The First Clubhouse L'Officiel Live Session
Stephan Rabimov hosted the interview with Laurel DeWitt and Justin Forte, who were the first guests. And it is transformed into the following brief of discussion.
Stephan Rabimov is an award-winning American journalist, fashion critic, and public relations specialist. Formerly the contributing editor at The Huffington Post, Haute Living, and New York Observer. Rabimov is now a contributing style & beauty editor at Forbes USA and editor-at-large at L'Officiel Austria and Cyprus. Rabimov is a founder of RABIMOV PR, one of the leading emerging markets PR agencies on the intersection of fashion, art, and high tech.
Laurel DeWitt earned the moniker "The Queen of Chain & Metal" for her decade-long endeavor of building her brand that reimagines the distinction between clothing and accessories. And she created her own niche, metal apparel & accessories while building a career as a prolific handbag designer for Kenneth Cole Reaction, Juicy Couture, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, to name a few. The LD brand is currently expanding by partnering with great companies and licensees. Laurel's designs caught the eye of some of the industries most reputable stylists and have been adorned by Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, among others; her special projects include work with The Brooklyn Museum, Macy's Herald Square, The Smithsonian Institute, and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Laurel relocated to Los Angeles and expanded her custom design work by adding television and film to her robust résumé. Her designs have been featured: Black is King, Empire, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, HBO Max's Legendary, and many projects currently in production. Laurel should be referred to as an artist, foremost. And as a designer second and something that will absolutely dive into during this conversation.
Justin Forte is a 28-year-old designer who started custom designing in 2013. While in college Justin's first celeb. To wear his custom design was Rihanna. Rihanna pushed his career where Justin had an influx of traffic from celebrities to make custom garments. Justin went on to create custom jerseys seen on celebs like Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy, And Teyana Taylor, to name a few. After custom designing, Justin made custom reconstructed hats on many celebrities, which caused another influx of clientele. After the custom hats, Justin took a four-year break from designing to build a Seventh Floor brand while working for Moncler. After leaving Moncler, Justin launched his clothing brand in which his first collection is in the works.
What impact does your heritage have on your design philosophy and process?
Laurel: Art was always part of my background and the role of my family and my heritage. I feel like I'm more of a sculptor. I think that's why other artists support my pieces kind of stand out, and them. It's like my art helping put out other's artists' art, helping to curate it.
Justin: I want my brand to be not an average brand; I want to have something luxurious, something new that we can bring to the table. And in terms of "black style," it is about confidence. It is something that we wear on our shoulders, like if you have style and you're black, you walk with your head up.
How do you start a collection or a specific design? What element is the key, and what is your inspiration to create?
Laurel: I guess I've known for many jewelry pieces, and I started making metal balls in school. That's kind of how it started. I make very extravagant and very bold pieces. Starting collection, I do extensive amounts of online research. This is a story of creation. It's nothing about copying anything because I'm making things in metal, so it might just be like a pattern I see in like a sign of a building or something like that.
Justin: Currently, the Seventh Floor is about. When I first started, I didn't know about fashion; I didn't know about fashion laws; I didn't know about copyrights anything of that sort. So I took a break for knowledge and conceptual understanding, so I researched luxury research on garments versus on us and sustainability.
What is your ratio between business savvy and this mystery of success of being like? What is your rate between business savvy and being lucky?
Justin: As we talk about the long-term aspect, you have to know the business side. When I started, I didn't. I was hit with lawsuits totaling over two hours. Often, fast fashion brands can be quote-unquote lucky and can last years because they're putting down merchants they're putting out items that don't cost as much.
Laurel: As for me, I don't think I've had luck at all. I put myself in the right place at the wrong time. I have made that sacrifice by moving from NYC to LA to be in a place where we're things happen. I understand the business side, and I think that that is super important. Some people can lookout, but you need to know the business if you want to have long-term success.
Let's talk about the new normal. As fashion weeks are going virtual and digital, obviously, things are changing. What is the new normal for you, and how would you define the normal would evolve?
Justin: So, for me, with the design of our first collection. Now how to work on perfecting tech brands was easier for designers to do. Being able to be hands-on with the manufacturers directly, it's like you know tech packs are honed because that smart communication needs all manufacturers.
Laurel: I realize that it's awesome because I feel like all the rules that were placed on fashion are outdoor. It's a new normal that letting us be in control. We can be creative with how we present our brands now without having these strict guidelines. So I think the new normal is awesome. And I believe Clubhouses has helped us. It's helping us connect with so many different people.
What is the most pressing question on your mind?
Justin: Wow. Yeah, well, for me. Like I said, luxury is always a topic of discussion. How come you don't see black-owned brands as a luxury. And that's one question that doesn't seem like all brands are luxury.
Laurel: I question myself about more things life-like: is my family okay? How can I help my day tomorrow? And I think these are extremely reasonable and smart questions to ask yourself.
