswear Collection Show at DC Fashion Week

I arrived to Washington DC last Saturday very eager to attend the Menswear Collection Show of DC Fashion Week, which is organized by Ean Williams, creative director of Corjor International.

Having already interviewed several designers, I was extremely excited to meet them individually and view their runway collections later that evening.

After an exotic lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant in Adams Morgan—spicing it up a bit—I ventured back to the Doubletree Hotel and “hung around” the show area to greet the designers as they straggled in.

I first met the host, Ean Williams—an energetic, kind, lively young man, who is deeply committed to the promotion of aspiring designers.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Ean had turned in a career with the Air Force, NASA, and Verizon for a life as a couturier in his nation’s capital.

In addition to designing for his own label, Ean is an advisory board member for the Black Designers Association, Inc.

After meeting Ean, I continue to “hang out” backstage, meeting most of the designers Andrew Nowell, Emore'J Couture, Ray Vincente, and Stella Bonds. Each fitted their models as they prepared for the big event.

The pre-show atmosphere was so relaxed, so laid back: all the designers greeted me with a big hug and a huge smile! I truly felt at home; so I want to extend a supersized “thank you” back to all of them!

Please join with me over the next few articles to meet the designers!

In the meanwhile, I invite you to a preview of the show, courtesy of Style Spot.

DC Fashion Week - Highlights: Men from DC StyleSpot on Vimeo.

Photo top left Ean Williams & Francesco, Copyright Shy Magazine.
Photo middle right, Emore'J Couture & Francesco, Copyright Shy Magazine.