BLAQUE/OUT Magazine Feature: NATHANIEL JOHNSON "He Got the Keys"

DESIGNER, NATHANIEL JOHNSON HONORED WITH KEY TO THE CITY Rochester,NY

This week was a reminder that not all heroes wear capes, some of them create them.

It was my honor this week to fly home to Rochester, New York, to celebrate the community, entrepreneurial and fashion contributions of a man I’ve known since I was nine or ten years old Although Rochester isn’t necessarily known for its fashion, it is certainly known for Nate and Nate is known for fashion I was able to gather a room full of some of his favorite people, family and friends, to bear witness to Mayor Malik Evans presenting him with the key to Rochester I’ve never known anyone to receive that distinction and whoever they were, they were few With the help of a very small group of his nearest and dearest, the assistance of local music and talent cultivator, Tony “Grandtone” Simmons and his lovely wife Star to surprise Nathaniel His daughter Rainy and I were able to come into town to celebrate this majestic event at the Simmons’ weekly R&B Wednesdays at Urban Euphoria There was phenomenal live music, (Rochester is bubbling over with talent Tweet, Taye Diggs and Seymour Hoffman are all from Rochester and ew-to-you sensation, Daniele Ponder all got their start in Rochester while national acts like Missy, Jodeci, and Timbaland recorded there for years), great food and a mini fashion show of some of Nate’s designs. We were able to even celebrate

Nathaniel’s upcoming birthday with an incredible gold key shaped cake There was shock, laughter, tears and dancing but mostly there was just a good old time to celebrate one of the greatest who has ever done it

Nathaniel Johnson has been a proud Rochesterian since moving from Baltimore, Maryland, as a child in the early 70s. After graduating, he began working various jobs but always enjoyed the creativity of design. His first attempts at designing clothing had him making pieces for himself. His work was so impressive that he began getting design requests from friends and family. He was eventually asked to make a gown for a young lady competing in the Miss New York pageant and his talent and popularity grew from there. Nathaniel worked for staples in the Rochester garment arena like the B. Forman Company at Midtown (the nation’s first mall) and was eventually asked to create his own line for the retailer. Johnson went on to open Nathaniel’s Originals and became the City of Rochester’s premier voice in fashion. In his 30+ years in fashion design, Nathaniel, fondly referred to as “Nate”, has designed for the best of the best in Rochester and beyond. Possibly most impressively, he has designed for generations, often creating the prom dress, graduation outfit, wedding party and baby shower outfit within families.

Johnson has always had an eye for the couture and fashion forward carefully designing each piece by hand. His looks have graced the runway countless times from Rochester to Tampa and Atlanta. He has also been dedicated to mentoring future designers and up and coming models along the way. Despite all his success and accomplishments, anyone who knows him knows he is proudest of his daughter and grandchildren. He loves being Nate-Nate.

Nathaniel Johnson has killed the runway at Rochester Fashion Week and brought Rochester iconic shows like AMBUSH, Fashion in the Park, The Fashion Experience: Designer Challenge, Through the Lens, and For the Love of Fashion just to name a few.

Nathaniel Johnson IS Rochester fashion. October 25th ended with the Rochester city skyline lights being turned blue in his honor Nate, the city is YOURS And now you got the keys, keys, keys, keys!