Rasheem Pitman "Making Fashion an Instant Language"

Q. What is your nationality?

A. His Mother is Panamanian and his father is from St Thomas. He was born in the Bronx, New York.

Q. What do you love about your craft?

A. The freedom of expression through tangible items, clothes. his suits and the color of his suits

Q. Has this been something that you have always wanted to do?

A. He came from humble beginnings his parents weren’t able to provide everything he wanted, so he started shopping in thrift stores. He was forced to be creative because in New York to be looked at as one of the cool kids you have to wear a certain amount of money on your body. That pressure of the city affected him in a positive way because he was able to take the pressure of that life and create his Business that he is currently building. Witnessing his friends go into stores and purchase full outfits for events, doing so was not his forte. Rasheem has gotten to the point in his life where he does not want to conform to societies norm so he has to always go back to the drawing board to create his own ensemble for events that he will be attending.

Q. When did you decide to make this a business?

A. May 2016 he got fired from his job and grew his hair out due to stress. Rasheem was at a point in his life where he no longer wanted to work for others due to past experience. One day he decided to go shopping for clothes. The clothes that he was looking for were out of season and the prices were ridiculously high when he did find the pieces he was looking for. That forced his hand; he knew his fashion sense was there along with the ability to create. Wanting to make it a reality, Rasheem reached out to a friend that was into fashion, before that was done he tried to reach out to numerous people via social media and no one gave him a hand. Rasheem went to Walmart and bought his first piece of cloth and made his first suit with the assistance of his friend he reached out to.

Q. How did you find the manufacturing company?

A. When the connection was made with the manufacturing company. Rasheem was in high demand and there were not enough hands on board to get the work done, it was perfect timing for him.

Q.What is your overall goal and do
you plan to continue to do this until you aren’t able to do so anymore?

A. Rasheem short-term goal is to generate the income needed to do his tailoring business full time. His over all goal is to build his business up and make it generational income for his children and grandchildren. He does not ever plan on selling the company; he does plan to venture off in different capitals after his company has generated the necessary income needed to extend his capital in to other areas. He wants to build the lower income communities and create jobs for those who are in need. Rasheem wants to remain out of racial bias by employing every race. He does not want to limit the business potential.

Q. What story do you want your clothing line to tell?

A. The Story is still being written!  The beginning of the story is to make fashion an instant language.

Q. What does we make Fashion an instant language means? 

A. Expressing your-self ! “Fashion is an unspoken language that everyone speaks. You don’t have to know how to read and right to know how to dress. It is natural so it is in everyone to be creative.” Upon first viewing a person natural instincts for many is to look at what a person is wearing and how their ensemble is put together.

Q. Are you single?

A. Yes

Q. Why?

A. Being focus on his work and his growth

Q. What brands can you see yourself collaborating with?

A. He is already working on a few collaborations with another up and coming designers. His high-end brand’s of choice to collaborate with is, D & G because of their colors and the similarities of his line with the colors as well. Off White – refreshing style that looks great and also different, God is Dope – the message behind the clothing is admirable.

Q. Where would you want to house your company?

A. New York because he was born and raised there; also because it is the fashion capital.

Q, How do you choose your colors and patterns for your suits, are they by seasons?

A. The suits are all about self-expression! I do not choose my colors by the season if they happen to match the season colors that is trending it wasn’t done on purpose. The colors that my clients wear are by choice. The clients get to pick the color or pattern that they want their suit in. Season clothes are coming next year!

Q. What are your expectations as far as growth?

A. My clothing to be featured in a showroom in Atlanta and clothing stores. There is also clothing that will be street wear that he is currently working on that will be launched next year.

What are you going to bring to the market with your street wear to be able to bring people to your clothing? “Branding” he wants to bring his name along with designs that are originals. Rasheem is currently building his company’s name and reputation so that he can move on to the next phase. He is also currently choosing fabrics that he is expecting to use and launch his street wear.