THE MANHATTANVILLE PROJECT 2025 :

I grew up here, and this place shaped the heart of my latest collection.

It all began in Queens, NY, where I was born. When I was just four years old, my mother, my older sister, and I packed up our lives and moved to Harlem—to the Manhattanville Projects at 1470 Amsterdam Ave. We were starting over, moving in with my late stepfather.

Those buildings held so many stories. The walls seemed to echo memories—some good, some painful—but they were ours. As time passed, life shifted. My sister eventually moved out, leaving just me, my mother, and my stepfather. Then my little brother was born, a bright moment in the midst of our struggles. But three years later, his father passed, and it was just the three of us: my mother, my little brother, and me.

Despite the challenges, we found joy in the simplest moments. My brother and I would bike and roller-skate on the terrace. We’d dash down the long yellow brick hallway to the elevators, laughing as we fought to press the button first. Those elevators? Filthy—urine puddles, mysterious substances, you name it. Mom taught us to be cautious, using our sleeves to press buttons and open doors because nothing was ever clean.

But none of that stopped us. For us, it was normal. This was life.

Outside, we’d squeeze every ounce of freedom from the day. We’d run down the yellow concrete stairs, Mom trailing behind, calling us “Kabrit” (which means “goat” in Haitian Creole). When we could, we’d play in the park, soaking up every second of fresh air. Inside the apartment, we made our own adventures—climbing walls, furniture, crafting board games from old Amazon boxes, and creating art. We’d decorate the hallway with our pieces and call it our “Museum,” proudly showing off our work to anyone who cared to see.

Fourteen years later, those memories are still alive, and they’ve become the soul of my 2025 FW Capsule Collection. Each piece is a tribute to the resilience, creativity, and love that came out of a place so many might overlook. This collection isn’t just clothing—it’s a story. Just the beginning of My story.

The Process: