Contrary to popular belief, Houstonians don’t wear cowboy boots and big hair daily. As the fourth largest city in the U.S., Houston is home to a sophisticated fashion sense and proudly represents various locally made clothing and designers. The Bayou City has also reared several designers who ventured off to other cities but still take their Texas sensibilities and influences with them.
The following several pages introduce you to designers who call Houston home. You may or may not already know their names, but you will easily recognize their diverse design and style aesthetic mimics the multicultural community that distinguishes Houston from the rest.
transparent sunglasses
transparentsunglasses.com
@transparentsunglasses
Native Houstonian Margot Hogan launched transparent sunglasses in December 2019 after noticing a need for fashionable, functional, and inspirational sunglasses. “I believe sunglasses are the punctuation of personality, and it’s about time we had more fun celebrating who we are,” says Hogan. To further the brand’s messaging of stepping into your power, she puts a surprise inspirational saying in each pair.
While the eyewear industry is one of the most saturated markets in fashion, transparent sunglasses is committed to paving their own lane. The brand has musicians, supermodels, and celebrities like Elle Macpherson, Selma Blair, and Maria Menounos, to name a few, embracing their unique styles. “Each pair has a purpose and is named for a book character, actor, musician, or someone in my life who I imagine wearing them,” says Hogan.
With the release of several new styles, 2021 has been an excellent year for the sunglasses brand. “Most recently, we reproduced our signature rockstar style, Roman, in a sustainable version. I named it Orian for Oscar and Golden Globe Nominated Film Producer Orian Williams, who rose to fame with his music documentary Control.
Christy Lynn
Christylynn.com
@christylynncollection.com
Founded in 2019, The Christy Lynn brand provides luxury, ready-to-wear fashion for the modern yet romantic woman. The Fall 2021 Collection, ‘Le Voyage Botanique’, was inspired by the 19th-century French botanist Jeanne Baret, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Featuring several restored vintage floral prints from France, the brand is excited to include original artwork from Lynn’s sister, a designer in New York. The ready-to-wear capsule introduces vegan leather separates, wool capes, and tissue cashmere to the roster of ethereal silk chiffon and organza. Dresses are where Lynn continues to excel; her classic silhouettes are fall wedding sophisticated yet easy enough for a Sunday brunch.
Lynn holds a BFA in Fashion and Fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design and over a decade of experience as a fashion designer in New York City with Catherine Malandrino and Elie Tahari. In two short years, the refined collection has amassed a steady following and can now be found in over 40 retailers across the United States. The fall collection is available in Houston at Tootsies, Golden, and the Christy Lynn Showroom in Montrose.“Our clothes are an extension of who we are, so take us with you with an intent to love and to inspire.”
Lord & Lord Designs
@lordandlorddesigns
Tameka Lord, owner and designer of Lord & Lord Designs, refused to use dark colors during the pandemic. She wanted to uplift and make people feel better with her wearable art, so she chose bright-colored stones, crystals, and butterflies as accents. “I get inspired by what is going on in the world. It could be the color combination I see in a coffee shop or someone’s outfit - so many things inspire me.”
Lord is no stranger to the fashion scene. She has been designing custom, bespoke jewelry for tastemakers like Drake, Future, Jay Z, Beyonce, James Harden, PJ Tucker, Andre Johnson, and Ice Cube for more than a decade. Locally, Lord & Lord Designs is available at Tootsies and The Webster. Lord credits her unique designs with keeping customers coming back for more. Each piece of jewelry she makes is entirely custom, so no one else will be wearing the same item. Using only natural stones and hematite materials, she ensures quality in each piece. “I make my jewelry with love and happiness. I don’t make anything I would not wear myself - I consider my jewelry to be my art.”
GRIFFY
Shopgriffy.com
@shopgriffy
GRIFFY hit the Houston scene during the pandemic when owner and designer Ellie Austin started making jewelry in the summer of 2020. She felt isolated from friends and family and decided to make jewelry to feel connected to others. "The pandemic shifted so many things for all of us. I think there has been a movement towards nostalgia, and the times that we remember feeling safe and comfortable and happy," she says. "The seed bead bracelets remind me of sitting on the floor in the art shed at camp making best friend bracelets with my buddies. I wanted to elevate that nostalgic, happy feeling and put a modern twist on traditional crafts. I believe that idea has resonated with a lot of people."
Clients can choose from customizable totes, jewelry, mugs, and embroidered items. Although GRIFFY provides phrases, Austin encourages clients to personalize their items to make them memorable. "I believe that in the age of having everything everyone else does at a simple "swipe up," there has been a return to wanting things to feel a bit more grounded and personal. Everything I sell can be customized, whether it's a bracelet, necklace, market tote, or hand-embroidered baby onesie. I want people to believe that what matters to them matters to me. And I LOVE helping people think up their ideas."
Kendra Duplantier
Kendraduplantier.com
@kendraduplantier
Native Houstonian Kendra Duplantier became interested in fashion at a young age when she started making clothing and accessories for herself. Her interest continued through graduation from Savannah College of Art & Design when she moved to New York to work in the fashion industry. In 2019 she launched her label focusing on well-cut timeless pieces. Duplantier focuses on slow fashion and a staple wardrobe that can be worn season after season.
Although Duplantier lives in New York, she credits Houston with inspiring her creative process. "Houston is swagger and elegance. We march to the beat of our own drum and take pride in how we present ourselves. That's how I was raised, and it for sure translates into how I approach design."
Creations by Nikki Lassiter
Creations-by-Niki-Lassiter.myshopify.com
After multiple diagnoses changed the course of Nikki Lassiter's life, she took to customizing high-end bags to give them a new look and channeled her creativity as a form of therapy. She makes unique crystal bags and brooches and also customizes straw bags with crystals and feathers. "The first bag I ever made stirred something in my spirit, and from that moment on, I've decided that there can still be purpose and joy in my life no matter how severe my disabilities become," says Lassiter. "I love the smiles on my client's faces and the pride that ladies have when they carry one of my creations."
Each bag takes anywhere from two to eight hours to create and is one of a kind. Lassiter's bags have become a staple on the Houston fashion scene and are available at several price points. "I give a portion of all proceeds to charities such as Arthritis Foundation, Be An Angel, and the Dan Pastorini Charity, just to name a few," says Lassiter. "I think women are drawn to my bags because they are shopping with a purpose. Also, my bags are glamorous, quirky, trendy, and just plain adorable! I've kept my prices low (in the $200-$350 range) so that everyone can afford one and feel like a million dollars."
Hunter Bell
hunterbellnyc.com
@hunterbellnyc
Born and raised in the small town of Florence, SC, Hunter studied fashion design and studio art at the University of Alabama. She spent summers interning in New York, and after graduation returned to further her design education at Parsons New School. In 2013 Hunter was named the winner of NBC’s hit show Fashion Star, and set out on her own to re-launch her new label, Hunter Bell NYC. The line has become hugely popular, and today is carried in over 120 retailers across the country and online.
Hunter currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and three children. While she is a proud South Carolinian at heart and credits her 12 years in New York for the indispensable life and career lessons, Hunter now considers herself a proud Texan. Her latest collection was inspired by the West Texas landscape and pays homage not only to the Lone Star State, but to all the people and places that keep traditions alive. “At a time when fast fashion is at the forefront, I wanted to create a more timeless collection that feels like it has heritage. Texas is now my home. It’s where all my children were born and where we are putting down roots. I was initially nervous about the transition from New York, but my company has seen enormous growth here and I’m forever grateful for that!”