Michael Calloway

occupation: fashion designer

“My parents always taught me that we’re all born to succeed in whatever talents and abilities that we’re given, and if you hold true to them, the universe always gives back to you.” Michael Calloway

I found Michael through the legendary designer Koos Van den Akker. Koos refers to Michael as a true “outsider artist,” someone who is not affected in anyway by trends, and having met him, this is an understatement. I was moved to tears by Michael when I met him. His talent as a designer is profoundly original and artistic (we will be posting pictures from the show of his F/W ‘09 collection tomorrow) and inseparable from his personal style in authentic expression, but his spirit, positive energy, and humility is what is most exhilarating. Michael says that he doesn’t even look anymore when getting dressed; like a tribe, his wardrobe is so a part of him that he throws his clothes on and they always reflect him, which includes the depth of his life experiences and his heritage. He grew up with the influences of great-grandparents and grandparents who had origins in Jamaica and the Bahamas, including a grandmother who was a seamstress and would bring him European fashion magazines, and parents who deconstructed and reconstructed clothes from the 70’s with no inhibition. Michael was a visionary at an early age, making top hats from cardboard and fervently drawing on anything – even when his family couldn’t afford pen and paper, he found a way. The richness of his background can be seen in how he makes sweaters from old socks, a pleated skirt is made of tuxedo pants and lace, creepers are decorated with tribal paint, and a tuxedo hat is embellished with feathers from an indigenous country. Michael is a reluctant icon; he told me that when he leaves his apartment, people in the neighborhood wait to see what he is wearing (and I wish I lived next door to see). He says, “If I am going to do laundry or or I am going to the grocery, I decide, ‘Oh, I am going to wear a suit,’ or ‘I want to wear a kilt,’ or ‘I just want to wear a cardboard hat,’ and I just go.”

Comments

posted by carrie
October 21st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
dying for the harem pants in the first pic
posted by Georgie
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:53 am
Visionary style 4 sure what a beautiful human being..Luv n Light Georgie
posted by sophie
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 am
d i y creepers
+
ear piece
+
fabric bound wall piece
=
un-bloody-believable and by far the most genuinely inspiring post. i am really really moved.

if i had one thousand thumbs they would all be pointing up

x
posted by amalia
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Just inspiring! The beauty that shines through is magical. WOW…. An honest artist.
posted by Tay
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
This is the genius offspring of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Rei Kawakubo.

I want to spend a day thrift-shopping with Michael.
posted by Backstage with Michael Calloway « Style Like U
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
[...] Michael Calloway, who we just posted below, had his F/W ‘09 show recently. It was a reminder of what your imagination can do when it’s unleashed and how uplifting clothing and beauty can be. The makeup in the show was inspired by Amazonian and African tribes, in particular, The Watabi. In Watabi culture, there is a summer ritual where all of the men in the tribe adorn their faces in an attempt to distinguish themselves for a prized female. Malcom Harris, another designer whom we are featuring soon, was walking down the street with me last night wearing an embellished feather scarf that he had made. It was the only accent to an otherwise very chic but understated black tuxedo. Someone yelled at him, “Is it Halloween?”. He responded, “No. It’s fashion.” [...]
posted by Jeffrey
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Michael I think your so divine and have a beautiful spirit. I felt honored to be able to take witness of your inspiring fashion show.
Thank You*
posted by uberVU - social comments
October 25th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by ejsainsbury: Literally, the best Stylelikeu they’ve EVER done. Visionary and inspirational: http://bit.ly/liUUZ...
posted by BJ Panda Bear « Style Like U
January 5th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
[...] you like BJ, you might also enjoy Ladyfag, Jen Chia, Michael Calloway, or Jermaine [...]
posted by FASHION FORWARD: An online style revolution | Buck
February 10th, 2010 at 4:30 am
[...] Michael Calloway, one of Stylelikeu’s most inspiring stories. [...]

Closets

Michael Calloway

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