Nicole Shante

Zenobia Morrow, GIA G.G., is an artist, private jeweler, and the owner of SevenJune, a company specializing in the creation of custom engagement rings and fine jewelry. Morrow, an Atlanta, Georgia native attended Howard University, where she received her B.F.A. in design and would later proceed to study gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.). Zenobia is one of the few African American certified gemologists in the world. Her fine jewelry designs have been featured in Essence, Ebony, Modern Luxury Magazine, and more! Her creations are a celebrity favorite and can often be spotted on some of the most prominent red carpets. Zenobia’s designs reflect her hope to reclaim the feminine by celebrating the glamour of nature. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Zenobia to delve into her journey as an artist and gemologist, the joy of vintage shopping, the process of crafting her style, and of course, some of her favorite fashion moments of all time. Shop SevenJune https://www.sevenjunejewelry.com/ Follow SevenJune on Instagram @sevenjunejewelry Learn more about Zenobia: ESSENCE Magazine: https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/essence-network-zenobia-morrow-diamond-dealer/ Gem Gossip: https://gemgossip.com/q-a-with-zenobia-morrow-of-sevenjune-jewelry/ EBONY Magazine: https://www.ebony.com/career-finance/diamond-dealer-zenobia-morrow/ Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmomen Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment

David BenDavid, also known as DBD, is the founder and creative director of Sprayground, a streetwear line known for its art-inspired backpacks and coveted by celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Meg Thee Stallion, Paris Hilton, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and more. A native of the Bronx, New York, DBD attended a visual arts school in New York City, which helped him further refine his innate gift as a creative artist. After completing his studies, DBD applied for several jobs but faced constant rejection. He would later travel the world with only a backpack, which would result in him meeting a business partner that would help him create a multimillion-dollar brand, Sprayground in 2010. DBD’s first backpack, “Hello My Name Is,” revolutionized the bag market and was pioneered as one of the first streetwear backpacks brands in the world. Over the past decade, Sprayground brand has expanded its product line to apparel, swimwear, travel bags, gaming chairs, and more. In addition to the brand’s celebrity founding, Sprayground has also collaborated with brands like Formula 1, Universal Studios, NBA, MARVEL, The Colombian Army and Humanitarian Organizations, and more. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with DBD to discuss his early life in the Bronx, lessons learned as an entrepreneur, and the importance of leading with creativity.  Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Show Notes: Follow David BenDavid on Instagram @davidbendavid Follow Sprayground on Instagram @sprayground Shop Sprayground: https://www.sprayground.com/ New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/nyregion/coronavirus-sprayground-david-ben-david.html The Source Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/nyregion/coronavirus-sprayground-david-ben-david.html LA Times Article: https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-wwd-sprayground-backpack-brand-20180731-story.html Hypebeast Article: https://hypebeast.com/2013/8/david-ben-david-talks-about-sprayground-and-the-bag-industry Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment

A native of Compton, California, designer and entrepreneur Shante Nicole, the founder of Nicole Shante, discovered her love for fashion and creating at the early age of nine years old. Inspired by the impeccable style of the strong women in her family and by getting lost in the glossy pages of Vogue, Shante enrolled in the fashion marketing program at the Fashion Insitute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. With a knack for building something out of nothing, she would later leave corporate America to create her own fashion business. In this episode, host Kirsten Holtz Naim talks to Shante about her journey as a designer, building a successful business, the beauty of creating a private label, diversity in the fashion industry, and the importance of tailoring for women. Show Notes: Shop Nicole Shante at https://nicoleshante.com/ Follow Nicole Shante on Instagram @nicoleshanteofficial Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment

Shawn Pean is the Chief Architect and creative director of the luxury house, June79 in New York City. This Brooklyn-born talent studied business and applied his skills to the world of fashion by taking on roles in buying and wholesale. Shawn’s accolades as an industry veteran and pioneer are endless. He spent nine years in the buying office at Saks, working in the men’s accessories, footwear, and outerwear departments. He also served as president and managing director of Balmain USA and vice president of wholesale at Valentino USA. In 2020, Shawn brought his decades-long experience to the forefront as an entrepreneur by establishing his luxury menswear brand in pursuit of the unsuit, June79. Pean’s suiting separates exemplify a “European sophistication” with a “Brooklyn attitude” generating genius cuts you won’t see anywhere else. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Shawn to discuss his exemplary career in the fashion industry, overcoming the challenges of being a high-profile fashion executive, and why it’s important to know what drives your business.  Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes: Shop June79: https://june79nyc.com/ Follow June79 on Instagram @june79nyc Follow Shawn on Instagram @mr.shawn.p Luxury Daily Article profile: https://www.luxurydaily.com/emboldened-by-stints-at-balmain-valentino-and-saks-shawn-pean-launches-luxury-menswear-label-june79/ Gotham Magazine Article: https://gothammag.com/nyc-style-stud-shawn-pean Ebony Magazine Article: https://www.ebony.com/style/june79/ Learn more about the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG): https://www.bragusa.org/ Follow BRAG on Instagram @brag_usa Learn more about Harlem's Fashion Row:

At an early age, Cynthia Rowley, a native of Illinois, discovered her love of sewing. With an artistic and creative gift that spanned beyond her garments, Cynthia studied painting and fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago. She would later pivot into fashion after observing the constraints of the art world environment, shifting into an industry that would allow her to be creatively free to express herself. After completing her academic studies, Cynthia moved to New York City, ready to pursue her dream of becoming a designer.  After a decade of building her business, Cynthia would be honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) with the Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent in 1994. Cynthia's brand philosophy, that fashion should be an adventure, catapulted her line into a full-blown brand containing a series of products, licenses, and brand collaborations. She would also author the Swell book series, featuring her illustration and writing talents. Combining her penchant for all things pretty and sporty, Cynthia collaborated with Roxy Quicksilver to produce surf and snow collections and even launched a CR Surf Camp in Montauk.  Cynthia is also the recipient of The Art Institute of Chicago's Legend of Fashion award and the Designer of the Year award at the 37th Annual American Apparel and Footwear Association American Image Awards. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim took a moment to sit down with Cynthia to discuss the importance of listening to your audience, how naivete can be a form of power, the importance of an internship, and not taking "no" for an answer.  Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes: Shop the collections at https://cynthiarowley.com/ Follow Cynthia on Instagram @cynthiarowley  Check out Cynthia’s podcast, Ageless with her daughter Kit Keenan: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ageless/id1462642371  Follow Cynthia’s podcast on Instagram @agelesspodcast  Forbes Article: ROXY And Cynthia Rowley Launch New Snow And Surf Collection With Ambassadors Chloe Kim And Kelia Moniz: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellebruton/2021/11/03/roxy-and-cynthia-rowley-launch-new-snow-and-surf-collection-with-ambassadors-chloe-kim-and-kelia-moniz/ Learn more about The Art Institute of Chicago: https://www.artic.edu/  The New York Times Article (1994) Announcing Cynthia’s first CFDA Award: https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/18/style/chronicle-864757.html  Learn more about CR Surf Camp: https://cynthiarowley.com/blogs/news/crsurfcamp-2019  Shop Cynthia’s books: Swell: A Girl’s Guide to the Good Life: https://www.amazon.com/Swell-Girls-Guide-Good-Life/dp/0756786576/ref=sr_1_1  Slim: A Fantasy Memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Slim-Fantasy-Memoir-Cynthia-Rowley/dp/0847829235/ref=sr_1_6  The Swell Dressed Party: https://www.amazon.com/Swell-Dressed-Party-Cynthia-Rowley-ebook/dp/B003T0FK9E/ref=sr_1_5  Swell Holiday: Turning Up the Twinkle: https://www.amazon.com/Swell-Holiday-Turning-Up-Twinkle/dp/074348214X/ref=sr_1_3  Home Swell Home: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Swell-Cynthia-Rowley/dp/0743442776/ref=sr_1_2

Constance C.R. White is a fashion content creator, editor, writer, and style expert. She studied journalism at New York University and received her MBA from Northwestern University, blending her penchant for reporting and the world of business. Constance landed roles at Women’s Wear Daily, ELLE, and would later cover fashion for The New York Times. Constance was also a contributor to many publications like the Chicago Tribune and became a frequent TV guest on programs like The Today Show and MSNBC. In 2003, Constance was appointed as the style director, brand consultant, and spokesperson at eBay and would later become the editor-in-chief at ESSENCE magazine. She is the author of books like How to Slay and StyleNoir. She is also the editor of the hit book From the Editors of Essence: Salute to Michelle Obama and has been named twice as one of the “Top 50 People in Fashion” by The New York Daily News. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Constance to discuss her fashion career, the world of editorial, what it means to be a great journalist, and why it’s important to serve your audience. Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show notes: Follow Constance on Instagram @officialcwhite  Visit http://constancecrwhite.com/  Avenue Magazine article by Constance C.R. White, “Anifa Mvuemba, a New Face of Fashion” https://avenuemagazine.com/anifa-mvuemba-fashion/  Learn more about Pam Grier: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/when-you-earn-it-they-cant-take-it-away-an-interview-with-pam-grier  Learn more about New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute: https://journalism.nyu.edu/  Learn More about Carrie Donovan: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/13/nyregion/carrie-donovan-one-of-a-kind-fashion-editor-and-tv-s-old-navy-lady-dies-at-73.html  Check out the Old Navy commercial featuring the legendary Carrie Donovan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DYN3MBi34  Learn more about Claudia Payne: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/media/17asktheeditors.html  Follow Monique Greenwood on Twitter @MoniqueAkwaaba  Check out Monique’s Akwaaba bed and breakfasts locations: https://www.akwaaba.com/  Learn more about Agnes Cammock by following her on Instagram @agnescammock  Learn more about Darlene Gillard Jones: https://www.darlenegillardjones.com/

At 25, fashion designer Tanya Taylor launched her namesake brand in 2012, taking the New York fashion scene by storm. Equipped with academic training from McGill University, Central Saint Martins, and Parsons, in conjunction with her unwavering belief in her vision, Taylor transformed her clothing line into the successful multifaceted brand it is today. Tanya integrates her love of color into all of her collections, but her dedication to the arts, activism, and inclusivity are most prevalent throughout her work.  Whether it’s getting people to register to vote, providing a range of sizes beyond the industry standard, or her ongoing collaboration with Memorial Sloane Kettering, Tanya uses her talents, connections, and love for fashion to make an impact. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim catches up with Tanya to talk about her career journey in the fashion industry, strategic decisions that helped her thrive as a brand during the pandemic, and of course, reflecting on one of her favorite fashion moments of all time. Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes: Shop Tanya Taylor’s collections now at https://www.tanyataylor.com/ Follow Tanya Taylor on Instagram @tanyataylor and on Facebook @tanyataylornyc   Shop Tanya Taylor x Paintbox Nail Polish: https://gretta.co/products/tanya-taylor-x-paintbox-nail-polish  Follow Toronto Fashion Week on Instagram @tfw  Learn more about McGill University: https://www.mcgill.ca/  Vogue Business article covering Tanya’s commitment to size inclusivity, “The payoffs of plus-size: https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/tanya-taylor-plus-size-inclusivity-profit  House Beautiful article, “Fashion Designer Tanya Taylor Launches Home Collection”: https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/best-stores/a36674977/fashion-designer-tanya-taylor-launches-spring-summer-home-decor/  Glamour article, “Designer Tanya Taylor Debuts Clever NYFW Film Series to Encourage Voting”:  https://www.glamour.com/story/tanya-taylor-nyfw-film-series-to-encourage-voting  Learn more about Tanya Taylor & Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center:  https://www.tanyataylor.com/pages/msk  Learn more about HENSE’s mural work in Washington, D.C.: https://savingplaces.org/stories/slideshow-update-painted-dc-church-now-artistic-inside#.YdIl4mjMLIU  Learn more about the notes left at the White House during that infamous Obama farewell party: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9445203/Dave-Chappelle-says-celebrities-left-dirty-notes-White-House-Trump-Obama-party.html

Elaine Nichols is the Supervisory Curator of Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C.A native of Charlotte, North Carlina, Nichols developed her love for African American history at a young age by listening to the stories about her heritage, culture, and resilience from the elders in her family. Her love of history would later guide her academic pursuits, leading her to complete a Masters of Art in Public Service Archaeology from the University of South Carolina and a Masters of Art in Social Administration and Planning from Case Western Reserve University.  Nichols made her curatorial debut at the South Carolina State Museum, where she curated the exhibition, The Last Miles of the Way: African American Funeral and Mourning Customs in South Carolina, 1890-Present. The collection garnered worldwide attention, propelling Elaine up the ranks to become the museum’s curator of history. In 2009, after completing work on the “Save Our National Treasures” project, Nichols was recruited into her current role at the NMAAHC, where she curates a variety of costumes, textiles, and decorative arts to tell the stories that reflect significant moments in African American culture. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Elaine to discuss her longstanding career as a curator, what it was like to meet Rosa Parks, black fashion history, why she loves the flapper dress, and more.  Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes: Learn more about the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC): https://nmaahc.si.edu/  Learn more about Elaine Nichols: https://nmaahc.si.edu/  Check out the upcoming events at NMAAHC: https://nmaahc.si.edu/events  (WATCH) All of the Videos from the Fashion, Culture Futures: African American Ingenuity, Activism, And Storytelling Symposium: https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/fashion-culture-futures-african-american-ingenuity-activism-and-storytelling-symposium?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D155809946  Learn more about Dr. Bertha Maxwell-Roddey: https://www.ninertimes.com/news/unc-charlotte-s-second-full-time-black-professor-dr-bertha-maxwell-roddey/article_96a626d4-80e6-11eb-97ca-efc343687404.html  L.A. Times Article “The Sweet Chariot Swings Low--A Study of Black Burial Rites” : https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-05-vw-3215-story.html  Learn more about Shannon Faulkner: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/when-the-first-woman-entered-the-citadel/2018/08/06/0906e622-7bb4-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html  Learn more about Kitty Black-Perkins: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/02/28/meet-south-carolina-woman-who-designed-mattels-first-black-barbie/2702687002/  NPR Article on the NMAAHC “Save Our National Treasures” program: https://www.npr.org/2014/09/10/347378402/to-preserve-black-history-people-keep-national-treasures-at-home  Learn more about Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch III: https://www.si.edu/about/secretary-lonnie-bunch  Rosa Parks’ dress from 1955 on display at the NMAAHC: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/snapshot/rosa-parks-dress  Learn more about the work of fashion designer and entrepreneur Ann Lowe: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pretty-pink  Check out B.Michael on Instagram @bmichaelamerica

Nigel Barker is a photographer, TV personality, and philanthropist known for his breath-taking photos and his iconic role as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, a televised model competition show hosted by supermodel, Tyra Banks. Born in London, Barker hit the fashion scene as a model after winning a televised competition. He would later move to New York City and eventually teach himself the fundamentals of photography by observing the sets, production details, and logistics at his modeling shoots. Nigel used what he learned to eventually become one of the most sought-after photographers in the world. In addition to his many talents, Barker has directed and worked on several films including humanitarian documentaries like A Sealed Fate and Haiti: Hunger and Hope. Nigel recently launched a podcast with his childhood friend, Tom Astor, called Shaken & Stirred. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Nigel to talk about his iconic career in the fashion industry, the complexities of identity, and the importance of family, along with an update on his recent work with the Special Olympics.  Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes:  Follow Nigel Barker on Instagram @nigelbarker  Check out Nigel’s podcast Shaken & Stirred: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shaken-stirred/id1455145047  Follow Shaken and Stirred on Instagram: @shakenandstirred Learn more about Nigel’s work as a Champion Ambassador with the Special Olympics and the “Be Brave” collection + campaign: https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/special-olympics-shines-at-new-york-fashion-week-2021-with-bebrave-collection  Watch America’s Next Top Model episodes on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/70258519  New York Times 1997 Article: “The Model Who Invented Heroin Chic”: https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/07/arts/the-model-who-invented-heroin-chic.html ABC News Feature with Nigel Barker: “How to Look Better in Photos: Celebrity Photographer's 6 Tips” https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/photos-nigel-barkers-tips/story?id=21400498   The DOGPOUND gym: https://www.thedogpound.com/

Kimora Lee Simmons is a model, a mogul, but most of all, she’s a mom. In 1999, Kimora launched her first clothing line, Baby Phat, which would become one of the first explosive streetwear brands that specifically catered to women, and even more so, women of color. Kimora created size-inclusive denim styles and looks that complemented a wide range of women with diverse body types. As a result, the Baby Phat brand became a fashion sensation, popping up in magazines, runways, and top celebrities across the globe. In the early 2000s, Kimora launched an intimate docuseries called “Life in the Fab Lane,” where she gave the audience an inside look into her life as a working mom and a glimpse behind the scenes into her fashion empire.  In 2006, Kimora captured our hearts with her book Fabulosity, which empowered countless women to pursue self-love, confidence, and success. She would later build a high-end luxury brand, KLS, and would become the Creative Director of JustFab. Her list of accolades and accomplishments is endless. Now, with her brilliant daughters Aoki and Ming by her side, Kimora launched Baby Phat Beauty and recently revived and expanded her clothing brand, Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons. Host, Kirsten Holtz Naim sat down with Kimora to talk about her illustrious career, the revival of Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons, and her dedication to empowering women. Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment Connect with Us! Spotify | Apple Shop + Support Instagram: @afashionmoment Twitter: @A_FashionMoment Email: [email protected] Website: A Fashion Moment Show Notes: Check out the new Baby Phat Collection: https://babyphat.com/  Shop the full collection available at Macy’s: https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/baby-phat-womens  Follow Baby Phat on Instagram @babyphat Follow Kimora Lee Simmons on Instagram @kimoraleesimmons    Shop Baby Phat Beauty: https://babyphatbeauty.com/  Purchase Kimora’s book, Fabulosity: What it is and How to Get It: https://www.amazon.com/Fabulosity-What-Kimora-Lee-Simmons/dp/006084339X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fabulosity&qid=1639505761&sr=8-1