There were many talented artists present at Runway7. Here’s our runway revelations exclusive interview with one of them.
In the competitive world of fashion, there are individuals whose contributions resonate far beyond the confines of their industry. Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with an up and coming trailblazer in the field. With her work on the spring 2024 Vivante collection, our conversation delves into the intricacies of her projects, her vision and how she got her start. This is our candid one on one with Joielle Lee.
The celebrity fashion stylist and Howard University alum, prides herself in her work and passion, which certainly shows in the end product.
Many people attempt to enter this world but find the waters a bit treacherous or have no staying power. As fashion is dominated by a litany of houses, many smaller designers have spawned in the past few years.
Q&A to follow below.
Madison Ave: What was your process when you were coming up with the designs?
Lee: We were inspired by underwater futurism…We wanted to make something that was ready to wear for the men that was also a little bit different. We wanted to keep it chic. Therefore we followed through with designs that were very clean, and on trend right now. I think mohairs and different textures are on trend, so I was really looking and doing research into what’s really happening in fashion and where we were going. Additionally we wanted to follow silhouettes that were going to be very pleasing on the runway as well as fabrics that will showcase the versatility of the designs.
Madison Ave: What do you think about the public reaction to the collection thus far?
Lee: I think everyone has been really excited. We have gotten a lot of really good feedback and we were told that we need to make more menswear. Im excited to hopefully make more menswear for Vivante and continue our collaboration together moving forward.
Madison Ave: Where can we find your designs?
Lee: You can find them online. On instagram it is VivanteOfficiall and the link is in the bio.
Madison Ave: What advice do you have for anyone trying to break into the industry and do this for the first time?
Lee: I came into this as a celebrity stylist so that is also my speciality. This is my first time designing very heavily. Definitely just experiment and don’t be afraid to take risks. This was me stepping outside of my comfort zone and i’m really grateful to Shunelle (Porcena) for bringing me in and challenging me to become a better designer as it is making me a better stylist.