Dallas Designer Charles Smith II Wins a Major Fashion Competition

On June 9, the Charles Smith II was introduced as the winner of OnlyFans Imaginative Fund: Manner Version. The Dallas-based mostly manner designer gained the $50,000 grand prize awarded by the membership-centered streaming platform. Smith II competed against 5 trend designers and stylists to safe the coveted prize.

The Harlem-born, Dallas-dependent designer started his vocation in style by modeling for large vogue makes in Milan. His working experience in the trend business sharpened his eye for structure. In 2017, he joined the inaugural class of designers at the St. Louis Manner Fund. When there, Smith II fulfilled the famous André Leon Talley, who served as a mentor to Smith II before he handed. Grammy winner Solange Knowles, Bobby Classes, Emmy winner Karrueche Tran, Zoe Kravitz and much more notable celebrities have worn Smith II’s designs.

He is the to start with to earn the stateside edition of the level of competition series. The very first iteration was based in the United Kingdom and concentrated on the tunes sector. The American model centered on the fashion industry. Creators and designers had been judged by a movie star panel of stylists Legislation Roach and Maeve Reilly, as effectively as make-up artist Sir John. Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff served as a mentor to the grand prize winner, Charles Smith II, initial runner up-winner, Lee Rickie and 2nd runner-up winner, Mario Miguelito.

Soon ahead of his get, Smith spoke to D Journal about why he applied for the collection and programs for the grand prize.

The interview has been edited for clarity.

Your brand name has gained protection in regional, condition, nationwide and global publications. What inspired you to enter this competitors?

In get to scale your business into the subsequent stage, it takes funds. I have attempted out for a couple of competitors collection like Task Runway and Making The Minimize, but COVID threw a wrench in that for me. People prospects did not go via. I have always been a believer of what’s meant for is meant for you. My pal despatched me the submission the day in advance of it was owing. I almost didn’t because submissions are a extended, exhausting method. But I reminded myself to continue to keep going. I felt excellent about it after I applied. I told myself, if I get this, particularly comprehending the energy of Tv set, it can be a resource and a really resourceful point for your system.

After you submitted your on line application, what was the relaxation of the approach until finally you landed in Los Angeles for the in-human being levels of competition?

A week and a half later on, I was informed I manufactured it to the semi-finals. They requested me if I was ready to travel to LA. A week just after that, I jumped on a Zoom connect with with the producers. They required to get a feeling of my persona. On the Zoom get in touch with, I was equipped to chat about myself and my model. I have a great knowledge of what me receiving into design and style was. For me, this was a contacting.

Staying able to use vogue as the vessel that will allow me to choose some thing shiny to get people’s notice, and then bring it over to one thing significant. At the time I understood which is what the calling was calling me to do with this, it manufactured it simpler for me to speak about it. I definitely fully grasp what I’m executing with fashion and exactly where I’m likely with it. Every single aspect of the vision given that I started out has occur accurate, accurately to the T, of what I by now observed.

The moment you designed it to LA, notify me about the completion? Did you have any anticipations?

I really do not go into something with anticipations for the reason that I truly feel that’s how you get into your head. That’s how you start out finding in your way and shed. I’m not in the small business of losing. At the end of the day, it is intended for me to go with what I know and to don’t forget that is in this scenario no just one is aware who you are, and just approach it in a humble way. My metropolis may know who I am but when you consider about Television is a various condition.

The lights, production, and cameras will intimidate specified people today but that’s not what it is for. When you enter into that room, it is the time to go with what you know, to exhibit people who you are and what you have been accomplishing, and do that to the very best of your capability. It is to make them comprehend what you are striving to give to the entire world.

This is a terrific prize. You spoke about the will need for capital. What do you plan to do with the $50,000 grand prize?

Element of the prize is a conversation with Rebecca Minkoff. She created me see my idea line and how to use it in a NFT format. She opened my eyes to see that element of it. In conditions of my prize funds, I bought my materials for my following selection and obtained inventory for my merchandise/e-commerce merchandise.