WI Bridge - May 2017

Shawne Merriman

Expands From the NFL to Fashion

MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Designer Behind Elegant Erkel Speaks Vito Made It International Street Style & More!

MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

PHOTO EDITOR Dejah Greene

LAYOUT EDITOR

Dominiqua S. Eldridge Sarafina Wright

EDITOR’S LETTER

This month the men take center stage in our fashion issue. Like how refreshing is that. Largely when we think about fashion and the fashion industry, women, female models and celebrities in stunning gowns come to mind, but we decided to showcase some local and international men establishing their brand in the business.

One of those men are retired NFL linebacker and P.G. County native Shawne Merriman. He brought his ‘Lights Out’ active line to DTLR here in the District and I sat with him to learn more about his transition from the league to an apparel designer. He is definitely a talented businessman who can maneuver and make an impression in any room not just on the football field.

PAGE Meet

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Elshadei: Local Designer with Bold Neckwear

Up and Coming: Vito HandCrafted Apparel Charlotte Designer & Influencer Shines

PAGE Interational Street Style

5 Jade James-Gist

4

Spotlight: JoJo of France

Shawne Merriman Gracefully Pivots from the NFL to Clothing Biz

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PAGE

Lights Out Active Line Lands in DTLR

ON THE COVER

PAGE

6

WI BRIDGE TEAM

Also, meet Elshadei Fantahun, founder of men’s neckwear collection Elegant Erkel, Vito of Vito HandCrafted Apparel and JoJo, a Black Frenchman with stunning street style.

Questions, comments, concerns?

Interested in photography or writing for the Bridge? Email me at swright@ washingtoninformer.com.

The ladies of the Bridge Jade, Sarafina and Dominiqua caught up with each other on Saturday, March 25, a beautiful spring day at Union Market in Northeast. / Photo by Steve Garrett.

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Retired NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman sports his new active wear line ‘Lights Out’ t-shirt that he brought to DTLR stores in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 17. /Photo courtesy of Business Wire.

Meet Elshadei:

MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Local Designer with Bold Neckwear

By Sarafina Wright WI Bridge Editor

Models showcase Elegant Erkel’s neckwear at the DC Fashion Incubator New/Next Fashion Showcase at the Blind Whino on Friday, April 28. /Courtesy photo.

Elshadei Fantahun, founder of Elegant Erkel sat with WI Bridge Editor Sarafina Wright after his DC Fashion Incubator New/Next Fashion Showcase on Friday, April 28 at the Blind Whino in Southwest. / Photo by Steve Garrett.

Elshadei Fantahun, 26, founder of Elegant Erkel from Suitland, Md. by way of Ethiopia launched

his handcrafted men’s neckwear line in March of 2016. One year later as a DC Fashion Incubator resident he had his fourth showcase with more on the books to come. He sat down with the Bridge at the DC Fashion Incubator New/Next Fashion Showcase at the Blind Whino on Friday, April 28 to discuss his start and where he plans to go.

Where did the fashion bug start for you?

Honestly it was kind of a surprise. My initial interest in fashion grew because I’ve always been in business and had to wear suits and ties a lot. One of the biggest problems was actually finding a tie that stood apart but worked with a lot of things. Years back I had the opportunity to think and create something different. I started off with alterations, gradually started to make ties and then from there created a whole brand around it.

The vision behind Elegant Erkel?

I did a lot of research. I am a do-it type of learner, so I watched a lot of YouTube videos, met a lot of people and did some in-person training. Finally, we officially launched in March 2016.

Our show is a mix of bold colors, very striking prints and color ways. Our whole objective was to mix professionalism with casual. I want to incorporate as many colors and varying styles that we can.

Experience with the DC Fashion Incubator?

I’m one of the members of the public program at the DC Fashion Incubator. The best way to explain it is that it’s just an opportunity to have a mentor. It’s a hub of different designers. It opens up doors to communicate and throw our ideas back and forth with people in fashion. That’s where a lot of the ideas actually came from for my show.

What’s Next?

We’ve done DC Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and this is our fourth show here tonight.

We have another show coming up in July that we plan on doing with Kas Lifestyle who makes custom suits and another show in New York with details coming soon. We also will be launching our "humani-tie" collection as we get into philanthropy.

Find the line at www.eleganterkel.com Instagram: @NiceKnot

Elegant Erkel’s neckwear. /Photo courtesy of NiceKnot Instagram.

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MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Up and Coming: Vito Hand - Crafted Apparel Charlotte Designer & Influencer Shines

By Sarafina Wright

business meetings related to his brand, or passing out shirts to the hottest DJs and rappers Charlotte has to offer he’s on campus at Johnson C. Smith University planting and growing produce to sell at a local Farmers Market.

WI Bridge Editor

When you first see Donavin “Vito” Green” he has a energy about him that radiates - he simply stands out from the crowd.

“My interest in healthy food is getting healthy food access into minority communities, and basically educate our people about the importance of eating healthy organic foods and how to grow it,” Vito said.

At a 90s themed art show entitled ‘1992’ in Charlotte, N.C. tucked away in an eclectic garage in the unsuspecting neighborhood of “North Charlotte” local artists, musicians, creatives and ‘cool kids’ who left high school more than five years ago converged to display the best the city has to offer.

When asked how in a matter of weeks has his brand seen so much success with the majority of his site sold out he said “I don't know.”

In the midst of live performances, art demos and beer pong, Vito shuffles back and forth from his clothing rack, stopping to talk to someone every five seconds. It appears as though he knows everyone.

When you look a little closer, he indeed does know everyone, but he also is just performing as an entrepreneur pushing his new and up and coming Vito Hand-Crafted Apparel shirts that dons your favorite cities such as Montreal, Toronto, London, Atlanta and of course Charlotte.

“The shirts happened a couple weeks ago, Backwoods posted them on their Instagram page and it went crazy,” Vito said. “That reached like 5,000 people and I just rode that.”

Vito’s t-shirt designs are a play off of the iconic cigar company Backwoods design pattern.

“I didn't think it would pop like that. I’m not even gon’ front, but it did.”

Now that things have indeed popped, Vito and his one-man show looks forward to the fall, debuting his casual designs including hoodies, button-ups and denim.

Donavin “Vito” Green of Vito Hand-Crafted Apparel. / Courtesy photo.

“The shirts is really just a great marketing tool to get me in the door,” he said. “It will allow me to get my name and face out there, to travel and meet people and take this to the next level.”

“I smoke Backwoods when I choose to indulge and I just thought of the idea,” he said. “It catches the eye, because everyone in the culture can connect with Backwoods in some way.”

Vito, 25, does a little bit of everything according to him and he stands at the forefront of the creative movement coming out of Charlotte.

“I do a lot in Charlotte, I’m an event planner, I'm in school, a gardener and a designer too.

I'm just cool,” he said. “I use the shirts to reach everyone I can. It can be anybody from the student to the artist.

Vito started off in fashion making bow ties a few years ago, but what he was in school for at the time didn't really align with that.

“I went to school to be a dentist, but I changed my major from biology to community health, because one day I want to own my own dispensary,” he said. “I want to legally grow medical marijuana when it’s legal and get into cooking it as well.”

Throughout the week when he’s not having

WI BRIDGE | 4

Vito Hand Crafted Apparel T-shirts available at www.vitomadeit.us.

MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Interational Street Style Spotlight: JoJo of France Instagram: Jaygga Snapchat: Jaygga

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MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Shawne Merriman Gracefully Pivots from the NFL to Clothing Biz

Retired NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman brought his active line “Lights Out” to DTLR in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 17. /Photo by Steve Garrett.

WI BRIDGE | 6

MAY 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 5

Lights Out Active Line Lands in DTLR

Models showcase the Lights Out active wear t-shirts at DTLR in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 17. /Photo by Steve Garrett.

By Sarafina Wright WI Bridge Editor

Retired NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman returned home to the DMV area not to talk football, but to debut his new active wear line affectionately named ‘Lights Out.’

from DTLR was everything for us,” he said.

“Now sitting here and being able to sell and partner with Downtown Locker Room is almost unheard of.”

“I’ve learned to create something other people like,” Merriman said. “We have “You go and have this career playing football guys from all different facets of the and you have this success on the field, but now industry, actors, actresses, MMA athletes, your football is done, what else do I do? What a lot of people supporting the brand.” do I love doing just as much as I enjoy playing The three-time NFL Pro-Bowler also plans football and this was it for me.” to bring his line to NASCAR since buying

Merriman who played for seven seasons in the league earned the moniker ‘Lights Out’ as a sophomore at Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. now as a full fledged businessman he’s using his famous trademark on his latest Merriman bought the Lights Out company in fashion effort. his second year playing with the San Diego “I’m from here this is home, and it’s Chargers in 2006. He started with t-shirts and always going to be home,” Merriman said. hats, but he didn't have much time to devote to “I’m from P.G. County, Capitol Heights, it due to his rigorous football schedule.

Forestville, I went to high school in Upper “I’ve learned a lot about the industry over the Marlboro, so this is a special place.” past three years, but back then my main job “Having the ability to play in San Diego and now live in LA, you realize there is no place in the country like the DMV, it could be its own country.”

the latest technical fabrications with fashion-forward designs.

was playing football. Go to practice, workout and everything else was second,” Merriman said. “Since I’ve retired now I’am over here playing a different game which is building Merriman said that launching Lights a brand.”

Out in D.C. especially DTLR has been Lights Out touts itself as an active apparel extra special. and lifestyle brand that specializes in men's “I remember when we could afford new and women's performance tees, sports bags, clothes, and to be able to go buy clothes and other active gear that incorporates

into a team and partnering with NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver Jesse Iwuji.

“NASCAR is a great sport and has a huge demographic,” Merriman said. “I have a NASCAR car, my driver is Black and he would be a great ambassador for the brand for our racing style t-shirts.”

With Lights Out already in 20 - 30 DTLR locations across the country Merriman looks forward to growing in the apparel industry and driving business to his favorite childhood store.

“It’s a powerful brand,” he said. “The name Lights Out itself has a very strong meaning and we wanted that strong meaning to be noticed in the shirts.”

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