Fashion Industry in Detroit
In the past, there have been skeptics speaking about Detroit. They have called the city a dump, a town that cannot control gangs in its neighborhood, a city with high priced judges and professional talent, and a city that cannot educate it, children. If anybody is still living in this past narrative needs to wake up and move around more (Klepper). The skeptics are only half right; Downtown Detroit is embracing change at a remarkable speed. The fashion and design industry is one of the fast-rising industries in the city. The industry is fuelled by passionate and enthusiastic fashion makers who have developed a passion for creating a brand name and a keen eye for the fashion industry in Detroit.
Detroit is a fashion city. Several reasons make Detroit a fashion city. First, there are several nationally recognized fashion designers from the city. These designers have taken part in national events and fashion conferences. Kevan Hall and Tracy Reese, whose designs were worn by the former first lady Michelle Obama were keynote speakers at a fashion speak (China). Fashion Speak is an annual conference held in Detroit, and that focuses on the fashion business in the city. John Varvatos is a well-known designer with a store in Downtown Detroit. Also on the list is Anna Sui, a keynote speaker at Penny Stamps Speaker series. Second, the city has produced famous local designers and brands that are getting entry into the national market. The city is creating products such as accessories, clothes, and handbags. Brands such as Detroit is the new black, and Detroit Denim, Rebel Nell, Jolie Altman are some of Detroit’s growing list of local fashion wear (Alexander). Third, the city has rampant industrial sewing industries. The high demand for fashion and design has lead to the opening of fashion industries. Companies such as Shinola, Empowerment Plan, and Detroit Denim are sewing of their own (Marklew). Finally, to keep up with the demands, there are schools in the city offering fashion and design courses. Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University, among others, are offering these courses to feed the fashion a design labor market. The reasons mentioned above show how Detroit has grown to a fashion city. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Fashion markers are shaping the city’s aesthetic. First, the markers have embraced the spirit of wearing whatever they want. Bree Gant is a co-founder of RockCity Lookbook; a fashion blog post focused on helping young black artist push their products and make their products more assessable (Danish). The blog post started with taking a portrait of street work and giving it a platform where people would read about it. Today the blog post has evolved to become a significant player in the fashion industry. She says that fashion is essential to people of Detroit, especially those of African descent. It was first seen as a way of resistance, but today they can wear what they want and remain talented and relevant. The people of Detroit are telling their stories, showcasing their talent, and expressing their personality through their fashion lines.
Moreover, Nelson Sanders, like Gant, is passionate about uniting people through fashion. He founded The Seen, a fashion network mainly focusing on Detroit street style (Danish). To the outsiders, Detroit fashion was more of an urban look. Sanders calls this a stereotype because it underrepresented the Downtown Detroit fashion. His goal is to inform the space of street fashion. People gather together to take street style photos. These photos are uploaded to the website where they tell the story of Detroit. Seen is determined to push beyond the stereotypes.
There are several fashion brands in Downtown Detroit. They include Detroit vs. Everybody; Detroit is the new black brand, among others. These designs are unapologetically home-grown and embody the Detroit spirit. Everybody vs. Detroit is a home gown label crafted by Tommey Walker (Nosowitz). Walker is a self-professed brand manager and artist. The brand catchphrase- we are the city, take us with you- shows the love of the town. The brand was born under the simple concept of rebuilding the city’s image—the message ‘Vs. Everybody’ turned out to be so powerful that it restored the pride of Detroiters.
Walker, a Detroit native, released his first brand in 2012. The brand received a lot of love that it became force around the city and in the United States. The company has continued to grow to attract credits nationally and internationally. The brand Detroit vs. Everybody has received a tremendous amount of coverage and airtime on several media platforms. Some of these platforms include the American Idol, The Colbert Report, and Fox 2 News Detroit. Also, the brand had a massive impact on the sports world, entertainment, and news (Nosowitz). Different celebrities, including Rick Ross, Drake, and Big Sean, have recognized the brand. Moreover, the 2015 Shady vs. Everybody movement licensed the Detroit vs. Everybody Mantra.
Detroit vs. Everybody is a market leader in the city’s fashion industry. A Google search on the phrase ‘vs. Everybody’ will show you how the Mantra has taken the world by storm. The company is determined to deliver the brand with quality and authentic products to new regions across the country.
Detroit is the new black brand fashion company developed by Roslyn Karamoko. Before settling in Detroit in 2013, she spent many years shopping in New York and Singapore. Roslyn explains that as soon she settled in Detroit its felt like home. She later noticed the lack of conviction in the fashion industry (Battis). On Christmas of 2013, she designed some tees and gave then to some friends. The tees bared the prints of the phrase Detroit is the new black. Soon the tees became a hit, and she opened an online store. Later she opened a factory for her unique design hosting renowned native designers like Tracy Reese. Today her factory produces dresses, jackets, and sweaters bearing the DITNB logo.
The company has experienced rapid growth since its time of establishment opening stores across the city. Recently their store in Downtown Detroit was reopened, signaling its progressive growth. In Karamoko’s store, you will find other brands such as Lazlo and Douglas and Co all from Detroit as they aesthetically complement her own. She hopes to continue helping Detroit move forward as well as allow the native designs to prosper. Her ultimate goal is to provide a label that the local people can work for, live for, and be part of its success. Consequently, the brand will contribute positively to the economic growth of Detroit.
Recently all Detroit is the new black store revamped as the company is focusing on morality, sustainability, and ethical fashion. The company is sourcing all its products and materials locally and organically (Smith). According to Karamoko, sustainability was always in the basket list of the things the company wanted to do. However, it could not have been done earlier due to the challenge of balancing resources and availability. Karomoko is now at the frontline in fostering the upcoming art and designs in Detroit and nearby states. Her newly adopted retail model, the rotating accelerator model, is giving the new designers a platform where they can push for their products to the market. Also, this model provides an opportunity for people of color and those underrepresented in the primary fashion industry.
In conclusion, fashion can be a litmus test of how cultures and societies are shifted in the United States. In Downtown Detroit, fashion has overturned a history of a bankrupt city, and it’s now experiencing a dramatic transformation. The locally produced brands have gone global, changing the face of Detroit to a fashion city.
References
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Danish, M. (2016). Detroit style: How some of Detroit’s fashion-makers define their city’s aesthetic. Model D, 1–1. Retrieved from https://www.modeldmedia.com/features/detroit-style-092616.aspx
“Detroit Program Aims To Become A Catalyst For Ethical Fashion In The City.” 2019. Retrieved from https://www.michiganradio.org/post/detroit-program-aims-become-catalyst-ethical-fashion-city
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Klepper, Steven. “The Origin And Growth Of Industry Clusters: The Making Of Silicon Valley And Detroit.” Journal Of Urban Economics, vol 67, no. 1, 2010, pp. 15-32. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.jue.2009.09.004.
Maglio, Tony. “Eminem, Royce Da 5’9” And The Michigan Crew Drop ‘Detroit Vs. Everybody’ (Video)”. The Wrap, 2015, Retrieved from https://www.thewrap.com/eminem-royce-da-59-detroit-vs-everybody-music-video/
Marklew, T. (2018). Fashion Brands from Detroit You Need to Know. Culture Trip, 1–1. Retrieved from https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/michigan/articles/fashion-brands-from-detroit-you-need-to-know/
Nosowitz, Dan. “How Detroit Vs. Everybody Conquered The World”. Racked.Com, 2018, Retrieved from https://www.racked.com/2018/3/28/17144402/detroit-vs-everybody-tommey-walker
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Webber, Jessa. “Our Partnership With Roslyn Karamoko.” Detroit Public School Association, 2018, http://www.dpsfdn.org/partnership-roslyn-karamoko/.