A Fashion Moment

Season 2, Episode 24: Zenobia Morrow

Zenobia Morrow, GIA G.G., is an artist, private jeweler, and the owner of SevenJune jewelry, 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 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/

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Season 2, Episode 23: David BenDavid

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

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Instagram: @afashionmoment

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Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Season 2, Episode 22: Nicole Shante

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: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Season 2, Episode 21: Shawn Pean

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

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: https://www.harlemsfashionrow.com/

Season 2, Episode 20: Cynthia Rowley

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

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