Yusef Sirius El: “Im A Beast In Footwear Design”

Yusef Sirius: The Sneakerhead’s Designer

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“I’ve been an artist since I was 2″ Yusef Sirius El is a a man of many talents. Painter, musician but he is known for his success as a footwear designer.  Name the brand..Adidas, Nike, ENYCE, he has designed for them. Millions have worn his designs. Our conversation covers the story of Yusef, footwear designer.

What is Jem?

What is Jem?

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 After walking by Jem a number of times, I had to satisfy my curiosity. When I walked, I saw aisles and aisles of colorful fabric from the ceiling to the ground. I loved the environment. Jem is not your typical fabric store.  Jem is owned and operated by a brother-sister team, Michelle Zahabian, who is 24 years old, and her brother David. Their father was the owner of Fabric Warehouse across the street. After his passing a year ago, Michelle and her brother opened JEM, continuing their family tradition and a downtown staple. Located at 355 Broadway in NYC.

When I asked Michelle to describe their first year and half in business, she said it has been ” a lot of mini-miracles along the way”. Support NYC small business.

SMILEY’S YARNS: NYC’s #1 Knitter’s Haven Since 1935

 My first time in a yarn store so I turned on the camera. I stumbled upon the knitting factory for  New York’s melting pot. Based in Woodhaven, NY, Smiley’s Yarns is a company, established in 1935, that sells discounted yarn online and in store.  Some of the name brand yarns that it supplies include Lion Brand, Red Heart, Patons, CrystalPalace, Premier, and Tahki. This yarn store is worth the subway fare to Queens (it is very near the Woodhaven stop on the J train).

Anyold Iron: London Entrepreneur Opens NYC Store Featuring Only UK Designers

 Taking a stroll, I noticed a store opening. As you do in NYC, I invited myself, met the owner and asked him his “small story”. Any Old Iron is the first retail store of its kind to hit Manhattan, and specializes in selling rare and UK-specific menswear, with most collections being exclusive to the store. The brainchild of designer / stylist, Andrew Clancey and arts-entrepreneur, Christopher Melton.

Ehvonnae: ATL to NYC, DUMBO Fashion Boutique

While taking a stroll thru NYC’s DUMBO, I came across the opening The ‘Glamorous & Gritty Accessories Store for Every Woman’. The Atlanta native & FIT Graduate lost her job 2 years ago and responded by creating her own business in NYC’s DUMBO. Ehvonnae is Brittanie Yvonne’s baby

Gabriel Urist: Jeweler on MetalSmithing, Branding, NBA & Teaching Kids

Leaving my editing office on Broadway, I bumped into “Gabe The Jeweler” for another unscripted conversation with a NYC entrepreneur. Gabriel Urist is simply a “1man show”. His past work/clients include the Air Jordan 5 “Platinum Gold” Pendants, ALIFE , the Air Jordan 4 Military Blue Pendant; the Adidas TS Pro Model Pendant are nothing less than amazing and he crafted a keychain of Converse’s newest silhouette dubbed the Pappalardo Pro to highlight some of his creation

The Dressing Room: Half Bar/Half Boutique, Clothing Exchange, Bowery Mission & Integrity

Half bar, half designer cooperative, Dressing Room has made a name for itself for supporting emerging talent and LES nightlife. Stylist turned proprietress Nikki Fontanella opened 3 years ago and has created a makeshift community center, with a full-service bar, art shows, and film screenings And customers are invited to trade in their vintage pieces for either cash or credit to be used on cocktails at the store’s popular bar.

Lady Saw: Queen of Dancehall on Jamaica, “My Way”, Family, Kimora Lee & Farming

While at NYC’s Spur Tree restaurant , I noticed a woman wearing a leopard print with an array of people waiting to interview her. Sean (the owner of Spur Tree) said “she would be good for your small stories”. Meet Jamaican-born reggae singer and “Queen of Dancehall,” Lady Saw was the first female DJ to win a Grammy Award, and the first female to be certified triple platinum as a result of her work on No Doubt’s Underneath It All in 2003 after reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Our conversation covers her upbringing in Jamaica, working with Eve, taking care of her family, farming , her favorite fashion brands, the origin of her name, how negativity drives her, her pets, her love of Kimora Lee and she freestyles. The multi-talented Jamaica native has had a hand in creating hits for artists like Beenie Man, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Vegas, Vybz Kartel, Capelton and Spragga Benz. Her appeal has also resulted in dynamic collaborations with Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot, Remy Ma, Trina, Nicki Minaj, Foxy Brown Michael Franti and Pharrell Williams

Still Life: Hat Entrepreneur/Designer, Marc Jacobs & Running a Business

 Meet Frenel Morris. The entrepreneur designer behind Still Life. Since 2006, the Still Life flagship store has been home to an eclectic range of original designs- envisioned and tailored to perfection-by creative director and owner, Frenel Morris. Located in the heart of the Lower East Side, Still Life provides each client with custom hand-crafted pieces. An on-site seamstress ensures that each product is carefully assembled in a timely manner with keen attention to detail.

Stacey McKenzie: The Scout, Jean Paul Gaultier, Workshops & Passion

I randomly met up with Stacey. Like many I know of Stacey but until now I did not really know her story. Stacey shares her inspiring story of passion as her anchor to accomplish her goal of being a model although everyone told her she did not have the “look”. Stacey McKenzie (born in Kingston, Jamaica) is a global fashion model living in Toronto. She is a runway coach and most recently a model coach and judge on the Canadian reality television show Canada’s Next Top Model. After being told, early in her career, that she was too distinctive for the Canadian market, she moved to New York. She was immediately picked up by Elite Model Management. Unprepared for the challenges of a modeling career, McKenzie returned to Canada and finished high school. In 1995, she moved to Paris, France to pursue modeling further. During her first season, she modeled for top designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix. She also landed her first campaign with photographer Oliviero Toscani for Benetton. In the wake of her initial success in Paris, McKenzie was commissioned to work in markets around the globe including Paris, London, Italy, Austria, US and Japan. She worked for Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, Todd Oldham, Michiko Koshino and Jean Paul Gaultier. Her magazine covers include Essence, Le Monde and Panache, as well as editorials in Vogue (US, Japan, Korea, Britain, Spain), Harper’s Bazaar, Interview, Flare, Fashion, and Vibe. She has appeared in a number of major campaigns including Calvin Klein CK, Jean Paul Gaultier, MAC, Mexx, Reebok, Todd Oldham Jeans, Nordstrom, Barneys, and Banana Republic.