Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My brand was started in Fayetteville, NC (my hometown) in the summer of 2006. It was formed from my former clothing line, J.Fulks Originals. My new brand ideas were formally introduced in the spring of 2008 by integrating a mix of the J.Fulks Originals urban wear with more high fashion garments. In August of 2010, my brand was seen in the Members Only Clothing line fashion show in Raleigh, NC. The show caught the eye of a marketing employee with Members Only, resulting in recognition and positive feedback from the company’s head designer and President. Orders for my of kind garments began to pick up, leading to the need of expansion. In November of 2011, my brand underwent a major change in its identity because of the response to its vintage-inspired garments. The demand for more structured and tailored garments increased so I capitalized on this new concept. It was later decided that vintage-inspired tailored garments would be my strongest design point-of-view, but I needed to learn more and perfect my craft.
I then decided to attend graduate school in Atlanta in the Fall of 2012 and focus on menswear. I then created what is know today as Laché Supply & Company, LLC. While in Atlanta, I was featured in Teen Vogue and WWD with the help of SCAD. One of my professors also provided me with the opportunity to work with the legendary André 3000. It was an absolute dream come true to work with him and just sit in talk about art and the culture. Atlanta brought many great opportunities to me and I will forever we grateful. It helped shape me into the designer I am today. Being a part of the Black Arts Festival there helped me to focus my craft more on black issues and our history. I was able to have my clothing shown twice in Neiman Marcus and I was happy for it, but it made me wonder if I was showcasing my culture enough. From my experiences in Atlanta, I found my voice as a designer and found my calling with the platform that I have.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I am now wasn’t smooth. Any designer can tell you that it’s a bumpy road to get to the point where you are happy with your work and success. There are millions of designers in this world, but it’s up to you to find the voice that sets you apart. I think the biggest struggle for me was having to stand out but also fit in at the same time. I attended a PWI for undergrad and most of the time, I was the only person that looked like me. I love my Alma Mater (Go Pack!), but I often wish there were more black people in textiles at that time. When it was time to are present projects, I often held back on what I wanted to show. I was automatically going to have all eyes on me being the only person of color so I was often hesitant about what I could present. It took a while to find a balance, only to realize that I wasn’t true to myself.
The hardest thing is to make it in an industry that doesn’t see people who look like you as a beauty standard. I often fell into the trap of only shooting with white models or trying not to be too ”urban”. I had success in it but at the end of the day, I was low-key ashamed. It wasn’t until I moved to Atlanta for grad school that I wanted my craft to show how unapologetically BLACK I was and have always been. Though I had to deal with professors not always liking my style or putting me through so much that I almost wanted to quit school altogether, I persevered and saw it through. I was in the ”Black Mecca” You can’t do anything in Atlanta but be proud of who you are and the culture that you are a part of.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently am a Technical Designer for Hanesbrands in Winston Salem, NC. I work in Men’s Innerwear and recently have been put in charge of the technical aspect of face masks since the Pandemic started. I also have a menswear brand, Laché Supply Co. (@lachsupplyco), and a cooking blog/brand, The Chronicles of the Cast Iron Chef (@the_cast_iron_chef). I often mix both brands and come up with products that can be sold on both sites. I think what sets me apart from others is I don’t conform to just one style of creativity and I would never let anyone tell me what I can or cannot do. I paint, draw, sew, do graphic design, do fashion design, decorate, play ball, and cook. I plan on growing that list and create any way that I can. I am happy that I can do a plethora of creative things, but I am most proud that I can use those talents to make others smile, laugh, and feel loved.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned is to always thank the Lord for your blessings and always work with him leading you. It’s plain as simple. Without him, I wouldn’t be anything.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@lachesupplyco.com
- Website: www.lachesupplyco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lachesupplyco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lachesupplyco
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/lachesupplyco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqn1wTh0akW43KtNHHAXMw
- Other: www.thecastironchefchronicles.com
Image Credits
Image 1&2: shot by Christian Cody Image 3: shot by GodVogue Image 4: directly from Woody McClain Image 5 &6: shot by Kontroll Homme Magazine Image 7: a still from the Austin Mahone ”Joy Ride” video shoot
