North Carolina born Carlton Jones is a veteran and a neophyte in the world of fashion – a seeming contradiction that in his case makes perfect sense. That’s because Jones is an old school stylist and a new school designer. His forte is resort, relaxed, fluid luxury design with a natural knack for wardrobing the female form.
He was informally trained as a fashion designer, having cultivated his craft through his career in retail. With a stylist roster including a caravan of celebrity heavyweights we love such as Halle Berry, Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and First Lady Michelle Obama, his “I can design that” je ne sais quoi approach is what catapulted his love for resort wear. Super cool, laid back, and not one for fussy threads as his own go-to attire, he admittedly can lounge in sweatpants all day, yet take relaxed chic up a notch for an evening out – and do it all, effortlessly.
What inspired you to become a fashion designer? As I do know you’ve had your hands in a few creative endeavors before creating your own collection.
That’s a good question. Before design, I’ve been working as a stylist for over 20 years. Design came about from a few different perspectives. I led the first team of stylists that went to Kingston, Jamaica for the very first Caribbean Fashion Week in 2000. It was there I began to meet a network of Caribbean designers who wanted their product distributed in the U.S. and I began consulting them on how to lay the groundwork for global distribution. Simultaneously, I began to curate a series of pop-up events in the Caribbean importing American merchandise. I had a following and clientele base of people whom wanted access of the products sold here. Due to limitations on certain islands, I was able to bring to them products that were beneficial for the West Indies climate. That, combined with a natural love for the beach and buying and selling there, prompted an epiphany which created the perfect storm. I created a capsule selection that I was able to get in store immediately and with my own resources. My thoughts of what women in warm temps would want to be chic in the heat materialized with minimal design, super cool prints, great colors, and fabric. I had no idea how to run a brand but quite naively started the journey.
What has been your greatest challenge as an emerging designer?
My greatest challenge… has been a combination of things. But financing is the one thing that prevents the growth on a scale for what I know this business could be. I went into this knowing I didn’t have a lot of money, but I had resources. My brand has been self-financed, and a very expensive hobby for most of the process. Only now, through the A Common Thread grant that I was very fortunate to be awarded, have I really gotten a handle on the business of fashion and a strategic approach to forecasting the future of my business. I am driving with a real map and a GPS, not just driving because I know how to drive. I’m truly empowered about my business now.
What words of wisdom or piece of advice would you give to an emerging designer coming up in the game right now?
I would advise to connect with a mentor, designer, stylist, or someone in the business you can assist. There’s a lot you can learn from the school of hard knocks. What you can get from experience, knowledge and someone who has the desire to share, is the most important thing you can do for yourself. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some strong role models to lean on and in to, to help me establish my own creative voice and stay on my vision of what I set out to do. It takes a village, even if you have money. No one can do this alone. You need creative, supportive people around you to help make it happen.
Web: www.carltonjonesnyc.com
IG: @carltonjonescollection
