Langston HowardHis admiration for art and his desire to inspire others through his clothing brand gave the 13-year-old a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Featured at next month’s New York Fashion Week.
Howard is the founder and designer of The Top, who started out as a fashion entrepreneur at the Boys and Girls Club in Southeastern, Michigan after years of creating designs. According to that site, clothing line Our mission is to “motivate people throughout the day”.
The top consists of numerous pieces such as face masks, hats and hoodies. The brand is unique because Howard adds motivational quotes from some of his idols.Since the company’s launch year, Howard’s designs have been used by rappers and big names in entertainment such as Detroit native Sean. It has attracted the attention of celebrities around the world.
In an interview with The Boys and Girls Club, Howard opened up about how the company’s Industry Club program helped shape him into the fashion expert he is today.
The publication describes Industry Club as a six-week workshop that helps teenagers gain work experience in a variety of industries such as fashion, urban planning, sports and entertainment. The program typically accepts 200 qualified applicants each year and offers these individuals networking, mentorship, and paid gig opportunities.
Howard said his overall experience has been great, as he has been able to meet like-minded teenagers and “directors of the program” since joining the program. he said: He enjoyed meeting other teenage fashion designers and was also inspired by the program’s director. “
Further in the conversation, Howard revealed that the program assisted him in his creative process. Art allows you to express yourself without words or descriptions, and the process of designing a piece requires hours of brainstorming and editing ideas until you find the right fit. It’s exciting and makes me feel proud.”
When asked how he felt about his design being featured at New York Fashion Week 2023, Howard claimed to be officially reaping the fruits of his labors. “I feel like a celebrity,” he said. “This opportunity really reminded me that my hard work pays off.”
New York Fashion Week starts on February 10th and runs through February 15th.
