DeWayne Crockett Jr. is exactly who he thinks he is. A Nashvillian, creator of Fashion & Frends, an event collection that intersects community and dope looks, and fashion icon — he is amongst the Gen Z doing big things in the city. I had the opportunity to chat with DeWayne right before his recent March Madness fashion show event (which was so tea, by the way, check out the photos) to learn more about his story and his trajectory as a mogul in the making.
Give us the rundown of who you are and the background story that made you the person you are today:
I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. While I’m mentally from New York and physically from Mars, that’s a topic for another conversation. I’m currently 27 years old, a Scorpio, and a child of God — Amen. Although I didn’t finish college, I had the privilege of attending Clark Atlanta University. Growing up in Nashville, where there was no market or inspiration for fashion, attending CAU and witnessing the diverse forms of black fashion there has profoundly influenced my current perspective on fashion and my personal style. Currently, I work as a sales supervisor for Marc Jacobs in the luxury retail industry. Additionally, I specialize in curating fashion-focused events aimed at fashion enthusiasts and creatives in the local Nashville scene. Being DeWayne is quite a full-time job as well, ha!
What about fashion calls to you?
Fashion allows me to create a fantasy and, in better words, it allows me to create as many versions of myself as I desire. If I wake up and want to completely transform my aesthetic, I have the freedom to do so as well. Growing up, I was so captivated by Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood, my absolute favorite designers to this day. They redefined fashion by making it theatrical yet rebellious. Beyond the freedom to create any version of myself, fashion became an escape that ultimately transformed into freedom. Engaging in fashion and discovering my personal style was how I discovered myself and gained the self-confidence I had always yearned for. While I still experience moments of imposter syndrome, getting dressed instantly boosts my confidence, and I immediately feel like that b*tch.
Was there any specific moment you knew fashion was the lane you wanted to pursue?
There wasn’t a specific moment that sparked my interest, but I’ve always been drawn to creative fields. Growing up, I never envisioned myself working in an office building, and if I did, it would never be my ultimate goal. I have numerous creative pursuits that I love and plan to explore, but fashion holds a special place in my heart and comes from the heart. While I’ve always been intrigued and passionate about it, my interest in fashion truly blossomed during my 8th-grade year, around 2011/2012. At that time, high-end fashion houses like Balmain, Yeezy, Chanel, Versace, Vetements, and others were experiencing a resurgence, which ignited my desire to pursue a career in fashion and ultimately led me to choose a college major. Additionally, for the gworls who know ball, I also discovered Polyvore during that period, and the rest is history — RIP to a real one! IYKYK.
How would you define your personal style? How would you define how you style others?
I describe my personal style as masculine and feminine, better labeled as masc/fem. I love wearing masculine looks and pairing it with 6-inch platforms or vice versa. I love and crave the balance between the two styles. I don’t like to limit myself when it comes to fashion, and I believe I shouldn’t have to. Fashion is a way for me to express myself, and I think people forget that’s what it’s all about. In this generation, I feel like we’ve lost the art of personal style! People have become too comfortable with following trends or plagiarizing aesthetics instead of creating their own. Experimentation is key, and you shouldn’t care what others think — if you like your look, then that’s all that matters. One of my biggest fashion pet peeves is when people say, “Let’s start wearing ____ again?” or “When are we going to bring back…? You don’t have to wait for someone or a trend to resurface before wearing something. If you want to wear it, just wear it. No need to wait for anyone.
When it comes to styling people, I love taking their current aesthetic and reimagining it. My approach to styling is to treat everyday fashion as if it were fashion week. Fashion empowers you to create your own reality, so why not do the most? I enjoy mixing colors, prints, patterns, and finding beauty in things that people might overlook or not notice beyond the surface of a garment. I believe most people tend to reinvent their style instead of working with what they have, which is perfectly fine! However, sometimes, you don’t need to fix what isn’t broken; it just needs a little shaping.
You have also hosted some absolutely amazing events in the city with Fashion & Frends that intersect the culture, community, and fashion – tell me what you love the most about bringing these things together in the event curation space?
Well, first and foremost, thank you! That means the world to me, in more ways than you can imagine. One of my absolute favorite aspects of the events I’ve curated is simply witnessing my vision come to life and seeing people genuinely enjoy it. It’s an incredibly fulfilling moment to look around and see people immersed in the atmosphere you’ve meticulously crafted while celebrating fashion. I firmly believe that Nashville holds immense potential in the fashion industry, but unfortunately, the narrative surrounding it hasn’t been adequately promoted, or there isn’t a substantial market for it yet. I’m constantly on the scene, attending various events, and I’m constantly amazed by the diverse forms of personal style I encounter. I firmly believe that hosting these events and curating these experiences will continue to reach the right audiences and expand even beyond Nashville, surpassing my wildest expectations.
How important is fostering a community amongst Gen-Z to you in the Nashville area?
Community is the most crucial factor! Creating and expanding the narrative of the fashion community here in Nashville was the sole reason and purpose behind the inception of Fashion & Frends. I would engage in conversations with my friends about specific topics or products, but they would honestly not be interested, lol. So, I thought to myself, “Wow, it would be dope if I had more friends to discuss fashion with who were actually intrigued.” And that’s when the idea was born. I’m always inclined to take on tasks independently, but the truth is, you may initiate the idea or process alone, but you’ll need people to accompany you along the way. It’s incredibly important to be surrounded by individuals who support and value your ideas, while also being willing to contribute and share similar or related ideas. I believe we live in a generation that often prioritizes individualism and self-reliance, sometimes forgetting the significance of community. However, it’s so crucial that we continue to open our doors to others because we wouldn’t want anyone to close ours.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? What is your ultimate goal?
Where I envision myself in the next decade, I genuinely hope to continue doing what I’m currently doing, but on a more elevated and untouchable level. Like, imagine having to go through my security to even speak to me, ha! My dream is for Fashion & Frends to travel from city to city, and by God’s grace, even worldwide. I’d genuinely hope, and I believe I’ll receive my CFDA award(s). I’d love to explore my other creative interests, such as interior design, audio-visual production, creative directing, furniture making, fashion design, and so on. However, I know that whatever happens, it will be grand. These days, I don’t like to make too many plans for my life because I believe God’s plan is always better than any plan I could ever imagine for myself. After all, His plan will always prevail. I’m simply blessed, grateful, and will remain fabulous regardless of whatever comes my way.
What exciting things do you have coming up next?
To be honest, my most creative, thought-out ideas and ventures often strike me in the moment, which has never quite failed me! Haha! — However, having the incredible pleasure of curating and hosting an in-store fashion show for Red Rose Hype Shop, a luxury consignment boutique here in Nashville. I’m completely gagged that I’m doing this, and it’s given me a sense of optimism and the possibilities are completely endless.
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