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Designer Raymond Vincent Brown talks about his kindred designs and more

Dynamic American menswear designer, Raymond Vincent Brown with over 25 years of experience in the world of fashion, is making great impact with his Ray Vincente label. Through his eclectic styles and unusual selection of colours, Raymond has clothed a few new music acts in the States and is looking forward to do more in […]

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Raymond BrownDynamic American menswear designer, Raymond Vincent Brown with over 25 years of experience in the world of fashion, is making great impact with his Ray Vincente label. Through his eclectic styles and unusual selection of colours, Raymond has clothed a few new music acts in the States and is looking forward to do more in the New Year.

He likes to place concepts together from unrelated sources into a look that is cohesive and interesting – therefore not surprising that his designs are easily mistakable to be African. His philosophy of style is all about being individualistic in your look.  He believes that your look should represent who you are in each setting; from the boardroom to the ‘red carpet’ you should dress appropriately but always display your personal style.

Raymond hopes to take his creations beyond the US and into ‘untapped markets’ such as Africa. I spoke with the talented designer about his works, aspirations, trends and plans for Africa.

Ameyaw Debrah: What inspired you to get into fashion/designing?

It almost seems to be an innate characteristic.  I’m told that even as a child I always had my own sense of style and loved to create looks that were different than what I saw.  I initially started as a model but that wasn’t where my passion was centered.  I found myself just putting clothing pieces together and then, after having been taught how to sew by my sister, I started designing my own looks.  In short, I guess my main inspiration to enter the field was my desire to display my individualistic personality

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5257959093 9410eca172 zAmeyaw Debrah: Who are some of your role models in the industry?

The originality of the late Willi Smith, the creativity of Ann Demeulemeister, the functional clothing of Donna Karan, the eclectic nature of Yohji Yamamoto, and the luxury of Oscar De La Renta

Ameyaw Debrah: What type of clothing do you do?

Menswear, specifically focusing on daywear separates and well as some evening items. I initially started out as a womenswear designer mainly creating performance ensembles for my sister who is a classical singer.  From there I moved to creating one-of-a-kind pieces for private individuals for various events, still in womenswear and eventually created a line of business separates for women.  I’d always had the desire to create a menswear line because I felt there was so little out there that was interesting for men, especially here in the States, but I could not come up with a concept I really liked.  One day I was having a conversation with my sister and she stated “Ray, everybody likes the way you dress, why do you do that!”  It was as if a beam of light hit me and so I went into it thinking “If I were shopping for clothing, what would I like to see?”  Thus, the Ray Vincente Menswear line was born!  I haven’t looked back since.  The first highlight was seeing the reaction of the audience when I first displayed the line.  They knew they were seeing something very different!

5257959879 9b3a1c1cc3 zAmeyaw Debrah: What have been he challenges so far?

The biggest challenge has been getting people to develop a different perspective on menswear.  For so long in the states menswear was a lot of the same with very little room for different or unique ideas.  The line has been out for about 3 years now and I am beginning to see the opening of the ‘minds’ of male shoppers who are beginning to like the idea of dressing in a different way

Ameyaw Debrah: What is your clientele base like?

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In general the client base is males 25 – up, multiple ethnic groups, median economic level.  This has been one of the most interesting developments for the menswear line.  Last year I began marketing online and to my surprise my first customers were from overseas!  I found myself mailing clothing to places like Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, etc.  Each customer would remark about how unique the clothing was designed.  More recently the West Coast of the US has begun to ‘get on board’ so I am selling pieces there as well.  I’m just now beginning to reach out to markets that we in the States don’t see much but that are very active markets.  It is here where I see more and more opportunity so I will continue to do so.

Ameyaw Debrah: What’s your opinion on African fashion?

5257960259 773d3f9b39 zApproximately 2 years ago, I became more familiar with African fashion.  I was amazed that there was an entire segment of the fashion field that I’d never really seen.  Even now I am still learning.  Oddly enough when I look at the work of designers in Africa I see elements of my own designs in their work in areas of color, drape, and fabrics!  At times there is such a real connection where it feels like ‘kindred spirits’. I have definitely begun to incorporate African elements into my design and will continue to.  I often wondered why I was so attracted to fabric draped in various ways in menswear and then I saw the African market!  Also, I am attracted to the arrangements of color in the African market that is not seen much in the States.  This celebration of color has found its way into even my current collection.

Ameyaw Debrah: Where do you get your materials from?

Varied places; I order fabrics online from various countries and also from the Eastern part of the US

Ameyaw Debrah: What were the hottest trends for men in 2010?

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I’ve seen the return of a more fitted silhouette and a return to actually ‘dressing up’ when going out and about.  Separates from multiple designer collections are being paired to create a distinct look and also the rise of accessories for men.  Piecewise, I have created and seen more vests and wraps added to the wardrobe and more color being introduced into main pieces as opposed to just as accessories.

5257960485 1c8acf2f61 zAmeyaw Debrah: What is 2011 likely to bring?

I believe we will see more men willing to ‘push the envelope’ in their personal style which, for designers like me, is a wonderful trend.  More color, more accessories, more dressing up in things other than suits!

Ameyaw Debrah: What are the top must have accessories for a modern man of colour?

Colorful wraps, ties and hats; Printed vests (paisley, abstract prints); Individual style!

Ameyaw Debrah: Are you working on any new collection?

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Yes, I am currently working on my 2011 Fall/Winter collection.  It will be strong in plaid and striped prints/patterns.  I come from a multicultural background so it will celebrate that legacy.  The collection is called ‘7’ which is the biblical numeric for completeness and perfection.  It will be based on 7 silhouettes configured in multiple was to give your wardrobe both versatility and a ‘kick’ of style. There will be a large amount of natural fibers such as cotton and wool.  Colors will be chocolate brown, red, charcoal grey, blue, cream, green, and of course, black.

Ameyaw Debrah: What should we expect from Ray Vincente in coming years?

The building of a lifestyle brand to include formalwear and business wear.  There will be an explosion of accessories as each year I add new and different pieces to this line and later a fragrance line.

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Ameyaw Meets

Oprah Winfrey & Blitz Bazawule answer my questions about ‘The Color Purple’

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Oprah Winfrey & Blitz Bazawule answer my questions about ‘The Color Purple’

In April, I had the opportunity to join a Zoom Q&A session with Oprah Winfrey and Blitz Bazawule, courtesy FilmOne Distribution. The conversation was around the bold remake of ‘The Color Purple’ scheduled for release this Christmas!   (more…)

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Ameyaw Meets

Asari Music highlights new single ‘Like Dat’, balancing college with music and more

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Asari Music

Week-in week-out I get to interview one of the many faces in showbiz and this week on Ameyaw Meets, Asari Music is the one. She’s a young, upcoming and very talented Ghanaian-American singer – who in case you haven’t heard, is out with the hottest song you might hear all week. (more…)

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People & Lifestyle

I single-handedly popularized Shea Butter in the United States – Margaret Andega

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According to Margaret Andega, a Kenyan entrepreneur in Atlanta, she was the driving force behind the commercialization of Shea Butter in the US during the late 90s. (more…)

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People & Lifestyle

He went from cooking on Instagram to owning a food truck in Atlanta and more… the story of Quabena’s Kitchen

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story of Quabena’s Kitchen

The COVID-19 pandemic birthed many opportunities for people all over the globe. For one Ghanaian living in the US, the pandemic reconnected him with his passion which has now become a full-time job.

Quabena’s Kitchen shared with me his story about how he went from cooking for family and friends, to sharing content of his cooking on Instagram page at the height of the pandemic, which has now transformed into a thriving catering business in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quabena’s Kitchen services now include a food truck providing Ghanaian and West African delicacies to Africans and non-Africans alike, with ambitions of a restaurant on the cards!

Watch this exciting story on Ameyaw TV below:

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Read Also: The chef behind Fufu Pizza is about to open Afro-Fusion Cafe in Atlanta

 

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Ameyaw Meets

The chef behind Fufu Pizza is about to open Afro-Fusion Cafe in Atlanta

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US-based Liberian professional chef, Chauncy Yarngo caught the attention of the world with his amazing creations such as fufu pizza, fufu taco, plantain burgers and more. (more…)

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Fashion

Why Ghanaian-American Jeffrey Ampratwum is the menswear expert to watch in fashion!

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At the start of the Victoria era, early 19th century – the English began to tone down the royal style dressing of the French army, namely those adorned in prestigious regalia and heavy embroidery. It was a sign of English nationalism and sparked a new wave of appearance in men. A few decades later, the suit was born and heavily influenced those in Italy and America. The British and the Americans have a rich revolutionary history, of course, and coincidentally the British colonized the African country – Gold Coast – until 1957 when they declared their independence and changed their name to Ghana. 

 

As part of an independent Ghana, a host of individuals began to exercise new freedoms and venture out of the country into new territories. Many Ghanaians set their eyes on American travel and a wave of trail blazers left the country and settled in the infamous New York City. For most, it was an opportunity to plant new seeds in the hopes that their children would be afforded even more opportunities for a prosperous life.

 

One of these children of the diaspora is Bronx-born Jeffrey Ampratwum. The only child to Kate Bampoe and Eugene Asante-Ampratwum Mpere, who met in the Bronx after immigrating from Ghana. The dynamics of having African parents and being raised in a heavily eclectic environment gave rise to Jeffreys style and prose. More importantly, we can honestly say that there are only a handful of Ghanaian-Americans living in the states that can exhibit a special presentation that reflects both their African heritage married with the esthetic of their nationality. We recently caught up with Jeffrey to discuss how his early influences provided him with a framework to now become such a strong force in the menswear industry in fashion.

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Jeffrey. 

AD: Jeffrey, Ɛte sɛn?

 

Jeff: Haha, Eye.

 

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AD: I had to test your Twi really quick! You know most Ghanaians who are born in the states dont have a clue about the language unless its spoken fiercely in the home.

 

Jeff: You are 100% correct with that. Ha. But for me, I was lucky in that my mother took me to Ghana before I even knew how to use words. So, in actuality, Twi was the first language and vocabulary I learned, and in essence, English is my second language. So, Im really decent when it comes to using Twi. Im a cheat code! But keep that quiet. Ha.

  

AD: How much of the remnants of the Ghanaian culture factored into your approach to your style and presentation?

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Jeff: When I was younger and in school, particularly in the Bronx – it wasnt always your proudest moment to be from Africa or to say your family was African. Part of the silly embarrassment was perhaps from the narratives that were spinning on television. Americans were being indoctrinated with visuals of feed the children” which only highlighted the extreme poverty in a few Africans countries. The images and broadcasts were all the same, for decades. So called philanthropist and humanitarians took camera crews into ravaged areas and televised starving children for us to see here in the states. I believe that had a profound effect on young boys and girls born from African parents.

Jeffrey

However, as for me – I always looked at being dark skinned and being deeply rooted into my African culture as a super power. I liked the idea of being different, even though all the kids in all my classes were also children of immigrants. They just couldnt grasp the concept of it at that time. So, from there, it was showtime. My Uncle, Joseph Ken Mintah – was the pioneer as the first in the family to travel to the states – he had extreme style. My mother also is very detailed with her sense of jewelry and fragrances. I adsorbed it all. 

 

AD: Did you start dressing in traditional African attire? What do you mean exactly?

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Jeff: Not exactly! But, being an only child really allowed for me to sit deep in thought for long periods of time. Being left-handed allowed for me to be extremely dexterous and detailed. And being raised solely by my mother further allowed me to pay attention to the importance of clothing and accessories – as she dressed herself each morning. It was the ultimate cocktail and I was already drunk with creativity. I started customizing all the clothes I had. By no means were we wealthy, so I had to manage just a few outfits for school.

 

My styling began when I would turn 5 outfits into 15 – so essentially, a 5-day school week became New York Fashion Week for me. I would airbrush my sneakers, turn Old Navy sweaters inside out for a fleece appeal, and cuff my jeans in 4 different ways depending on my footwear. This soon became a bad habit and made me late for school many mornings.

 

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AD: You see, if you are late to school in Ghana back then – you might as well have sat by the road to hide from both your mother and headmaster! What was college like for you then?

 

Jeff: Right! Ha. It grew legs during my undergrad. Now all the pretty girls were around, I had more freedom to come and go, and more importantly – I had a stage to showcase my style. I joined a student club in the SEEK Program, and soon became the President and started hosting a string of events based around fashion. 4 years and a bachelors degree later, there were 6 fashion shows and 3 beauty pageants under my belt. Huge successes. I started to doubt my real educational reason for attending college, which was to become a dentist. Fashion was dancing on one shoulder and dentistry on the other. But somehow, I figured out how to still involve the two. My best buddy, Kenny – whom I met at the college on the road to become dentists – made it through. So, I live vicariously through him. And now, coincidentally – together we’ve developed a brand – a service of bespoke mens luxury shoes and women’s handbags, and ready to wear womenswear shoes as well. Named, Kenjeffreys. It is serendipitous because all of the products are sourced and handcrafted in Haiti and infused with Ghanaian culture. As Kenny is from Haiti, we properly employ artisans within the community and focus heavily on our social impact.

Following undergrad, I then began at FIT as student, really just trying to test my styling hand – and to learn more about the industry. While there, I came across extremely talented and knowledgeable fashion professionals that have really guided me. Namely, Sadia Seymour and Joseph DeAcetis. Both wildly experienced, patient and embedded with a wealth of information. Respectfully in womenswear and menswear. You cannot beat that, and I am grateful for it.

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AD: That is strangely unique and admirable. Talk to us about how all those experiences and inspirations give rise to the Jeffrey or Che we see today and ultimately, where that places you in your field of fashion and menswear.

 

Jeff: Sure. Great point. I have been indoctrinated by the basic principles of creativity as an adolescent – with respect to clothing. That is extremely hard to shake. Innately, styling was my ultimate form of communication, seeing that I was a shy introvert. So now, I still revert back to those same feelings…. the feeling of home, warmth, memories, great food and innocent fun. My approach now is exactly the same in the sense that when I am dressing, styling or designing for someone – I am taking into account their entire repertoire and holding a mirror in front of them which reflects the items that they love most. It is a skill that perhaps only empaths are only able to exhibit.

 

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Having the ability to read into thoughts and connecting with the motivating spirits that drives people – is a gift. I ran the New York City marathon three times, and the 2nd time I ran it in a tuxedo! It was my ultimate homage and pledging of allegiance to fashion. Ha.

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I also believe my extensive traveling experience has aided to the arsenal. Recent trips to Ghana always resets a creative instinct with me, as I look around and arrive back to a place of self-awareness. It feels right. My cousin Harry knows where to be to capture the real essence of the land. And, coincidentally enough, I am often back and forth to the UK as well. Savile row in London, England -as you know – is a menswear connoisseurs Disney Land. It is the traditional hub for the world’s best tailored-bespoke suits. Naples and Florence are a close second. However, sartorially, the British have etched their names in the fine-art making of the suit. I do though spend most of my time in Brighton, UK. Its where my love is and also like a second home for me. The culture there is infused with various styles and the community is inviting. The Duchess of Brighton-Hove, Lady Donna and her amazing friends will assure that you have a great time! 

 

AB: Finally, talk to us about your styling approach with respect to specific talent that you work with.

 

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Jeff: Definitely. This is perhaps an area you cannot teach. It is learned with years of experience and even reading the room wrong most times. I tell my fashion students often that they have to continue shooting airballs at the basket. Get out the miss shots, now – and properly learn your subjects. For example, if I am styling a celebrity for the red carpet – several nuances are to be considered before arriving at a dress or a tuxedo. Such as, what stages in life is your talent currently in, how body conscious are they and what are they most nostalgic about. These (and some of my other secrets that I cannot give away) are the pillars to nailing great style, image and presentation.

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If I am shooting for a magazine in a studio – its party time. If you are not dancing as a model or grooving as a photographer, you are are in the wrong business, per say! Haha. With me, you are very liable to hear everyone from Bob Marley, James Brown, MJ, and Jay-Z to Queen, Lady Gaga, Biggie, Nas and Beyonce all on the same playlist. I say that to say: I enjoy what I do in fashion, and I will always represent the joys of that. I believe that is what makes me an enigma in this industry. Always professional however, but make it subjective and inject areas of your creativity wherever you can. Particularly in menswear – I keep a very intimate and close pulse on traditional, casual and street styles of these sub genres – and study them gravely like the science they are. That all still comes from sitting deep in thought as I did
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