emerging designer caleb dixon talks authenticity + starting your own line

Meet Caleb Dixon, one of the biggest up and coming young designers of our generation. His line, Prototype Clothiers, is definitely not your average black owned label. Prototype Clothiers Fall-Winter '21 collection has just dropped, and next year you’ll find him in some of the biggest runway shows across the country.

Why did you start Prototype Clothiers?

I didn’t start Prototype Clothiers, Prototype Clothiers started me. The need for awareness in the fashion industry is what galvanized me to create a designer fashion label. Billions of dollars are spent in the fashion industry annually, and not much of that revenue is given back to consumers in return. This issue is not brought to the spotlight. Prototype Clothiers aims to take the spotlight. I am simply an activist masquerading as a fashion designer. Fashion is my passion. Activism and galvanizing change is my purpose.

What makes your brand different?

The difference with Prototype Clothiers is that we do not have customers; we have partners. Our partners are people that care about economic empowerment of disenfranchised communities (while also appreciating luxury, designer fashion). Our partners tend to be all ethnicities and ages, ranging from 16 & up.

Did you have any roadblocks when first starting?

No. We do not have roadblocks, we have competitors. Traditionally, Prototype Clothiers competes with other designer clothing labels. Non-traditionally, we compete with apathy, we compete with indifference, and we compete with decision makers not giving us a chance to help us grow.

What advice do you give to young designers?

I’m still a young designer myself! I’m always constantly growing and learning to solidify my foundation. Given this, I would tell young designers one key thing: Understand the concept of preparation. It is necessary to design and plan your story line, campaign, and collections ahead of time. Prepare for the direction that your designer label is going, not where it is. Preparation is the only factor you can control. Proverbs 29:18 states “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”

I remember walking the runway for a designer a few months ago, in a show your line was in, and I actually had some friends walking for you! Your look is so bold and modern, where do you look for creative inspiration?

Thank you so much! We generally get creative inspiration from the past. There is an abundance of history that continues to remain overlooked, forgotten, and even stolen by society. At Prototype Clothiers, we feel that it is necessary to draw proper awareness, and educate audiences about past events through our designs. The past lays a foundation for the future. For example, this year we drew inspiration from historical figures such as Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey. Both figures led their liberation movements in the antebellum 1800s. Given this, we studied both the social climate and fashion during that time. I personally became inspired by the bold innovation, and ‘fashion’ sense of these individuals. I seek to modernize the past with my design process. Continuing to blur the line between past and present is a recurring theme for Prototype Clothiers.

How do you walk the line between being unique and having commercial appeal?

Authenticity. Nowadays, authenticity is very very rare. The power of being authentic in my craft separates me from others. The balance between uniqueness and commercial appeal is natural in my personality, and design process.

Would you ever think about having a physical store?

Absolutely. I believe that having a physical location is essential in terms of furthering relationships with our partners. I believe this past year (2020) has reminded us all of the importance of in-person interactions. A physical Prototype Clothiers store is definitely my vision.

What’s next?

What’s next, is what’s now. And what’s now, is our growth. Growth of our partnership base, growth of our opportunities, and growth of our vision. Prototype Clothiers absolutely needs to grow. I cannot wait for our growth in 2022 and beyond!

MIKAYLA HUNT1 Comment