Experienced model and fashion designer, Paul Laurence is positioned to be the next trend in fashion. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Paul knows first-hand what it is to be different from everyone else.
Born in Kingston Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn New York, Paul’s parentage is Jamaican and Chinese. The middle of three, Paul’s passion for art and design became evident at an early age. His first alteration was to a pair of AJ jeans. Later, he began designing his own clothes while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, NY. “I started designing clothing for myself as a hobby [and] because I was tired of wearing the same brand name clothing that everyone was wearing.” Shortly after his informal “designer launch,” friends and others began to ask Paul about purchasing items from his collection. “I guess they had the same frustration I had,” Paul shared. “[I] was just tired of wearing the same gear that everyone else had.”
According to Laurence, his peers bought whatever he made available. T-shirts, denim, and sweats [suits] were the hottest selling items. It was not until after he graduated from LaGuardia that Paul realized two things: 1. There were people that liked what he designed and 2. He could make extra cash designing what people liked.
Family and career goals led Paul to relocate to Atlanta where, in 1992, he launched his first clothing line, Underground Gear. Says Laurence; “Underground Gear was chosen because my clothing was not easily available at the time. You could not get it at the mall or on an avenue. Anyone interested in buying had to know me or be acquainted with someone who knew me.”
People seen wearing designs from Paul’s Underground Gear collection, were often asked, “Where did you get that?” As a result, news about the line spread quickly as did Paul’s notoriety. Today, Underground Gear functions as the parent company of Paul Laurence Refined Urban & Couture Apparel. Laurence’s newest line combines the previous line’s urban flair with one-of-a-kind refined apparel.
Distinguished as a trendsetter himself, it only makes sense that the Paul Laurence label is primed for trendsetters. Except for a store in Barbados, Laurence has been able to maintain a level of exclusivity by selling his designs via word-of-mouth. To meet growing demands however, both signature and sample couture designs will be available online as well as through “for members only,” Paul Laurence events. To stay in the know, visit www.paullaurence.com.
Source: www.articlealley.com
