October 1, 2024 • 31 mins
On this episode of Butternomics, we’re kicking it with Angela Watts, the visionary behind Atlanta Fashion Week. Angela saw the potential for ATL to be more than just a hub for music and culture—she knew it could be a global fashion hotspot too. So, she built a platform that highlights everything from streetwear to high fashion. Fast forward over a decade, and Atlanta Fashion Week is pulling in designers, brands, and fashion lovers from around the world. Tap in as Angela breaks down how she turned her vision into one of ATL’s biggest fashion events, what it really takes to make it in the fashion game, and where she sees the future of Atlanta’s fashion scene heading.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I try not to look at the negative side of
things at all. If you tell me that this person
can't do this, I'll show you someone I can. And
I really truly believe that has positioned me to be
where I am today. Honestly, I just I don't believe
in the negativity, especially when it comes to our community
and our culture. You know, we hear so much with
(00:21):
me working and pressed, I have a very critical eye
when I'm looking at the different stories that come out
and how they're ran. Yeah, I see what you're saying here,
but I know this group of people over here that
are doing what you're saying that they can't do. So
I just choose to see the positive side of things.
And when I do that, guess what, things just seem to.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Fall a place.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Here. Everybody, Welcome to another episode of butter Nomics. I
am your host, Brandon Butler, founder and CEO of Butter
atl and we have a very very special guest today
in the studio with us, the one the only Miss
Angela Watts.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Angela, how are you doing.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
I am doing well. Thank you Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Good good, thank you for coming out now. You know
you're doing a lot of stuff out here in these streets.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Now, you know we didn't even see you out here
making some movies.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Are you watching?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
You best believe I'm watching. You know the moves you've
been making.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
And you know you've you've you've built this thing Atlanta
Fashion Week into really was kind of becoming a new,
you know, cultural stable for the city. And we don't
get into that, but real quick though, you started in tech.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yes I did.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
How did you end up going from tech to running
you know, the biggest fashion week in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Well, when I was in college, I started. I went
to Fort Valley State and my initial degree that I
signed up for you, obviously, you have to identify that
right once you get into school was to become a
computer information technology specialist. Eventually, I left Fort Valley and
(01:51):
transferred to Georgia State due to personal reasons and some
situations that happen on campus, unfortunate for a friend of ours,
right of mine, and I ended up getting a job
at this place called TRX. Initially, when I got that position,
which I knew it was had something to do with tech,
(02:13):
it was more customer service, but it was customer service
where I would help the internal staff if something went
wrong with their laptop or with their computer, very simple
fixes with the program. Eventually I realized that they had
a server team, and I am a very ambitious person,
so I decided that, hey, I am going to go.
(02:36):
I started having conversations with the different staff members that
were on the server team at that time and inquiring
about how can I become a part of this team,
you know, researching myself learning that oh my god, you
could make X amount of dollars per year. I wanted
to get into that space. So I started doing my education,
(02:56):
building a report with the manager and the team over there,
and eventually they knew my interest and allowed me to
get in that position. And once I got in that position,
I worked that position for seven years, which was the
Microsoft Sertivice system engineer, and then eventually I got tired
of that because I was like, I like to go out,
I like to have fun. I like to socialize and engage.
(03:19):
And of course, if you're out and you're on the
server team and something happens with one of the servers,
guess what you're gonna have.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
To got to go in.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You got to go in.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
And I kept getting called in and I was like, Okay,
this is not what I want. And eventually I started
doing additional research for other industries and that's how I
transition into public relations marketing.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Okay, so were you so now you're doing Atlanta Fashion Week?
Now I gotta ask, like, were you like the stylish
tech person at work? Like, were you coming in there
stepping on their throats back in the day, Firse. So
it was always in you, It was always in me. Okay,
So how did Atlanta Fashion League start?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Well? Back into So I got laid off into thousand
and six, but I will tell you in two thousand
and five, I start learning more about.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
New York Fashion Week.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And that just totally drew in my interest and I
was like, okay, hey, I Atlanta doesn't have a fashion week?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
How can I bring that here?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So maybe two thousand and two to two thousand and five.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Right before I got laid off, I was doing promotions.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
We started the first I worked with this guy named
Darius dje Class and a few others and we started
the first day party in the city of Atlanta. Oh,
so that allowed me to dip my toe into the
whole promotion pr space.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So all these grass walls your fault. Then, you're telling
me all these we didn't have.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
We did not have grass walls back then, right, yeah
he did.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
There were no grass walls, I can confirm, right.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
But you know, obviously the guy Darius Miller was the
one that was a brain chowne behind that concept, and
he knew that I wanted to get into pr because
I start talking about it and he's like, well, you
come on, you can beat the publicist for the event.
I said, sure, did not know what I was doing,
but I started to research again fashion, looking at entertainment, music,
(05:07):
just kind of exploring, looking at everything, knowing that the
music was virgining what actually just at not even at
his peak, but it was like the thing Atlanta was
the market. So, knowing that I could not produce fashion
just was not there at the time, I would just
do smaller events, right for myself, working with motophor for
(05:29):
working with all these different boutiques to produce fashion shows
and really honestly coining it as my own fashion week. Eventually,
what happened in twenty thirteen, I came across a young
lady that was actually one of the producers and founders
for Charleston Fashion Week, and we weren't on the board
together Fashion Group International.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
That's how we connected.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
She told me her history, and obviously everybody knew back
then that Charleston Fashion Week was the show for the South,
and I was like, well, I've been doing these events
since two thousand and six, but I haven't really brought
it together to make it where it has a lot
of impact.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
How can we do that here?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
And that's when we decided to put everything under right
Trade Atlanta and then start producing the shows in a
more organized way that resonated with or resembled New York
Fashion Week.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Gotcha? Gotcha?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So you kind of have this vision of Atlanta kind
of becoming the fifth fashion capital of the world, right,
you know, why do you think that's important for you know,
a city like Atlanta, especially knowing that, as we always
say it, land influences everything, But like, why is it
important that Atlanta becomes the fifth fashion capital of the world.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I just think we've done amazing at every creative discipline
that is out there at this time.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Think about it.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
You know, nobody would have ever ever thought that music
would have taken a stronghold on this market like it did.
Nobody would have never thought that Felm and Television would
have taken a stronghold like it did. So knowing that
and identifying that that we have so many great creatives
in that space. We also have them in fashion and
we have them in art, and we are growing into
(07:08):
that space. You know, I think I mentioned to you before,
the first week in October is shaping up to be
quote unquote Atlanta Design Week. Because you have Atlanta Fashion Week,
you have Atlanta Art Fair, you have Atlanta Art Week,
you have Elevate, which is with the City of Atlanta,
and then you also have what Face, which is Fashion, Art,
(07:28):
Culture and Education, which is part of Fulson County led
by David Manuel. But then even more so that our
recently learned we also have Atlanta Design Festival that's taking
place last week is September, going into the first week
in October. Atlanta is ready for that discipline. It's time
fashion and art drives those other two disciplines and has
(07:50):
for a very long time. We have so many different
creatives that are here in this market that are making
an impact but honestly are not getting the recognition. But
it's just time for a platform to provide that recognition
for them.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Yeah, what do you think makes Atlanta's you know, approach
to fashion so special? Because again, for a long time,
if you wanted to do something in fashion, it was
like you got to go to New York, you got
to go like to some of these other areas. You know,
if you want to do something in tech, you had
to go to San Francisco, right, if you want to
do something in finance, you had to go But like
now all these things are possible here. Like, you know,
what do you think is so special about Atlanta's fashion scene?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
You know what, I don't know if it's anything that special.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I think it's the belief Atlanta has always been like
a springboard to those other markets and has been for
a very long time. So when you think about, like,
our designers that we have here are just the entrepreneurs
that we have here, right, we believe in ourselves and
we obviously Atlanta is a test market to try things out,
but once we accomplish those we do so great at them.
(08:49):
And I do believe that our designers and our visual
artists in these particular industries have chosen to choose Atlanta
as their home.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
And the way that we're leading in.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Regards to our design like I give all the glory
to New York, right, just like how Lil Yati said, yes,
they have, they led in so many different ways. However,
I do feel like the way that Atlanta has moved
over the last maybe ten fifteen years, we are continuously
set in trends and continue to do that and being
(09:22):
recognized for that. Now with fashion and visual arts.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Okay, now, what all is included in Atlanta Fashion Week?
You all do these events, There's like multiple moments like
what all is included in Atlanta Fashion Week?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
We approach our show as a festival, right because we
want all of our individuals, We want all of our
guests that come out to our event to have a
great time outside of just the runway shows. So I'm
gonna talk about it from two different perspectives. From the
consumer perspective, you're going to get runway shows, You're going
to get to meet new designers and pop up experiences.
(10:07):
You're going to get to attend different parties that are
curated specifically for Atlanta Fashion Week. You're going to get
a chance to also experience a nightlife with Atlanta Fashion Week. Now,
from a designer perspective, what makes us different is that
we do tend to target more direct to consumer designers, right,
we also allow those designers to participate in a fashion
(10:32):
show that is highly produced, very similar or even better
than New York. But then you also get a chance
to sell and make money, and so we incorporate that
business aspect in it because we understand for our designers
that it's more than just showing. You need to be
able to touch that consumer, build a relation with that consumer,
(10:54):
and also grow your brand and even scale for that weekend.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
And so we've been doing that.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
That's always been like the model for our show for
our participating designers since we started. In regards to the
actual week though, you know, if we could after I
touch on that. October second is our opening night party
and we're going to be honoring the founders of Fubo. Okay,
October third and fourth are the runway shows. We have
shows that are happening from eleven am to eight pm.
(11:22):
We just announced our two feature designers that are going
to close out each day. On Thursday, October third, Kouji
is coming from New York in Australia to showcase their
latest collection. And then on Friday, October fourth, Fubu is
relaunching Stateside. A lot of people think that Fubu had
left and they were no longer around, but in reality,
(11:44):
they just switched their direction and went overseas and penetrated
that market. But the cool thing about it the gen
Z audience. They are so into these nineties brands, these
nineties and two thousand brands, all of them are coming
back from avery. Last night at the Trap Museum's event Wilato,
she literally had on a Pelly Pelly jacket and then
(12:08):
obviously the Cougie's many calls that I got yesterday just
from that announcement, I cannot wait to wear my Cougie sweater.
It was like, I gotta go buy a new Cougie sweater.
My boyfriend got an original piece from Australia from Kujie.
He's going to wear that to the show. Like the
excitement around these brands is what's making me happy and
(12:28):
fueling my energy for it because I cannot wait to
see these brands have the glory again. They did so
much for our culture, they did so much for our community,
and to see that they could possibly come back in
a major way and also be launched here in Atlanta
and get that glory here in Atlanta. Just it's the
cherry on top.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I gotta bust out my old ax Shackett, you know
what I'm saying. I thought one somewhere up in the closet.
I'm gonna need to get that thing ready for Atlanta
Fashion Weekend.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Absolutely, and I think it's.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Amazing too to your point, like a lot of these
brands are kind of starting to come full circle. Yeah,
you know, I've kind of noticed too in culture that
you're starting to see more people kind of, you know,
bring back that nineties vibe, you know, some of the looks,
the clothes. I saw something the other day online where
people were talking about the the oldest Charlotte hornet starter jacket.
It was like, you know, if you had to have
one of these things growing up, because it was just
one of those symbols, like people had never seen those
(13:16):
kind of colors come together before, and like everybody kind
of want to have one. What's your like, favorite you know,
most you know, favorite kind of most nostalgic you know brand.
I know you talked about Cooogie and liking to see that,
but what's kind of that favorite you know brand for
you from back in the day.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
That you want to see comeback for me.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Oh, there are several, but I would I always love sneakers,
so I would do the Juicy Cuatur. Okay, sweatsuit, that
was my thing. I love the Juicy Cuatur sweatsuit, so
I would have to go to that. The Bealore sweatsuit.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yeah, oh you know what I had me a a
women and it was the good on women.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Oh yeah, they always looked good. It was a Charlotte
Juicy coutour. Y'all were doing a lot for the culture
back in the day.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Now, you know again you've taken in a fashion week
of these last ten plus years that you've been doing it,
and it's really kind of grown into something it started,
you know, it was one thing. Now it draws you know,
thousands of people and you know artists and creators and
fashion designers and the public. Like, what were some of
the things you did that kind of you know, made
the biggest difference. I think a lot of times when
(14:18):
you're doing something, you can't always connect the dots looking
for but you can always kind of connect the dots when
you look backwards, right and when you think about it,
Like a lot of times, business is kind of a
series of as I say, like you know, hills and plateaus,
right like this, it's kind of slow sometimes and things
are just working your grinding. Then you have kind of
these inflection points. What were some of those inflection points
for you that kind of, you know, helped Atlanta Fashion
Week break through. Was it a certain designer getting involved
(14:40):
or was it a certain person that showed up at
a show? Like when you kind of look back at it.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
When I look back at it, I would have to
say that I do contribute it to my team and
then also to I mean, I'm a publicist, right, so I.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Built many, many, many, many.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Relationships over the course of the years in all types
of industries. So being consistent with the production, even though
I have to say it is sometimes very challenging. I'm
an entrepreneur trying to run a PR marketing agency, but
then also trying to build this brand that I vision
to be a multimillion dollar brand that will be a
(15:22):
brand that would be a legacy brand that will outlive me, right,
And so it gets challenging trying to figure out like, Okay,
where do I spend the most time at right, But essentially,
you know, when we did one of our shows at
the w Hotel and that was actually probably twenty thirteen,
the way that Bart College at that time came around
(15:45):
and those students showed and it was a sold out show.
And then our second show happened and it was independent
designers that were part of that show, and then that
show sold out, and at that time, knowing that we
been working at this for a very long time, but
then receiving like a proclamation from the City of Atlanta
at that time, actually it was the Phoenix Award from
(16:07):
the City of Atlanta from Mayor Cassine Reid, but it
was presented by Ebony Williams. I think that's what I say.
Ebony that works for the City of Atlanta and special events.
She brought that and presented that too, and I was like, okay,
so now people are really beginning to recognize the work
that we put behind building up this brand and what
we're trying to do. And that's when I saw the
(16:29):
turning point, because every year after that it's started getting
bigger and bigger and bigger. Of course, we had celebrities participate,
but when I got Microsoft in twenty twenty two to
come on as a brand partner, I knew that we
were onto something at that point.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting a lot of people, you know,
people think that sponsors and partners are easy, but you know,
it's hard work getting those folks involved. You know, how
do you get partners and sponsors involved with the Atlanta
Fashion Week? And then also, you know, just how are
some of the ways that Atlanta Fashion Week like actually,
you know makes money to help cover some of these things,
Like do is it just purely through partners and sponsorships?
So you're selling tickets?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Like yeah, so we have to sell tickets, you know,
because we don't charge. If you show in New York.
At minimum, you're going to spend twenty thousand, okay, twenty
thousand dollars to produce your show. And that's just you
producing your show. That does not include any opportunities to
sell immediately after. I mean, you can go to the
(17:24):
different trade shows like Coterie Magic or whatever, but that's
just for you to do your show.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
So how do you bring those kind of partners involved?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, so obviously we target you know, obviously, we really
do look at the different brands that we want to
go after and see what they want to focus on.
So obviously I may reach out to them and I
may say, hey, what is it that you're currently looking
at or looking to accomplish in twenty twenty four, twenty
twenty five, And then I send them like a quick
(17:51):
event overview of the things that we accomplished the year
before and maybe a couple of years prior to that.
A lot of times we have had us getting responses back.
Now I have to say again, because I work in
PR marketing, I have relationships, right and I also have
worked they know my work from experiential marketing, so I
(18:12):
send that information to them, I get a response back,
then we jump on a call. Every conversation I have
does not be successful.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
It's just not.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's one particular brand that I've been trying to go
after for many many years, and I still have not
got them on board. Hopefully this time around they come around.
You know, I'm still waiting, but for the most part,
understanding their target audience, who they're going after, the topper
product and program that they're trying to promote for twenty
that particular year, and then finding ways creatively to integrate
(18:41):
the two. And that's where my experience with experiential marketing
has totally helped me out a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
So, Okay, so you go out here, you get these brands,
and what's a brand that you really want to work
with or you think you know would fit be a
perfect fit for Atlantic Fashion Week.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I will tell you I don't know. Okay, it would
be Atlanta Fashion Week, but it will also be for.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
The entire year of everything that we're doing. I would
say about two years.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Ago, we actually did outreach to LVMH per particular program.
They are a very strong company. Obviously, the majority LVMH itself,
the other brands. The profit coming from LVMH is coming
from from the actual LVMH. It's probably twenty five percent,
so the other brands are actually carrying that brand, right.
(19:37):
So they are extremely strong and stable, and they do
support independent brands obviously they have in the past. So
I reached out to them about possibly doing a program
with them that I thought that would be amazing for Atlanta. Unfortunately,
it did not come to us. It end up going
somewhere else, not to be named. And I'm not upset
about it, you know, because it just probably wasn't time. Obviously,
(20:00):
I'm keeping that conversation open and keeping that relationship there,
But it was a relation program that I built up
that obviously was a good program because guess what they
end up using the program somewhere else. So I know
what I was building out made since. But if I
could bring LVMH here to see the local brands that
we have here. You have brands like Sea Sent Assists.
(20:22):
That brand is amazing. Fred Foster has worked in this
industry for so long. He has made had major placements
and on many different celebrities right and been on big
main stages where his product was seen, and it's just time.
It's time for him to have that opportunity in that shot.
(20:42):
Even think about.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
Meryll's High and D map.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
You know he's doing amazingly well right now with his
Crown of Cairo hats.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
I love him doing his scene.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
But then we also have different designers like Kenya Freeman
that on Sybia Molly now she has amazing partnership with
Sheen where she designs her collection and then she and
produces the product for them and sells it on their platform.
That's huge. You know it is fast fashion, but it's huge.
(21:12):
So just kind of identifying giving those different designers that
opportunity where they can be invested by one of those
big brands like at VMH that has all the resources
that will help them catabul to the next level. That's
what I would love to see, and so it'll be
bigger than just Atlanta Fashion Week. It's really for the
designer and seeing that designer really scale up their business
(21:33):
at the level that they can.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
For people that are just trying to get started in
like design fashion, you know, how do you go from
like how would you recommend somebody kind of goes from
zero to one? You know, they're starting an idea, then
maybe they're they're doing shirt, so they want to do
something special, Like how do you kind of start to
break through nowadays? I mean, obviously you can push stuff
on social media and you can try to get you know, placements.
I get stuff in all the time in the mail,
(21:55):
But like, you know, what advice would you kind of
give to that aspiring designer's like, I want to get
my stuff out there kind of breakthrough?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I would say, master your craft. There are a lot
of different designers that are out there that create garments
that are not necessarily ready for market.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Okay, now what does that mean? What does them not
ready for market mean?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
It could be just the craftmanship behind the brand, you know,
the way that they sew the garment together, the way
that the type of material a fabric that they're choosing
to use. There's many different reasons that they're just not
ready to go to market yet, right, I would master
your craft. A lot of designers from France, from Italy,
(22:39):
it takes years for them to master before they even
go to market. And I think that we have to
take that opportunity to do that here. I think a
lot of times what end up happening. We're so quick
to try to jump on a trend, right, So we
jump on that trend, create like a sweatshirt or whatever,
and think that we created a brand, but then you
(23:00):
still don't have the back of your house together. It's
a lot of money to start a fashion brand. It's
not something that you could just do initially, right. It
takes having the manufacturing together and making sure that you're
on the fashion calendar and understanding that when the buyers
are looking to purchase product, having money that money is
(23:20):
a big part of that because a lot of times,
especially if you're trying to go into wholesale, you got
to be able to produce. You may not get paid
for sixty days, and then based on the amount of
product that's sold within a timeframe, they may return it.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Oh that's possible. They can do that.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Absolutely in the contracts. Oh you got to be prepared
for all that. It's called the sell through rate. What
is the sell through rate between August first to August fifteenth?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
So if you, as a designer get your stuff placed
in a store, you're promoting it, they put it up
on the shelves. If a certain percentage of it is
not selling within that whatever timeframe you tell me, they
can literally send it back to you. And now you
all of a sudden you had all that.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Merchandise possibility to get sent it back to you.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Oh yeah, massing that craft.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
You got to mass that craft.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Now again you talk about how, you know, Atlanta Fashion
we kind of helps these designers and puts them out
there knowingly they kind of go through all this stuff.
What are some of the benefits of the designers and
the people that get involved in Atlanta Fashion Week, Like,
how does it help them take their brands in the
next level?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Well, you know, the great thing that has happened, And
it's so funny because I was looking back at Old Photos,
realizing that we've already built We've been building our relationship
with bloom Medals for years and understanding the ethos and
the DNA of Blue Meadal's. They have always supported new
brands at one step or another, right. Donnie Karen is
(24:47):
a example of that. Diane von Fersenberg is an example
of that. And so the fact that with Atlanta Fashion
Week there's a possible opportunity for wholesale with Bloomingdale's and
I say possible, but you get a chance to start
building that relationship. We've created this pipeline that when you
(25:10):
show at Atlanta, the next step is now you sell
at Bloomingdale's for a pop up experience.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Some of those pop up.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Experiences can be just for two days if it's happening
during Atlanta Fashion Week. Some of them can be thirty days.
You know, eventually, if they are thirty days, that means
you obtain a skew.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Number from bloom Meydale's, okay.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Meaning that you're in the system, and that allows you
to what go around and do different trunk shows at
any one of the properties that they have throughout the
United States, and then based on your numbers and how
you're performing, that's when there's an opportunity for your brand
to become a purchase order or a wholesale account. We've
(25:52):
had a couple of successes with that. One be in particular,
a young lady by the name of Alexandria, her brand
FNW Style took that same path and now she is
a wholesale account and also sold on their dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
Okay yeah, and doing extremely well.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
And she was also blooming Del's just open up an
outlet store about yesterday actually, and she's in there as well.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
How do some of these partnerships, like with Bloomingdale's and
I think you do some stuff with a magic in Vegas, Like,
how do all these different partnerships help you scale Atlanta
Fashion Week not just locally but also globally and nationally,
right so that people understand there's a lot of amazing
stuff going on down here in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Well, the goal, like I mentioned to you before, has
always been about the actual designer. We want to see
our designers succeed and understanding that we are in the South.
And you know as well as I know that sometimes
Atlanta and all the creatives that come out of Atlanta
are considered what like the step child.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
They do it's wrong. Sometimes, they do.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It's wrong sometime and it's okay, you know, but we continue,
you know, to push forward, improve how worthy and how
successful we are and how creative we are. Right, so
just figuring out what programming is going to benefit that
designer and then making sure that we protect that designer
(27:15):
when we execute them through that program, because I don't
want to put them in a situation where they're being
set up to fail. I don't want to see that.
I truly, truly want to see them succeed. And I
feel like Atlanta have enough talent Atlanta market in general,
not just the designers that are here, just any independent
brand that wants to grow and succeed definitely needs to
(27:37):
look at this market one hundred percent and the platform
that we're producing for our independent brands. But I will
say it's exciting to see also too, on two fold,
that you have major brands that have accumulated over millions
and millions of dollars saying you know what, I think
we want to come to Atlanta, Which that is not
(27:58):
a bad thing because what that's going to do is
bring more attention to what all our different designers that
are based here in this market as well and provide
additional opportunities.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Okay, now I see it.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I see it. It's all coming together. Let me ask
you Angel before we get out of here. So, what
is a piece of advice or a mantra that you
kind of go by that's kind of helped guide you
over this journey?
Speaker 4 (28:20):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I choose to be positive all the time. You know,
I try not to look at the negative side of
things at all. If you tell me that this person
can't do this, I'll show you someone I can. And
I really truly believe that has positioned me to be
where I am today. Honestly, I just don't. I don't
believe in a negativity, especially when it comes to our
(28:42):
community and our culture. You know, we hear so much
with me working and pressed. I have a very critical
eye when I'm looking at the different stories that come
out and how they're ran. So sometimes it's very challenging
to watch because I know that, yeah, I see what
you're saying here, but I know this group of people
that are doing what you're saying that they can't do.
(29:03):
So I just choose to see the positive side of things,
and when I do that.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Guess what, things just seem to fall in place.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Yeah, you know, when you're doing the right thing, the
right thing to happen.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Yeah, and yeah, it's hard, listen, it's hard. Trying to
build up something like an Atlanta Fashion Week and a
platform like that is not an easy feat. But I
think God put this in my spirit, in my DNA
to do this, and I'm excited to do it, and
I'm taking it by the rain and I'm just going
to build it up as much as I can. I
may be going slower than a lot of people will
want me to go, but I'm going at the pace
(29:33):
that I know that I can go, and I'm going
to be very specific about the decisions that I make
to ensure that one it benefits the designers and that
this becomes a legacy.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
You know, there's nothing that exists that didn't start as
an idea or thought.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
First.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
The most beautiful thing about the human mind is the
ability to kind of manifest things and the thoughts and
make them in the physical reality. And when you look around,
literally every single thing that you look at is something
that started with a thought. In Atlanta Fashion we can
started with thought. Now it's evolving and bringing in other
people that feel the same way, and some congratulations on
all that and amazing work. How can people find out
a more about Atlanta Fashion Week and connect with it
(30:09):
and get involved?
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Sure you can visit ww dot Atlanta Fashion Week dot
co and then also follow us on Instagram at ATLFW,
Facebook at ATLFW, and Twitter at ATFW. Well X, I'm
sorry at ATFW Underscore Week.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Okay, well, thank you so much, Angela. This has been amazing.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Congratulations on fashion Week. We can't wait to see it.
Y'all go out and support and that's the pod. Also, yeah,
you've been listing the button Nomics and I'm your host,
Brandon Butler. Comments feedback. Want to be a part of
the show, send us an email today at hello at
Butterdomics dot com. Butter Nomics is produced in Atlanta, Georgia
at iHeartMedia by Ramsey, with marketing support from Queen and Nike.
(30:51):
Music provided by mister Hanky. If you haven't already, hit
that subscribe button and never miss an episode, and be
sure to follow us on all our social platforms at
butter dot a a t L. Listen to buttter NoMix
on the iHeartRadio, app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts.
I try not to look at the negative side of
things at all. If you tell me that this person
can't do this, I'll show you someone I can. And
I really truly believe that has positioned me to be
where I am today. Honestly, I just I don't believe
in the negativity, especially when it comes to our community
and our culture. You know, we hear so much with
(00:21):
me working and pressed, I have a very critical eye
when I'm looking at the different stories that come out
and how they're ran. Yeah, I see what you're saying here,
but I know this group of people over here that
are doing what you're saying that they can't do. So
I just choose to see the positive side of things.
And when I do that, guess what, things just seem to.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Fall a place.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Here. Everybody, Welcome to another episode of butter Nomics. I
am your host, Brandon Butler, founder and CEO of Butter
atl and we have a very very special guest today
in the studio with us, the one the only Miss
Angela Watts.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Angela, how are you doing.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
I am doing well. Thank you Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Good good, thank you for coming out now. You know
you're doing a lot of stuff out here in these streets.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Now, you know we didn't even see you out here
making some movies.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Are you watching?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
You best believe I'm watching. You know the moves you've
been making.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
And you know you've you've you've built this thing Atlanta
Fashion Week into really was kind of becoming a new,
you know, cultural stable for the city. And we don't
get into that, but real quick though, you started in tech.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yes I did.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
How did you end up going from tech to running
you know, the biggest fashion week in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Well, when I was in college, I started. I went
to Fort Valley State and my initial degree that I
signed up for you, obviously, you have to identify that
right once you get into school was to become a
computer information technology specialist. Eventually, I left Fort Valley and
(01:51):
transferred to Georgia State due to personal reasons and some
situations that happen on campus, unfortunate for a friend of ours,
right of mine, and I ended up getting a job
at this place called TRX. Initially, when I got that position,
which I knew it was had something to do with tech,
(02:13):
it was more customer service, but it was customer service
where I would help the internal staff if something went
wrong with their laptop or with their computer, very simple
fixes with the program. Eventually I realized that they had
a server team, and I am a very ambitious person,
so I decided that, hey, I am going to go.
(02:36):
I started having conversations with the different staff members that
were on the server team at that time and inquiring
about how can I become a part of this team,
you know, researching myself learning that oh my god, you
could make X amount of dollars per year. I wanted
to get into that space. So I started doing my education,
(02:56):
building a report with the manager and the team over there,
and eventually they knew my interest and allowed me to
get in that position. And once I got in that position,
I worked that position for seven years, which was the
Microsoft Sertivice system engineer, and then eventually I got tired
of that because I was like, I like to go out,
I like to have fun. I like to socialize and engage.
(03:19):
And of course, if you're out and you're on the
server team and something happens with one of the servers,
guess what you're gonna have.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
To got to go in.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You got to go in.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
And I kept getting called in and I was like, Okay,
this is not what I want. And eventually I started
doing additional research for other industries and that's how I
transition into public relations marketing.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Okay, so were you so now you're doing Atlanta Fashion Week?
Now I gotta ask, like, were you like the stylish
tech person at work? Like, were you coming in there
stepping on their throats back in the day, Firse. So
it was always in you, It was always in me. Okay,
So how did Atlanta Fashion League start?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Well? Back into So I got laid off into thousand
and six, but I will tell you in two thousand
and five, I start learning more about.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
New York Fashion Week.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And that just totally drew in my interest and I
was like, okay, hey, I Atlanta doesn't have a fashion week?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
How can I bring that here?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So maybe two thousand and two to two thousand and five.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Right before I got laid off, I was doing promotions.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
We started the first I worked with this guy named
Darius dje Class and a few others and we started
the first day party in the city of Atlanta. Oh,
so that allowed me to dip my toe into the
whole promotion pr space.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So all these grass walls your fault. Then, you're telling
me all these we didn't have.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
We did not have grass walls back then, right, yeah
he did.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
There were no grass walls, I can confirm, right.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
But you know, obviously the guy Darius Miller was the
one that was a brain chowne behind that concept, and
he knew that I wanted to get into pr because
I start talking about it and he's like, well, you
come on, you can beat the publicist for the event.
I said, sure, did not know what I was doing,
but I started to research again fashion, looking at entertainment, music,
(05:07):
just kind of exploring, looking at everything, knowing that the
music was virgining what actually just at not even at
his peak, but it was like the thing Atlanta was
the market. So, knowing that I could not produce fashion
just was not there at the time, I would just
do smaller events, right for myself, working with motophor for
(05:29):
working with all these different boutiques to produce fashion shows
and really honestly coining it as my own fashion week. Eventually,
what happened in twenty thirteen, I came across a young
lady that was actually one of the producers and founders
for Charleston Fashion Week, and we weren't on the board
together Fashion Group International.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
That's how we connected.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
She told me her history, and obviously everybody knew back
then that Charleston Fashion Week was the show for the South,
and I was like, well, I've been doing these events
since two thousand and six, but I haven't really brought
it together to make it where it has a lot
of impact.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
How can we do that here?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
And that's when we decided to put everything under right
Trade Atlanta and then start producing the shows in a
more organized way that resonated with or resembled New York
Fashion Week.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Gotcha? Gotcha?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So you kind of have this vision of Atlanta kind
of becoming the fifth fashion capital of the world, right,
you know, why do you think that's important for you know,
a city like Atlanta, especially knowing that, as we always
say it, land influences everything, But like, why is it
important that Atlanta becomes the fifth fashion capital of the world.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I just think we've done amazing at every creative discipline
that is out there at this time.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Think about it.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
You know, nobody would have ever ever thought that music
would have taken a stronghold on this market like it did.
Nobody would have never thought that Felm and Television would
have taken a stronghold like it did. So knowing that
and identifying that that we have so many great creatives
in that space. We also have them in fashion and
we have them in art, and we are growing into
(07:08):
that space. You know, I think I mentioned to you before,
the first week in October is shaping up to be
quote unquote Atlanta Design Week. Because you have Atlanta Fashion Week,
you have Atlanta Art Fair, you have Atlanta Art Week,
you have Elevate, which is with the City of Atlanta,
and then you also have what Face, which is Fashion, Art,
(07:28):
Culture and Education, which is part of Fulson County led
by David Manuel. But then even more so that our
recently learned we also have Atlanta Design Festival that's taking
place last week is September, going into the first week
in October. Atlanta is ready for that discipline. It's time
fashion and art drives those other two disciplines and has
(07:50):
for a very long time. We have so many different
creatives that are here in this market that are making
an impact but honestly are not getting the recognition. But
it's just time for a platform to provide that recognition
for them.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Yeah, what do you think makes Atlanta's you know, approach
to fashion so special? Because again, for a long time,
if you wanted to do something in fashion, it was
like you got to go to New York, you got
to go like to some of these other areas. You know,
if you want to do something in tech, you had
to go to San Francisco, right, if you want to
do something in finance, you had to go But like
now all these things are possible here. Like, you know,
what do you think is so special about Atlanta's fashion scene?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
You know what, I don't know if it's anything that special.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I think it's the belief Atlanta has always been like
a springboard to those other markets and has been for
a very long time. So when you think about, like,
our designers that we have here are just the entrepreneurs
that we have here, right, we believe in ourselves and
we obviously Atlanta is a test market to try things out,
but once we accomplish those we do so great at them.
(08:49):
And I do believe that our designers and our visual
artists in these particular industries have chosen to choose Atlanta
as their home.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
And the way that we're leading in.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Regards to our design like I give all the glory
to New York, right, just like how Lil Yati said, yes,
they have, they led in so many different ways. However,
I do feel like the way that Atlanta has moved
over the last maybe ten fifteen years, we are continuously
set in trends and continue to do that and being
(09:22):
recognized for that. Now with fashion and visual arts.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Okay, now, what all is included in Atlanta Fashion Week?
You all do these events, There's like multiple moments like
what all is included in Atlanta Fashion Week?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
We approach our show as a festival, right because we
want all of our individuals, We want all of our
guests that come out to our event to have a
great time outside of just the runway shows. So I'm
gonna talk about it from two different perspectives. From the
consumer perspective, you're going to get runway shows, You're going
to get to meet new designers and pop up experiences.
(10:07):
You're going to get to attend different parties that are
curated specifically for Atlanta Fashion Week. You're going to get
a chance to also experience a nightlife with Atlanta Fashion Week. Now,
from a designer perspective, what makes us different is that
we do tend to target more direct to consumer designers, right,
we also allow those designers to participate in a fashion
(10:32):
show that is highly produced, very similar or even better
than New York. But then you also get a chance
to sell and make money, and so we incorporate that
business aspect in it because we understand for our designers
that it's more than just showing. You need to be
able to touch that consumer, build a relation with that consumer,
(10:54):
and also grow your brand and even scale for that weekend.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
And so we've been doing that.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
That's always been like the model for our show for
our participating designers since we started. In regards to the
actual week though, you know, if we could after I
touch on that. October second is our opening night party
and we're going to be honoring the founders of Fubo. Okay,
October third and fourth are the runway shows. We have
shows that are happening from eleven am to eight pm.
(11:22):
We just announced our two feature designers that are going
to close out each day. On Thursday, October third, Kouji
is coming from New York in Australia to showcase their
latest collection. And then on Friday, October fourth, Fubu is
relaunching Stateside. A lot of people think that Fubu had
left and they were no longer around, but in reality,
(11:44):
they just switched their direction and went overseas and penetrated
that market. But the cool thing about it the gen
Z audience. They are so into these nineties brands, these
nineties and two thousand brands, all of them are coming
back from avery. Last night at the Trap Museum's event Wilato,
she literally had on a Pelly Pelly jacket and then
(12:08):
obviously the Cougie's many calls that I got yesterday just
from that announcement, I cannot wait to wear my Cougie sweater.
It was like, I gotta go buy a new Cougie sweater.
My boyfriend got an original piece from Australia from Kujie.
He's going to wear that to the show. Like the
excitement around these brands is what's making me happy and
(12:28):
fueling my energy for it because I cannot wait to
see these brands have the glory again. They did so
much for our culture, they did so much for our community,
and to see that they could possibly come back in
a major way and also be launched here in Atlanta
and get that glory here in Atlanta. Just it's the
cherry on top.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I gotta bust out my old ax Shackett, you know
what I'm saying. I thought one somewhere up in the closet.
I'm gonna need to get that thing ready for Atlanta
Fashion Weekend.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Absolutely, and I think it's.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Amazing too to your point, like a lot of these
brands are kind of starting to come full circle. Yeah,
you know, I've kind of noticed too in culture that
you're starting to see more people kind of, you know,
bring back that nineties vibe, you know, some of the looks,
the clothes. I saw something the other day online where
people were talking about the the oldest Charlotte hornet starter jacket.
It was like, you know, if you had to have
one of these things growing up, because it was just
one of those symbols, like people had never seen those
(13:16):
kind of colors come together before, and like everybody kind
of want to have one. What's your like, favorite you know,
most you know, favorite kind of most nostalgic you know brand.
I know you talked about Cooogie and liking to see that,
but what's kind of that favorite you know brand for
you from back in the day.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
That you want to see comeback for me.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Oh, there are several, but I would I always love sneakers,
so I would do the Juicy Cuatur. Okay, sweatsuit, that
was my thing. I love the Juicy Cuatur sweatsuit, so
I would have to go to that. The Bealore sweatsuit.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yeah, oh you know what I had me a a
women and it was the good on women.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Oh yeah, they always looked good. It was a Charlotte
Juicy coutour. Y'all were doing a lot for the culture
back in the day.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Now, you know again you've taken in a fashion week
of these last ten plus years that you've been doing it,
and it's really kind of grown into something it started,
you know, it was one thing. Now it draws you know,
thousands of people and you know artists and creators and
fashion designers and the public. Like, what were some of
the things you did that kind of you know, made
the biggest difference. I think a lot of times when
(14:18):
you're doing something, you can't always connect the dots looking
for but you can always kind of connect the dots when
you look backwards, right and when you think about it,
Like a lot of times, business is kind of a
series of as I say, like you know, hills and plateaus,
right like this, it's kind of slow sometimes and things
are just working your grinding. Then you have kind of
these inflection points. What were some of those inflection points
for you that kind of, you know, helped Atlanta Fashion
Week break through. Was it a certain designer getting involved
(14:40):
or was it a certain person that showed up at
a show? Like when you kind of look back at it.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
When I look back at it, I would have to
say that I do contribute it to my team and
then also to I mean, I'm a publicist, right, so I.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Built many, many, many, many.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Relationships over the course of the years in all types
of industries. So being consistent with the production, even though
I have to say it is sometimes very challenging. I'm
an entrepreneur trying to run a PR marketing agency, but
then also trying to build this brand that I vision
to be a multimillion dollar brand that will be a
(15:22):
brand that would be a legacy brand that will outlive me, right,
And so it gets challenging trying to figure out like, Okay,
where do I spend the most time at right, But essentially,
you know, when we did one of our shows at
the w Hotel and that was actually probably twenty thirteen,
the way that Bart College at that time came around
(15:45):
and those students showed and it was a sold out show.
And then our second show happened and it was independent
designers that were part of that show, and then that
show sold out, and at that time, knowing that we
been working at this for a very long time, but
then receiving like a proclamation from the City of Atlanta
at that time, actually it was the Phoenix Award from
(16:07):
the City of Atlanta from Mayor Cassine Reid, but it
was presented by Ebony Williams. I think that's what I say.
Ebony that works for the City of Atlanta and special events.
She brought that and presented that too, and I was like, okay,
so now people are really beginning to recognize the work
that we put behind building up this brand and what
we're trying to do. And that's when I saw the
(16:29):
turning point, because every year after that it's started getting
bigger and bigger and bigger. Of course, we had celebrities participate,
but when I got Microsoft in twenty twenty two to
come on as a brand partner, I knew that we
were onto something at that point.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting a lot of people, you know,
people think that sponsors and partners are easy, but you know,
it's hard work getting those folks involved. You know, how
do you get partners and sponsors involved with the Atlanta
Fashion Week? And then also, you know, just how are
some of the ways that Atlanta Fashion Week like actually,
you know makes money to help cover some of these things,
Like do is it just purely through partners and sponsorships?
So you're selling tickets?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Like yeah, so we have to sell tickets, you know,
because we don't charge. If you show in New York.
At minimum, you're going to spend twenty thousand, okay, twenty
thousand dollars to produce your show. And that's just you
producing your show. That does not include any opportunities to
sell immediately after. I mean, you can go to the
(17:24):
different trade shows like Coterie Magic or whatever, but that's
just for you to do your show.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
So how do you bring those kind of partners involved?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, so obviously we target you know, obviously, we really
do look at the different brands that we want to
go after and see what they want to focus on.
So obviously I may reach out to them and I
may say, hey, what is it that you're currently looking
at or looking to accomplish in twenty twenty four, twenty
twenty five, And then I send them like a quick
(17:51):
event overview of the things that we accomplished the year
before and maybe a couple of years prior to that.
A lot of times we have had us getting responses back.
Now I have to say again, because I work in
PR marketing, I have relationships, right and I also have
worked they know my work from experiential marketing, so I
(18:12):
send that information to them, I get a response back,
then we jump on a call. Every conversation I have
does not be successful.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
It's just not.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's one particular brand that I've been trying to go
after for many many years, and I still have not
got them on board. Hopefully this time around they come around.
You know, I'm still waiting, but for the most part,
understanding their target audience, who they're going after, the topper
product and program that they're trying to promote for twenty
that particular year, and then finding ways creatively to integrate
(18:41):
the two. And that's where my experience with experiential marketing
has totally helped me out a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
So, Okay, so you go out here, you get these brands,
and what's a brand that you really want to work
with or you think you know would fit be a
perfect fit for Atlantic Fashion Week.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I will tell you I don't know. Okay, it would
be Atlanta Fashion Week, but it will also be for.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
The entire year of everything that we're doing. I would
say about two years.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Ago, we actually did outreach to LVMH per particular program.
They are a very strong company. Obviously, the majority LVMH itself,
the other brands. The profit coming from LVMH is coming
from from the actual LVMH. It's probably twenty five percent,
so the other brands are actually carrying that brand, right.
(19:37):
So they are extremely strong and stable, and they do
support independent brands obviously they have in the past. So
I reached out to them about possibly doing a program
with them that I thought that would be amazing for Atlanta. Unfortunately,
it did not come to us. It end up going
somewhere else, not to be named. And I'm not upset
about it, you know, because it just probably wasn't time. Obviously,
(20:00):
I'm keeping that conversation open and keeping that relationship there,
But it was a relation program that I built up
that obviously was a good program because guess what they
end up using the program somewhere else. So I know
what I was building out made since. But if I
could bring LVMH here to see the local brands that
we have here. You have brands like Sea Sent Assists.
(20:22):
That brand is amazing. Fred Foster has worked in this
industry for so long. He has made had major placements
and on many different celebrities right and been on big
main stages where his product was seen, and it's just time.
It's time for him to have that opportunity in that shot.
(20:42):
Even think about.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
Meryll's High and D map.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
You know he's doing amazingly well right now with his
Crown of Cairo hats.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
I love him doing his scene.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
But then we also have different designers like Kenya Freeman
that on Sybia Molly now she has amazing partnership with
Sheen where she designs her collection and then she and
produces the product for them and sells it on their platform.
That's huge. You know it is fast fashion, but it's huge.
(21:12):
So just kind of identifying giving those different designers that
opportunity where they can be invested by one of those
big brands like at VMH that has all the resources
that will help them catabul to the next level. That's
what I would love to see, and so it'll be
bigger than just Atlanta Fashion Week. It's really for the
designer and seeing that designer really scale up their business
(21:33):
at the level that they can.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
For people that are just trying to get started in
like design fashion, you know, how do you go from
like how would you recommend somebody kind of goes from
zero to one? You know, they're starting an idea, then
maybe they're they're doing shirt, so they want to do
something special, Like how do you kind of start to
break through nowadays? I mean, obviously you can push stuff
on social media and you can try to get you know, placements.
I get stuff in all the time in the mail,
(21:55):
But like, you know, what advice would you kind of
give to that aspiring designer's like, I want to get
my stuff out there kind of breakthrough?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I would say, master your craft. There are a lot
of different designers that are out there that create garments
that are not necessarily ready for market.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Okay, now what does that mean? What does them not
ready for market mean?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
It could be just the craftmanship behind the brand, you know,
the way that they sew the garment together, the way
that the type of material a fabric that they're choosing
to use. There's many different reasons that they're just not
ready to go to market yet, right, I would master
your craft. A lot of designers from France, from Italy,
(22:39):
it takes years for them to master before they even
go to market. And I think that we have to
take that opportunity to do that here. I think a
lot of times what end up happening. We're so quick
to try to jump on a trend, right, So we
jump on that trend, create like a sweatshirt or whatever,
and think that we created a brand, but then you
(23:00):
still don't have the back of your house together. It's
a lot of money to start a fashion brand. It's
not something that you could just do initially, right. It
takes having the manufacturing together and making sure that you're
on the fashion calendar and understanding that when the buyers
are looking to purchase product, having money that money is
(23:20):
a big part of that because a lot of times,
especially if you're trying to go into wholesale, you got
to be able to produce. You may not get paid
for sixty days, and then based on the amount of
product that's sold within a timeframe, they may return it.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Oh that's possible. They can do that.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Absolutely in the contracts. Oh you got to be prepared
for all that. It's called the sell through rate. What
is the sell through rate between August first to August fifteenth?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
So if you, as a designer get your stuff placed
in a store, you're promoting it, they put it up
on the shelves. If a certain percentage of it is
not selling within that whatever timeframe you tell me, they
can literally send it back to you. And now you
all of a sudden you had all that.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Merchandise possibility to get sent it back to you.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Oh yeah, massing that craft.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
You got to mass that craft.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Now again you talk about how, you know, Atlanta Fashion
we kind of helps these designers and puts them out
there knowingly they kind of go through all this stuff.
What are some of the benefits of the designers and
the people that get involved in Atlanta Fashion Week, Like,
how does it help them take their brands in the
next level?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Well, you know, the great thing that has happened, And
it's so funny because I was looking back at Old Photos,
realizing that we've already built We've been building our relationship
with bloom Medals for years and understanding the ethos and
the DNA of Blue Meadal's. They have always supported new
brands at one step or another, right. Donnie Karen is
(24:47):
a example of that. Diane von Fersenberg is an example
of that. And so the fact that with Atlanta Fashion
Week there's a possible opportunity for wholesale with Bloomingdale's and
I say possible, but you get a chance to start
building that relationship. We've created this pipeline that when you
(25:10):
show at Atlanta, the next step is now you sell
at Bloomingdale's for a pop up experience.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Some of those pop up.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Experiences can be just for two days if it's happening
during Atlanta Fashion Week. Some of them can be thirty days.
You know, eventually, if they are thirty days, that means
you obtain a skew.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Number from bloom Meydale's, okay.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Meaning that you're in the system, and that allows you
to what go around and do different trunk shows at
any one of the properties that they have throughout the
United States, and then based on your numbers and how
you're performing, that's when there's an opportunity for your brand
to become a purchase order or a wholesale account. We've
(25:52):
had a couple of successes with that. One be in particular,
a young lady by the name of Alexandria, her brand
FNW Style took that same path and now she is
a wholesale account and also sold on their dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
Okay yeah, and doing extremely well.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
And she was also blooming Del's just open up an
outlet store about yesterday actually, and she's in there as well.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
How do some of these partnerships, like with Bloomingdale's and
I think you do some stuff with a magic in Vegas, Like,
how do all these different partnerships help you scale Atlanta
Fashion Week not just locally but also globally and nationally,
right so that people understand there's a lot of amazing
stuff going on down here in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Well, the goal, like I mentioned to you before, has
always been about the actual designer. We want to see
our designers succeed and understanding that we are in the South.
And you know as well as I know that sometimes
Atlanta and all the creatives that come out of Atlanta
are considered what like the step child.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
They do it's wrong. Sometimes, they do.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It's wrong sometime and it's okay, you know, but we continue,
you know, to push forward, improve how worthy and how
successful we are and how creative we are. Right, so
just figuring out what programming is going to benefit that
designer and then making sure that we protect that designer
(27:15):
when we execute them through that program, because I don't
want to put them in a situation where they're being
set up to fail. I don't want to see that.
I truly, truly want to see them succeed. And I
feel like Atlanta have enough talent Atlanta market in general,
not just the designers that are here, just any independent
brand that wants to grow and succeed definitely needs to
(27:37):
look at this market one hundred percent and the platform
that we're producing for our independent brands. But I will
say it's exciting to see also too, on two fold,
that you have major brands that have accumulated over millions
and millions of dollars saying you know what, I think
we want to come to Atlanta, Which that is not
(27:58):
a bad thing because what that's going to do is
bring more attention to what all our different designers that
are based here in this market as well and provide
additional opportunities.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Okay, now I see it.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I see it. It's all coming together. Let me ask
you Angel before we get out of here. So, what
is a piece of advice or a mantra that you
kind of go by that's kind of helped guide you
over this journey?
Speaker 4 (28:20):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I choose to be positive all the time. You know,
I try not to look at the negative side of
things at all. If you tell me that this person
can't do this, I'll show you someone I can. And
I really truly believe that has positioned me to be
where I am today. Honestly, I just don't. I don't
believe in a negativity, especially when it comes to our
(28:42):
community and our culture. You know, we hear so much
with me working and pressed. I have a very critical
eye when I'm looking at the different stories that come
out and how they're ran. So sometimes it's very challenging
to watch because I know that, yeah, I see what
you're saying here, but I know this group of people
that are doing what you're saying that they can't do.
(29:03):
So I just choose to see the positive side of things,
and when I do that.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Guess what, things just seem to fall in place.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Yeah, you know, when you're doing the right thing, the
right thing to happen.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Yeah, and yeah, it's hard, listen, it's hard. Trying to
build up something like an Atlanta Fashion Week and a
platform like that is not an easy feat. But I
think God put this in my spirit, in my DNA
to do this, and I'm excited to do it, and
I'm taking it by the rain and I'm just going
to build it up as much as I can. I
may be going slower than a lot of people will
want me to go, but I'm going at the pace
(29:33):
that I know that I can go, and I'm going
to be very specific about the decisions that I make
to ensure that one it benefits the designers and that
this becomes a legacy.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
You know, there's nothing that exists that didn't start as
an idea or thought.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
First.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
The most beautiful thing about the human mind is the
ability to kind of manifest things and the thoughts and
make them in the physical reality. And when you look around,
literally every single thing that you look at is something
that started with a thought. In Atlanta Fashion we can
started with thought. Now it's evolving and bringing in other
people that feel the same way, and some congratulations on
all that and amazing work. How can people find out
a more about Atlanta Fashion Week and connect with it
(30:09):
and get involved?
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Sure you can visit ww dot Atlanta Fashion Week dot
co and then also follow us on Instagram at ATLFW,
Facebook at ATLFW, and Twitter at ATFW. Well X, I'm
sorry at ATFW Underscore Week.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Okay, well, thank you so much, Angela. This has been amazing.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Congratulations on fashion Week. We can't wait to see it.
Y'all go out and support and that's the pod. Also, yeah,
you've been listing the button Nomics and I'm your host,
Brandon Butler. Comments feedback. Want to be a part of
the show, send us an email today at hello at
Butterdomics dot com. Butter Nomics is produced in Atlanta, Georgia
at iHeartMedia by Ramsey, with marketing support from Queen and Nike.
(30:51):
Music provided by mister Hanky. If you haven't already, hit
that subscribe button and never miss an episode, and be
sure to follow us on all our social platforms at
butter dot a a t L. Listen to buttter NoMix
on the iHeartRadio, app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Host
Brandon Butler
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