What inspired you to apply for the "Celebrating Fashion Future" program?
What inspired me to apply for Celebrating Fashion Future is the vision behind my brand concept, Noir+, and its discreet vending machines. Noir+ is built around intimacy, privacy, and elevated presentation — taking products that are often treated as taboo and reframing them through intentional design, luxury aesthetics, and cultural awareness. My machines aren’t just functional — they’re styled experiences, using dark, sleek visual language and curated product selections that feel refined rather than hidden or shame-based.
Fashion and product design both shape how people feel about themselves and how they move through the world. With Noir+, I approach machine design the same way a designer approaches a garment or collection — with attention to color story (primarily black), mood, texture, and emotional impact. The goal is to create something discreet but empowering, modern but human, and visually aligned with upscale urban culture.
I’m applying because the future of fashion isn’t only on runways — it lives in unexpected formats, physical spaces, and interactive design. Noir+ machines represent how branding, fashion aesthetics, and lifestyle products can merge into a new kind of wearable-adjacent experience. I want to grow in an environment that celebrates forward-thinking design and helps creators like me push unconventional concepts into culturally relevant realities.
What drives you? Share your passions, values, or a defining experience that shaped who you are today.
I’m driven by creativity with purpose — using music, fashion, and design to tell stories that make people feel seen. As a musician (singer and songwriter) and brand builder behind Noir+, I’m passionate about turning overlooked or misunderstood spaces into elevated, intentional experiences. A defining part of my journey has been learning how to transform pain and vulnerability into art and vision instead of silence. That shift shaped my discipline and empathy. I value authenticity, cultural impact, and innovation. Everything I create aims to connect emotion, identity, and style into something people can feel — not just see.
How do you see yourself as part of Fashion's future?
I see myself as part of fashion’s future by bridging sound, story, and style into one creative ecosystem. As a songwriter and creative entrepreneur building Noir+, I approach design like composition — mood, tone, and identity come first. My perspective centers on emotional storytelling, cultural authenticity, and discreet luxury, showing that fashion can live in products, experiences, and spaces — not just garments. I bring a cross-disciplinary lens that connects music, branding, and wearable identity. My contribution is creating style-driven experiences that feel personal, intentional, and forward-thinking, where fashion becomes something people don’t just wear — they feel.
How does your campus Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) create community and opportunity for students?
Howard University’s Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) creates community and opportunity by connecting students directly to the fashion and retail industry through mentorship, networking, and hands-on exposure. At an HBCU rooted in culture and excellence, BRAG creates a space where Black creatives and business leaders are supported, seen, and developed. It builds community through collaboration and shared identity, while opening doors through workshops, industry speakers, brand partnerships, and career pathways. It turns interest into access and access into preparation — empowering students to enter fashion and retail with confidence, cultural awareness, and purpose.
How has attending an HBCU set you up for success?
Attending an HBCU has set me up for success by grounding me in confidence, culture, and community. At Howard University, I’m surrounded by excellence that reflects who I am and who I’m becoming. Being in a space where Black creativity, leadership, and ambition are the standard has sharpened my voice and vision. Howard has taught me how to lead with purpose, collaborate intentionally, and believe in my ideas without shrinking them. That foundation gives me the clarity and courage to move forward — prepared, connected, and unapologetically myself.
