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The LastDays Clothing Company is far more than a clothing line. It is part of a much larger idea that Armah Shiancoe and his cousins Bart Cooper and James Freeman have set into motion over the course of several years. Armah is a senior at Queens University who is from Liberia in West Africa. He came to America from Ghana, where his family sought refuge from the civil war in Liberia. He is certainly a man with abundant aspirations and a vision for what he can achieve. When such quality is bestowed upon someone with Armah’s determined persistence and general know-how, only great things can result.

The LastDays Clothing Company is the first piece of an elaborate and thoughtfully conceived plan for Armah and his cousins. They want to leave their stamp of positive influence on the world. On the surface it is a line of fresh looking urban street wear. Its hook is that it is completely eco-friendly. The line is made from the finest quality materials, and is culturally significant in its design and subtleties. However, when you look deeper into the business plan you find that, while the purpose of the line is obviously to turn a profit for its creators, its ultimate intention is so much more than that.

photo by www.lastdayswear.com

Armah and his cousins already have the foundation for a nonprofit organization that will eventually be funded and maintained exclusively through the proceeds of the LastDays Clothing Company. There is a Facebook group created by LastDays called “1 Million Strong for the environment” for which the company pledges $50 for every 1 million people to join. While the company is currently based in California for production and other reasons, Armah plans to reside permanently in Charlotte and is adamant that the nonprofit will be a major contributor to the local philanthropic community.

Photo by www.lastdayswear.com

He is already a very active member of the Charlotte community and has given more than his share of time and energy towards the advancement of. Armah organizes a regular series of events on the campus of Queens University called: Say Word. It is a poetry slam of sorts featuring spoken word poets, hip hop performers, and anyone else who wants to share their writing. The event brings together members from various backgrounds and communities in a focused, peaceful, and productive way. It is truly a sight to behold.

If everyone used the resources at their disposal as efficiently as Armah, then we could all reach an unparalleled level of productivity as Armah has. For instance, Armah recently received academic credit for creating a business plan with a professor that will help him to orchestrate and implement his fantastic ideas and dreams.

But Armah’s endeavors don’t end there. He is the co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Fellows Program, which is a group of student leaders that promotes the Chamber within the community . He has won awards from Student Life at Queens for being a visionary and inspirational member of the community. He knows everyone on campus and everyone knows him–faculty, students, and administrators alike.

photo by www.lastdayswear.com

Q: Tell me about your background?

A: I was born in West Africa and I’m part Liberian and Ghanaian. Being raised and living in two different countries as a child taught me to adapt easier to various situations and cultures. After coming to America, growing up here, and learning that just about anything is achievable; my ultimate objective is to be an example for anyone (especially young people) who doubt their own abilities due to inopportune circumstances.

Q: What are your long term goals/what are you expecting in the future (for your career/business)?
A: My goals include building the Lastdays Clothing Company into one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. My partners and I expect the brand to be one of the most charitable companies around. It will not only better our lives, but also the lives of people we have yet to meet and positively impact the world.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you can not live without?
A: The one thing I (somehow) can’t leave home without is my iPhone. It’s funny because I used to question what all the excitement was about until I got my hands on one of them. I feel like Apple should pay me to be a spokesperson!

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed or gives you inspiration?
A: This may sound very cliché, but God uses my past to motivate me. I’ve been fortunate to make it to where I am at this point in my life. I’m also grateful to all the many people I’m blessed to call family; they all know who they are and have all influenced my life in some way.

Q: What is the toughest part of your business/career?

A: The toughest part is definitely taking an unknown brand from nowhere and putting your efforts into making it something that is wanted and identifiable. It’s a challenge, but I’m glad I have a partner, Bart Cooper who is one of the most creative individuals in his field, and James Freeman who is one of the most skilled internet marketers out right now.

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Nouveau Fashion Club

from left to right: Leslie Gebhardt (Vice President), Kandace Clay (President), Taylor Trent (PR), Stephanie Taylor, Christina Menconi (Student Ambassador), Aysia Nesmith (Secretary/Treasurer), Kimberly Brookshire (Student Ambassador) 

After acquiring fashion expertise in cities such as Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, the fabulous Stephanie Taylor has recently joined The Art Institute of Charlotte as Department Chair for Fashion Marketing and Management. She continues to spread her passion for the industry by inspiring her students to immerse themselves in the fashion world.

Q: What is your role at The Art Institute?
A: I am the department chairperson for the fashion marketing and management program. Right now, my job consists of managing seven instructors and around 243 students. I have been here nine months now, so I am still getting my feet wet. However, before I came to Charlotte I was at the New York Art Institute for three years as department chair for fashion design. Before that, I was at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, working over all three departments: fashion design, fashion marketing and visual merchandising. I’ve been with the Art Institute almost eight years at three different schools, but always in the fashion department because; that is my niche.

Q: What does STYLE mean to you?
A: When I think of style, I think of individuality. I do not think that it is following the trend necessarily all of the time. Style is not what’s hot and what’s not. I believe style is what works for you. What works for you may not work for me, and vise versa. Style is an individual that has their own thing going for them.

Q: What are your long term goals?
A: Charlotte is my third stop with the Art Institute. My next move would probably be consulting. Since I have been doing this for a while at three different schools with three different personalities, I would be interested in being a consultant to the Art Institute. I would love to do something where I would have the opportunity to work with fashion programs over all the Art Institutes. In my mind, that would be moving to the next level.

Q: Tell me about your background
A: I am originally from Flint, Michigan. I knew when I was a child that I wanted to go into fashion. Some people go in and out of their careers not knowing what they want to do, but I knew right from the beginning. I used to sit and sketch, so my family thought I was going to be a designer, but I ended up going in the merchandising end of the industry. I went to Mott College (in Michigan) and received my two-year degree in fashion merchandising. From Michigan I moved to Chicago, and I was there for a year studying fashion. Then I transferred to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, between Detroit and Chicago and had a great experience. After that I went out and worked in the industry as a divisional manager and a buyer for about six years. I had education in the back of my mind, but I always thought that the best educators were the ones who had worked out in the industry first and gained job experience so that they could bring that knowledge to the students in the classroom. So I worked as a divisional manager, buyer, and fashion show producer and then decided I would go back to school and get a Master’s so I could go into education. I moved to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri and worked as a professor of fashion there. After that, The Art Institute came on board and I moved to Philadelphia to take a position as department chair. Next, I moved to New York, and now I am here in Charlotte. I thought New York was going to be my last stop, but it is actually for personal reasons that I am now in Charlotte. I think that it is a very progressive city, and I think that things are getting ready to happen here. I feel like my timing is really good.

Q: Where did your interest in fashion originate?
A: My grandmother and my mother were both very stylish women, especially my grandmother. She was the type of woman who would never leave the house without powdering her nose, or putting on lipstick, and I used to watch that when I was a little girl. I think that watching the woman in my family and the style that they had that influenced me at a very young age. A lot of the activities I was involved in as a young girl influenced me too. I was put in beauty and charm classes, modeling, and dance, which were all influences on me as well.

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed?
A: I feel like in a field like fashion, you really have to have a passion for what you do. You have to really love being in the fashion industry and really love being around students. I can look at new students coming in every quarter and tell who is passionate about it or not the first time I meet them. I believe it is something that comes from within. I always knew I did not want to do anything outside of fashion. I knew that I would change gears with my career, that I would not always do the same thing because I don’t like being stagnant, but I knew that it would still be in the fashion arena. My passion is what motivates me to succeed.

Q: What is the toughest part of being in the fashion industry?
A: I think that fashion is a misunderstood field. People stereotype what it is all about. An example would be when I was in college, we were in the same building as the engineering students, and they could not understand what we were doing all day in class. They used to come by and say, “I don’t understand. What do you guys do? Do you cook and sew?” You would think after college I wouldn’t hear things like that anymore, but even now, people will say “Fashion? What do you mean? Do you model? Why would somebody pay that much money to go to college to be a model?” The bottom line is that people do not understand that fashion is a lucrative business. I tell my students; that when people tell them they don’t understand what they do, just respond that everybody wears clothes. There is a whole process and cycle behind the fact that everybody wears clothes. Breaking the stereotypical image of what fashion is seems to be tough.
Another challenge for me has been teaching at three different Art Institutes in three different cities which all have very different personalities. I know that part of the game is adapting to your culture and the environment around you. It has not been difficult for me, just challenging.

Q: What is a typical day like as the department chair?
A: [Laughs] I do not have a typical day. I learned a long time ago that I can sit down and write out a list of things I need to do and plan out my day, but it is never going to happen the way I want it to. I have to be available for my students and faculty, and being in the position of department chair, I have to be the middleman between the Dean and the faculty and students. I have to mediate between all of the groups. Right now being new as department chair, I have been working on making changes to the current curriculum, and familiarizing myself with all of the students and the faculty. I have an amazing faculty who helps to make my job a lot easier. I have been putting a fashion organization together, that way I have a connection with the students. We have had the fashion club going for about two quarters now. We are also planning a New York trip for September. The students are really excited about that because that will be the first big trip we have had since I have been here. We also plan to attend a show in Atlanta that takes place in August. Real buyers and vendors will be there, and I want my students to see what it is like outside of the classroom and see the negotiation process. Fashion is glamorous, but students need to see the business side of it. They are really excited about that.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you can not live without?
A: I never go without lipstick. It completes my look. People joke that I always wear my shades, but I don’t wear them inside of course. I am a makeup girl definitely though. I love makeup.

Q: What career advice do you have for individuals who aspire to become a part of the fashion industry?
A: The first thing I would say is you have to have a passion for it, because if you don’t you’re going to have a difficult time. It’s not as glamorous and easy as people think it is. It’s very challenging. Also, a lot of people want to be in this field so you have a lot of competition. I ask my students, “How can you stand out from all of the other students who are graduating? What are you doing? What looks so different on your resume?” I’m always telling them that school is very important, that the degree is going to open the door, but in this industry, they need to do things while you are a college student also. Students need to join the fashion club, take trips to New York, and be in attendance anytime we bring fashion speakers in. They have to get all of this on their resumes and take in as much as they can while they are in school so it can give them a leg up on their competitor when they get out there. Fashion is a really hot field now, so I always encourage my students to stand out and be different. You have to get involved and get out there.

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Robert Krumbine is the man behind the scenes of Charlotte’s fantastic uptown
events. As the Senior Vice President of Events at Charlotte Center City
Partners, he uses his creativity and unique perspective to inspire Charlotte
to grow in a positive way and to bring our community closer together.

Q: What are the goals of your company, Charlotte Center City Partners?

A: The mission Charlotte Center City Partners is to promote the cultural and
economic development of the urban core. It is our job to make sure that we
have a vibrant urban core that provides a place to do great business, to
play hard, and to live. It is important to us that the center of Charlotte
does well, because we believe if the center is thriving, the rest of the
city will follow.

Q: What is your role at Charlotte Center City Partners?

A: I am the senior vice president of events. I handle pretty much the
animation of center city. I do the things that fall under the category of
play. I get to work with other event planners that come in and bring events
like Speedstreet and Taste of Charlotte, and I also get to create new events
like Charlotte Shout and holiday events.

Q: What is a typical day like in your position?

A: My primary job is coordinating fifteen events a year.  I have a small
team of four people. A typical day includes looking ahead to the next event,
always trying to make sure that we’ve got our planning going, and then
putting out small fires as they come along. I do more than just event
planning here. I am involved in a lot of things going on in the community
from the cultural side. We deal with things with venders, signage and
ordinances as well. A typical day is hard to describe because it’s different
every day, but it is always wrapped around this goal of keeping all of the
events on track, especially because we have a lot of really big events that
are close together.

Q: Tell me about your background

A: I am originally from Miami, Florida. I graduated from the University of
Miami, moved several times to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and then I came
to charlotte in 1988. I have been in the event business for about 25 years.
I have traveled all over the world producing special events. I have done
events for four presidents, corporate theater, and pretty much done
everything from cocktail parties to half time shows. I started off as a
musician and fell into coordinating. I originally came to charlotte to run a
small company that wanted to get into the event business. They were a small
talent agency, and they wanted to add events as a component. The first big
event I ever did in Charlotte was the grand opening of the coliseum on
Tyvola road.

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed? ?

A: My motivation for success comes from trying to do the most creative
things that I can. Everything I do is based out of the creative world.  I
have these ideas that are just constantly swirling around, and I try to do
things that are really different to stand apart. I think I have been
motivated in Charlotte specifically to just see it grow. I want to try to
leave a legacy. I hope that people can look back and say, “He had something
to do with where we are today.” I believe that large-scale events are very
important to a city to celebrate your community, to celebrate the highs, the
lows, the sports teams, and the successes. What really drives me is to
continue to build community through events and try to touch as many people
as I can and bring them together.

Q: What is the toughest part of the event coordinating business?

A: The toughest part of this business is money. It’s very difficult to put
on these events without enough funding. Ideas require more funding. You have
to reel in the ideas sometimes. You have to put on or produce what you said
you were going to do, but sometimes it becomes a whole different picture
from what you originally planned. Our funding is sponsorship based, so we go
out and raise the money through grants and we look for people who want to
make their mark in this growing city.

Q: What career advice do you have for individuals who aspire to become
involved in the event coordinating business?

A: I got in the industry when I was a college student. Like most, I was
sitting around figuring out what I was I going to do with myself, and I
created my own internship. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to
put together a three-week tour of Europe with a band. I did everything from
raising the money, coordinating the hotels, the food, the travel, the whole
9 yards. That was a pretty big undertaking. I did it all myself, and that
was how I always worked. If there’s something I want to do, I don’t wait on
anything, I just go out and get it. The best advice I can give is to really
seek out opportunities, to apply yourself, and to show the world what you
can do. Be as open to just doing and not always expecting somebody to give
you something.

Q: What does STYLE mean to you? ?

A: For some people, style is about clothing or way you look. For me, Style
is about who you are and how you present yourself to the world. My style is
my sense of humor and the fun nature I have about me. I like to create
things and do really weird and unusual stuff.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you cannot
live without? ?

A: My style is very eclectic, so I like all types of things. I like things
that tend to be bright, edgy, colorful, and catch your eye. My office is
just full of toys. I’m a huge Disney fan so I’ve got all kinds of Disney
paraphernalia. I’ve got a shelf full of knick-knacks - you name it - it’s
there. My surroundings tend to be rather loud even though the way I look
isn’t. My office is very busy. For most people it would be a difficult
office to work in because I have so much stuff. I’ve got a giant Icee cup
sitting on my desk, and on the other corner I have Kermit the frog sitting
on a pedestal. I like crazy, fun toys.

Q: What do you like about living in Charlotte? ???

A: I have raised two children in Charlotte and I think it is a great city to
raise a family. There are wonderful attributes that you really can’t find as
regularly in other places. There are a lot of green spaces, it’s a warm
city, and it feels like a place that you can be yourself. I feel like the
restaurant scene is still growing - I’d like to see more in that, but there
are a lot of good offerings there. Cultural activities are important to my
family and I, so we like to attend different events and shows. I think
Charlotte is a really great city for trying to be who you want to be.
There’s a lot of opportunity and there’s something here for everyone. You
really don’t feel like you would be excluded.

Scott Cooper 

Discovering your inner style and personal expression are very important tasks to Scott Cooper, Agency Director at the WIlhelmina Evolution in Charlotte. Scott’s artistic background helps him on a day to day basis as he accomplishes his goal: help, hone and enhance talent in the Charlotte area as they discover and achieve their ultimate dream.

Scott Cooper Interview

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“Rising star and couture connoisseur, Foster Fox is one fashion designer who lives up to his name. Fox’s ‘Casino Chic’ collection debuted at Charleston Fashion Week leaving attendees and industry insiders alike buzzing about what is to come for this young and promising talent. IN this month’s Stylish Careers, Fox shares with STYLE his insight on his art, his ambitions and his achievements.