LaQuan Smith has definitely a unique success story, a self-taught fashion prodigy who overcame challenges to become an A-list favorite. For FW21 at the NYFW, he presented digitally his collection of stunners for fierce fashionistas. He teamed up with BMW US presenting sketches from the collection mixed with the #BMWXM5 #BMWX7 models. He recently partnered with @depop and the @blackinfashioncouncil for an open conversation on the future of fashion and the creatives shaping it with @lpeopleswagner for Black History Month. Even during the pandemic in 2020, his collection was sold out.
This designer’s journey is super-inspiring. He observed his grandmother and many other women as role models as a kid. His family sent him to art school in high school, which was a transformative experience. He was denied by FIT and Parsons, struggling to find his way into the industry. He formed an LLC that made “LaQuan Smith 3D leggings” and became known as the “leggings” guy. He modeled them, passed them around, and celebrities started to wear them; that’s when things ‘took off.’ His distinctive work sparked interest among fashion icons and risk-takers, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian, who were early supporters. Since its formal debut in 2013, the brand has gained acclaim for its endless archive of distinctive garments and details. Smith has cultivated an equally dynamic private order clientele that spans the globe from Lagos to London. Tom Ford has said about him: “He has great instincts, and a sense of style that is remarkable.”
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