Black in Business: Laquan Smith

Laquan Smith. One of the most inspirational and iconic black designers of this generation. Laquan has broken diversity boundaries within the fashion industry and within fashion itself. Laquan Smith, born in Queens, New York, started his revolutionary brand and business at the age of 21. Laquan was influenced heavily and instructed by his grandmother, his grandmother, who instilled skill and a passion for sewing and pattern making. Laquan has caught the eyes and worked with many named fashion moguls and celebrities. His exceptional work sparked interest from many fashion icons. These icons included Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian. All of whom were supporters of the designer.

Since the formal Debut in 2013, the brand has gained acclaim for its endless archive for its distinctive garments and details. "21-year-old designer LaQuan Smith was towering above a fashion show crowd in six-inch Louboutin heels and a pair of shimmery sequined leggings (designed by him) when he caught the eye of publicist Kelly Mills.

Mills, who represents a handful of young designers, recalls telling him, "We need a meeting; I need those leggings!" Mills eventually introduced Smith's designs to Rihanna, who wore the designer's sequined pink jumpsuit in her Rude Boy video. In the blink of an eye, Smith went from sewing in his grandparent's basement to decking out pop princesses."

The first time I witnessed Laquan Smiths' designs was right around Cardi B posted a picture on Instagram wearing one of his dresses. I would say this was around 2017 or 2018. Utterly amazed at the ensemble, I immediately followed the links to the designer. She advocated utilizing and wearing black designer clothing. Around that time, I wanted to find different black designers (male or female) and feel so lost and upset because I couldn't, whether it is due to lack of representation in the industry, or funding issues, or diversity. I wanted to find Black fashion Designers and creators, and that post just happened to be posted.

More and more moguls and celebrities have been wearing Laquan Smith's creations. The way he puts together mood boards drawing inspiration for his collections almost feels relatable in a way, if not very influential. Laquan's brand and aesthetic are reminiscent of styles of high-class and lower-income/ streetwear New York. He embodies the inflection of everything he comes from and is. He should be well known for his excellence in creating such gorgeous garments and his just keen eye overall down to the color selections and how each garment shapes the model and can either accentuate or form itself onto the model. I am just proud even to hear that he's from my hometown and Queens, NY.

I am currently just waiting for what he decides to do with his collection this year for NYFW. Each collection that he has put out since 2018 has been iconic and significant to its own style. Circling back to his eye, the way he pays attention to detailing, draping, and flow is truly impeccable. Each collection is unique to each year and time it's released. I believe he deserves more recognition and praise as a designer and an artist, and an overall multifaceted and talented person. I pray that one day I spend my black dollars purchasing one of his dresses! It's worth having a separate spending account just for his dresses alone! The fact that most people do not know who this man is is baffling. I think this is why I even want to highlight his work, him as a designer and a strong influential Black designer as well. Like Tom Ford spoke highly of this amazing man! I believe he deserves so much more than roses. Laquan Smith is legend

Sources:

https://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black/the-black-blog/2010/04/-laquan-smith?refresh_ce=

https://laquansmith.com/pages/about