Artistpreneur Spotlight: Devon Hamwright, Fashion Designer

Devon Hamwright began her formal training as an artist at seventeen when she took classes in the pre-college program at University of the Arts. She received her Associate’s degree in late 2013 in Art & Design from Community College of Philadelphia. Devon received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Philadelphia University in May 2017.

1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do fashion design for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?

I was praised in school for being artistic on projects. I left high school saying I wanted to be a graphic designer or a fine artist. I tried enrolling in some graphic design courses in community college to follow up on that. I realized that I truly hated it. I wasn’t passionate enough about graphic design and wasn’t fooling my professors. But I was trying to figure out what was the appropriate path for me as an individual. I was in it for the money I thought was there and job security at a company. I’m sure there are a lot of people like myself they wake up to the fact that something inside doesn’t feel right. I had fun taking fine arts class in school. Being a fine artist didn’t seem like it would be enough for me. I am not knocking fine artists at all and that’s not to say fashion doesn’t intersect with art. I told my dad I was interested in fashion design. I just kept repeating I wanted to do fashion anytime it came up in conversation. I think I just trusted my intuition that comes from a divine source. He showed me the website for Philadelphia University. The rest is history! I think it was always within me my entire life. I remember being 5 years old and writing prices for clothing. Maybe other people didn’t see it but I always knew designing clothes would be apart of my life.

I grew up watching Tyra Banks on television with the ANTM series. She was so beautiful, confident and such a business woman. I think that show alongside the birth of Project Runway made the fashion world accessible to an ordinary citizen. When I was seventeen, I drove my mom insane because I was constantly bleaching and cutting up clothes. That was my outlet for expressing myself! I got on Pinterest and Tumblr between 2011 or 2012 where I got exposed to amazing imagery from fashion bloggers. It was the most amazing thing to me and knew I had to have a piece of that world. It showcased to me an aspiration lifestyle I wanted to know the people inside the pictures.

2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established fashion designer, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then what separates you from other designers out there?

I definitely wouldn’t want to compare myself to any other artist or designer. We are all individuals on our own different and unique paths. My aesthetic is different from a lot of designers. People tell me my designs are very youthful, colorful and fun. I was very into having blue in every item of clothing, for awhile that was my signature. My dominant color of choice is more pink this year. There will definitely be more pale pink and nude pink in my next fashion show in July. I love to make clothing that makes people feel joy when they put it on or look at the item. My clothes have my personality absolutely infused into it without realizing it. I think what separates me is my intensity and my grit when I decide to keep fighting for what I want. I’ve seen a lot friends from fashion school that are no longer involved in the industry. Sometimes people realize that this is a lot of work and the price is too high of a cost. Not all that glitters is actually gold! Fashion looks glamorous on Pinterest and Instagram. The reality is a bunch of hardworking people behind the scenes doing 21 hour days and sleeping for 3 hours.

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of designs you create? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming an fashion designer?

I think a difficulty I encountered was going to fashion school without having much sewing experience. That is just not how things are done usually! I had to fight much harder and study harder than my peers to get by. I think I value my gift so much more because the journey to get there was not easy. They were more experienced and had years of sewing behind them. I had to grow into my passion and the role of fashion designer for sure. It was painful as hell going through my training. I realized that every painful thing will end eventually. I had a nervous breakdown my junior year in the counselor’s office in school. I had too much caffeine and energy supplements in my system. It made me feel like I was having constant anxiety attacks multiple times a day. After that experience, I do take self care a lot more seriously. I’ve taken a couple of weeks off to rest my spirit and my body in early 2018. I also think initially when you are the lowest person on the totem pole in any field nobody wants to deal with you. It was hard getting started. It was difficult having no central space to work from without cutting space. I used to work in my basement when it was super cold. The table was too low to the ground for me to work on things properly. I gutted my bedroom furniture and made my room into a small working studio. I will probably sell more of my belongings this year (unwanted books) and prepare to toss more for expansion. Then a second problem arises when I did not have access to a commercial studio space or coworking space. I can’t teach grouping sewing class out of my bedroom. It took time to make those connections and find a partner in that.

4.) Unfortunately the creative industry is full of talented individuals who more or less become the “starving artist” and don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?

I think to make sure you stand out it’s important to keep your inspiration and work fresh. Sometimes artists get into a comfortable spot and don’t push themselves. Why does every song sound the exact same? Why does every painting look alike from the artist? I stay fresh by switching mediums and incorporating that new things I learned into my work. I also think to stay fresh your self-care needs to addressed. It is hard to create from a place where I am angry, tired, worn down, not healthy and haven’t eaten well. It is almost important to reach out to new people about opportunities just like how I reached out to you. I would say if you are “starving’ then it’s time to get a new strategy. I got to a certain plateau when I graduated fashion school. I had to ask myself what skills don’t I have? What have I not tried to do? How much time do I actually spend on my craft? This year I am collaborating with more individuals than EVER. Those collaborations take me into new networks, expose me to new potential fans and different opportunities will emerge from there.

5.) Would you rather work for a big corporation or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not?

Never say never! We are living through retail armageddon. Chris Kidd from StyleCareers.com always says, “A job search could be forced upon you with very little warning.” I think it is important for EVERYONE to start working on a side hustle and put that money aside. I started taking possible entrepreneurship more seriously when I was laid off my job December 2017. I screamed, cried, and broke a few things along the way. I am a stronger woman because of it. The company was making some changes in the program and under new management. I am the type of person that became an entrepreneur out of necessity. I have an extremely aggressive and dominant personality that is perfect in the business setting. Why not take a chance on myself ? I got tired of waiting for people to see my potential and hire me. It’s an amazing feeling to provide employment opportunities for the young college students I have on my team. In short, I would not turn down a full time position in my field. I would do both no matter what happens! I love being my own person and designing whatever I think is best. But young entrepreneurs need to bootstrap anyway.

6.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the creative industry and how designers are able to market themselves?

The internet has provided creative people the opportunity to be master and commander of their own destiny. It’s truly an amazing time to be an artist if you can market yourself well! The opportunity is endless if the artist can get out of their own way. I think the creative industry works differently by scouting for new talent looking on social media. There are jobs and opportunities for creatives that are not going to be listed online like a formal job application. I was actually inboxed on Instagram about becoming a vendor at a fashion festival and participating in Atlantic City Fashion Week. Designers need skills in terms of SEO, Google Ads, running analytics and purchasing online ads.

7.) Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s economy if they’re not social media savvy?

Artists that are not social media savvy will not be able to survive how the playing field is setup. I would strongly suggest paying for a course or learning on a site like Skillshare. Learn how to use Instagram! If you don’t understand how to use Instagram you are already behind the pack. I have a lot of friends that are drowning because they don’t understand social media at all. If you aren’t good at social media then hire some people to do that for you! Everything we do in this society has moved online. If you can’t accept it then you are going to be broke! Sometimes I think artists have anxiety about social media, don’t make the time or just don’t care to understand. I would say I’m constantly learning new things to strengthen my computer skills and competency dealing with different programs.

8.) Artists who try to create art for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your art stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?

I don’t blame artists that “sell out”. Art is an expensive proposition to begin with! Who knows what kinds financial pressure that individual is under? My issue with “selling out” would be that it makes your original fanbase that started with you from the beginning become disenfranchised. I don’t want to lose my diehard fanbase. Those people if treated well will be the reason you survive the struggle as an artist. If you are making art to appeal to the masses then just be prepared for the consequences.

I think if an artist refuses to change their style then they need to look into developing new income streams to support themselves. For example, I teach sewing lessons so that I don’t have to “sell out”. I enjoy the flexibility and gives me time to work on my art form. Can you build multiple income streams around the thing you love? I’m starting some direct selling and helping to run art related events this year to generate income as well.

9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I would be 29 five years from now. I would have hoped to have seen more of the world and gotten to do some international travel. Fashion is a global business. I currently am collaborating with a French fashion entrepreneur. I would love to go abroad and actual meet some of my business partners in person one day. I see myself heading towards having an even bigger impact on social media and ultimately becoming a mogul. By then, I will not have to work as hard as I’m working right now. My residual income streams should start coming into fruition. I also see myself having a second fashion brand that doesn’t involve my name. I think for me having the brand involve my name was the right call. I’ve made a name for myself on the location level. People know who I am when you use my name in my area.

The business I am creating for myself today will support the second business or venture. Entrepreneurship is incredibly addictive for someone like me that enjoys the hustle.