Miguel Wilson is not new to fashion – you just may not be familiar with his success. The former 2nd Lieutenant military veteran-turned-celebrity tuxedo designer has quite a memoir. With a BA of Arts from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from Campbell University, he has appeared on Bravo TV numerous times, designed wedding tuxedos for The Real Housewives of Atlanta husbands, high profile athletes, and Atlanta’s own multitalented rappers, 2Chainz and Wacka Flocka Flame. Wilson holds true to his philosophy that men should invest in their “special day” and own the experience just as thebride-to-be. The Miguel Wilson Collection can be procured in Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza, the southeast’s premier upscale shopping destination, his Miami showroom on Miracle Mile and the Washington, D.C. showroom at the prestigious National Harbor. The designer also hosts the annual Fashion and Polo Classic in Atlanta, which fundraising efforts support Ride to The Olympics Foundation, creating Polo teams for inner city kids.
What was your inspiration for designing a formal wear brand? To whom do you owe the influence?
I started in fashion many years ago. A downturn in the economy shifted the way I proceeded to do business, and after an unfortunate setback, I needed to figure out who I wanted to be in fashion. In relaunching my company, I decided I wanted to be a well-recognized fashion brand. I realized that major brands had made names for themselves by specializing in certain markets, and not just by being generic. Well sought after designers always designed with catapulting the brand forward to global recognition. So I started thinking about what is missing in fashion that I can establish a brand and a name around. After doing weddings for so many years, I thought that it was odd that there were not any well–recognized tuxedo companies. No one had really made a statement around weddings for men. You had Vera Wang gowns and multiple choices for women regarding formal wear and wedding attire, and most men go out and rent tuxedos. I thought that was very odd. A woman will spend thousands of dollars on her great day for a gown she will wear one time, and a guy will rent used clothing on his special day. If a guy invested in a well-made, custom tuxedo, he can wear it for a lifetime. I thought the industry did a disservice to men, so I wanted to fill the void. I created The Miguel Wilson Collection for men with the tag line “Because it’s His day too.” I built my brand around not only the clothing, but the experience as well.
What is or has been your greatest challenge in the fashion business thus far?
I have been in the business since 1993. I think one of the things that was significant for me was finally focusing on a segment. I think a lot of designers come into the business not really understanding who their customer is. They want to make clothes for everybody. When I decided to focus on grooms and I had all tuxedos in my windows, guys who had patronized me for years insisted I needed to put suits in the windows, and that I needed to do this and that. But I stuck hard to being consistent with focusing on formal and ready wear, and that paid off. Figuring out where you fit in in the big scheme of fashion, is a challenge that most of us have to go through.
What advice or words of wisdom would you give to someone who is interested in designing formal wear, and walking the path that you are on?
I think that you need to understand…what are you adding to the segment? You are considering formal wear and tuxedos, but what are you bringing to the segment that is not there already? Establish a name. You want to make a name for yourself where people know you and carve out this piece of real estate. It does not serve you well to get into this space and just fit in with everyone else in the background. You must create a signature and something that is special about you, in hopes that too whatever you create, is something that people like.
IG: @miguelwilsoncollection
WEB: www.miguelwilson.com
