Designer Spotlight Interview with Michael Howard of Smock Me

By: Carley Schumann
Photography by: Eva Maria Guggenberger | EMG Photography

smock me

Style Fashion Week visited the West Hollywood studio of emerging designer, Michael Howard—the creative mind behind Smock Me. See below for sneak-peaks of the collection and a full interview with Michael about his beginnings as a designer and insights on his career as he continues to build his vision.

smock me

Entering the studio, we were immediately greeted by Michael's mischievous pig, Mr. Meat, who has become the inspiration behind of some of Smock Me's upcoming designs. Mr. Meat, the SmockMe pig, has a wardrobe of his own and changes his hair color frequently—check out his Instagram @mr.meat_ He definitely takes after his father. 

As we talked, I sifted through the many unique designs draped amongst the racks, when one particular jacket caught my eye. The back read, “Fear is Fuel for the Soul.”  He walked me outside of his studio to reveal the mantra painted on the wall as well.  “I came here with nothing but my backpack.” He explained. 

It was eight years ago, after losing both of his parents, that he decided that it was time to immerse himself in a new environment. He packed his backpack, and left for Los Angeles without a plan. He explained how the fear of the unknown propelled him forward on his journey. Without a place to stay, he ran into a friend on his first day in town, who gave him a temporary home as he established himself in his new surroundings. He experimented in acting, but when it failed to inspire him, he began working and designing for a shop on Melrose. He additionally began teaching himself to sew. 

Michael Howard

Michael Howard

Growing up in the Brooklyn 90’s, Michael has always found inspiration in brands like Iceberg and Coogi. He also finds inspiration in vintage cartoons like Rocco’s Modern Life, CatDog and others that bring his audience feelings childhood nostalgia. Fashion and the expression of dress was always something he admired—specifically, unique pieces that couldn’t be replicated. He was never interested in fashion that felt like something “everyone else was wearing.” 

It was three years ago when he designed his first piece. The garment was a second hand jean jacket, which he distressed and customized by attaching some 1930’s Pop-Eye characters from his collection. He placed the jacket in the Melrose storefront where he was working. When almost immediately, a customer recognized the value and uniqueness of the garment, Michael knew he was onto something. He began designing more distinct pieces for himself and his friends, and when they continued to receive a tremendous amount of attention when wearing the garments, Smock Me was born. 

Michael takes pride in the originality of each garment. Each piece is a reflection of the emotion and inspiration that was flowing within him on the moment of creation. While these core pieces can never be replicated, he has begun to incorporate graphic design into his collections. He intends for the Smock Me graphic collection to be similar in exclusivity to his core designs—once released, there will be only a limited amount of each graphic collection available. His first graphic collection will debut during Style Fashion Week Palm Springs. 

On April 6th at the Palm Springs Air Museum, guests can look forward to a collection launch which will include Smock Me core, graphic, swim and accessories. Smock Me presented his first collective during New York Fashion Week this past February. This will be his first time showing with Style Fashion Week. 

Michael continues to let the unknown guide him in all of his endeavors, creating each moment with the stroke of his brush and letting his intuition lead the way. We look forward to his collection debut at Style Fashion Week, Palm Springs. 

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FW'18 Streetwear Looks at Cipriani During New York Fashion Week

This past week at Cipriani, Dertbag, Shay Kawaii, H33M and Chicago Playground showcased their FW'18 collections during Style Fashion Week New York. While Style Fashion Week has been known for supporting established, emerging and international designers since their beginnings in 2011—this season, during New York Fashion Week, they partnered with Papertrail Magazine in an effort to support the increasingly popular streetwear culture. These young brands and designers, often the inspiration behind luxury giants, rarely make their way to the New York Fashion Week runway—operating under tight margins without corporate budgets to produce major runway shows. Style Fashion Week helps to share the cost of these major productions—providing designers the platform to display their work on the same level as their luxury competitors. Style Fashion Week recognizes that these designers are a vital piece of the fashion community and will continue to work to support them. (Photos by Mark Gunter)

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Malan Breton SS2018 Ready-To-Wear

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Malan Breton SS2018 Ready-To-Wear - see entire collection above.

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Style Fashion Week Modernizes NYFW with Move from Iconic Madison Square Garden to The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Style Fashion Week will be making the move to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum to host its Fashion Week Events this season in New York City, September 7th, 8th and 9th. The international Fashion Week producer has previously hosted its Fashion Week events in other iconic locations such as Madison Square Garden, Hammerstein Ballroom, and Gotham Hall.

style fashion week

The highly produced shows of Style Fashion Week have been touted as the ‘Must Attend’ events at Fashion Week.  With consistent media impressions averaging several billion per season as well as the sold out and celebrity presence at each event. This season, after the venue just being publicly announced, has already garnered an unprecedented media attention and is clearly going to create the New York Fashion Week experience for both industry and consumers that the world has been missing for quite some time. Designers are also enabled to sell their products to industry and consumers directly off the runway through an app that Style Fashion week has developed. The roster of designers showing this season is truly inspired and speaks to the current attitudes and trends that are prevalent in the womens, mens, and kids fashion industries. 

"International sensations MALAN BRETON, DAVID TUPAZ, RICHARD HALLMARQ and MARCO MARCO and many more support our international industry initiatives.  Style Fashion Week presents designers from the United States, Asia, Mexico, Europe and other foreign creative cultures, the roster of talent is unsurpassed and it is our honor as a platform for exposure, to present their newest collections exclusively to the world stage," reports Style Fashion Week.

Photos courtesy Style Fashion Week

Photos courtesy Style Fashion Week

Sourcing of the world most talented, designers, artists and creatives is one of the missions of Style Fashion Week.  Style Fashion Week has a global presence that supports the seasoned as well as the emerging designer and artist and, to that end, creating a creative collaborative this industry has never seen. As an addendum to our already successful fashion week event productions in so many markets, Style Fashion Week is finalizing plans to create artist collaborative communes in the United States and Internationally for the purpose of further reaching out to and supporting the creative vision of those who may not otherwise have such an opportunity to grow in their craft.

Style Fashion Week on board the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a landmark series of events that promise to inspire and create a spirit of all encompassing creativity and forward motion in brand development for all involved. This trifecta of fashion art and music is designed to cater to both consumers and industry professionals and, most surely, will set the stage for a grand, interactive and dynamic experience.  

Style Fashion Week is the premier producer of Fashion Week events in many markets including New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Miami, Hamptons, and Dubai with many new markets launching internationally in 2018.

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Style Fashion Week Los Angeles Announces Full Lineup

Style Fashion Week, The Official Fashion Week of Los Angeles, returns to The Pacific Design Center March 9th - 12th after an incredibly successful season at The Theater Madison Square Garden. Style Fashion Week is working closely with their charity partner, Jam3R, Biogen and TEVA Pharmaceuticals to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. The four day fashion spectacular will feature international runway shows, an extensive art marketplace curated by Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, live music and performances from Cirque Du Soleil's Zumanity. Taking fashion and entertainment to the next level, Style Fashion Week LA is an event you don't want to miss! 

For more updates and announcements, check out www.stylefashionweek.com.
For more information on Cirque Du Soleil's Zumanity, check out http://cirk.me/zumanitysfw

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STYLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING EVENT AT THE PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER IN LOS ANGELES

On the heels wildly successful New York event at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Style Fashion Week (www.stylefashionweek.com) is heading to Los Angeles where it will bring its unique brand of runway excitement to the iconic Pacific Design Center from March 9th – 12th.  

The producer of globally recognized fashion events today announced Style Fashion Week Los Angeles, a groundbreaking annual event bringing designers to the global fashion arena with the season’s must-see runway shows, unforgettable performances, exclusive art installations and immersive commerce experiences.

“We could not be any more pleased with the success Style Fashion Week New York and are thrilled to head to the West Coast where Style Fashion Week will produce Los Angeles Fashion Week,” said Style Fashion Week President Veronica Kerzner. “In addition to creating innovative platforms for designers to showcase their collections, we’ve developed engaging new ways both consumers and the fashion industry to participate in the excitement.”

Led by internationally acclaimed Designer MALAN BRETON, Style Fashion Week Los Angeles will again bring an impressive roster of acclaimed designers to the global fashion through groundbreaking events at the intersection of fashion, music and art.  Additional information on participating designers, performers and partners to follow.

General Admission Tickets start at $35 for and are available for purchase at www.stylefashionweek.com/rsvp/.

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RICH by Richie Rich Fall/Winter 2017 Runway

Fashion designer, TV personality and famed NY Club kid Richie Rich, and his business partner Tracie May-Wagner, launched their new fashion brand RICH by Richie Rich on the runway with STYLE Fashion Week at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Inspired by current events, and the social climate affected by the new American political regime, the POPOGANDA Fall 2017 Collection reflected a peaceful protest of social injustice through fashion, art and pop culture. 

Richie designed this collection as a vehicle for addressing important social issues like LGBTQ rights, Women’s Rights, Anti-Bullying, Climate Change, and Immigration, while simultaneously paying homage to the millions of Americans currently taking to the streets in peaceful protest.
 
The show featured five transgender models including Claudia, Rain and Dominique from Strut, Oxygen’s hit reality TV show, and legendary trans activists Dina Delicious and Connie Fleming.  Social Media influencers Frankie Grande, Arianna Grande’s brother, and Simonetta Lein also walked in the show.  In addition, Richie chose not to use animal products and 100% of the clothing, accessories and footwear in the POPOGANDA Fall 2017 Collection are vegan and cruelty free.

Photos courtesy of STYLE Fashion Week

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