Family, Fashion and The Future w/ Jai Lyle
FAMILY
LL: Ok, let's start from the beginning. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started you got into fashion!
Jai: I began my journey by developing an envelope inspired card size wallet with a metal wax seal fastener. Once I created this item, I created a key chain & belt to go along with it. At that point I decided to create an entire brand. My approach was to create garments that I had a part of my wardrobe through my artistic vision. Currently, I have created garments ranging from peacoats to swim trunks.
One of the biggest inspirations behind my brand is my mother. My mother went to school for fashion design while attending Tuskegee University. During this time she met my father who was a part of the tennis team at Tuskegee and had been nominated to the sports hall of fame for his time at the university. During this time she became a part of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and was also a model. The last color I physically saw my mother in was red. I made a promise on that day to become the greatest version of myself and share my gifts to the universe.
JAI LYLE MCMLXXXII is an extension of me delivering on that promise. I'm a product of luxury parenthood. Growing up with both of my parents in the household was a luxury I discovered later in life. I grew up with wants not needs in multiple areas spanning including love, culture & resources. I've come to the overstanding that my worldview can connect with you in some way, form or fashion. Two years also while cultivating the direction of the brand, I realized that ultimately my perspective is exclusive to me and it's a luxury to be blessed with this vision.
LL: Your brand and vision is based on many influential people in your family. Why is family most important to you?
Jai: I’m a product of my family experiences. Growing up the importance of family was highlighted directly & indirectly. The 3 pillars of our brand are LEGACY…SUCCESS…FAMILY. These are themes & ideas that were constantly being verbalized AND demonstrated during my childhood. Without the guidance of my family, my outlook on life could have been a lot different. Having positive guidance from your family is important because it teaches you a sense of pride and belonging that you receive at home and are less likely to look for this feeling in places that aren’t in alignment with your growth as an individual.
FASHION
LL: How important are the little details? What makes Jai Lyle different, what are some of your signature details?
JAI: We are meticulous about the details. These designs come with a sense of vision that has been molded into a physical reality. With that being the case these nuances of the garment provide trademark details of the brand. Some of our signature details would include our armband found on the right sleeve of our jackets & coats. There is an aesthetic appreciation for this feature but the significance of this detail is a continuous aspirational measure of excellence. As we continue to scale our goal as a brand is to be on the right side of history.
LL: Outside of family, where do you often pull inspiration from when designing a new collection?
JAI: I pull inspiration from a number of places. More than likely they are experiences I have gone through in my life from family, pop culture, music, sports, art etc.
LL: Having purchased and experienced your collection first hand, I immediately noticed the quality of the fabric. I noticed that it exceeded the quality of the bigger name brands that are in my closet. Why is it important for you to use high quality fabrics when creating collection pieces?
JAI: It is important to use high quality fabrics when creating garments because our luxury fashion items aim to uphold the highest standards of the past, present & future while maintaining the integrity of providing a timeless product. All of our products are meticulously crafted to produce the desired effect of euphoric bliss that accompanies living a sophisticated & luxurious lifestyle. Each item is appraised & met with a seal of approval that provides reassurance of not only a quality product, but a way of life.
LL: Speaking about materials, what is one of your favorite fabrics to work with?
JAI: One of my favorite fabrics to work with is silk. Silk is such a versatile fabric for men & women. It provides a sense of luxury that could be used for multiple garments.
THE JAI LYLE MCMLXXXII CLIENT
Our ideal customer has the versatility of maximizing a regal upscale look while also possessing the ability to present a powerful presence in garments that could be considered understated.
THE JAI LYLE MCMLXXXII ESSENTIALS
Our “COA Wax Seal” wallet, “Le George” jacket & “Lineage” Peacoat. You should also have a casual jacket that could be dressed up or down. In addition to that, having a classic winter overcoat is a must and you should always have a wallet to carry any small personal belongings such as id, credit cards etc.
FUTURE
LL: What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow? Any big plans for you within the next year?
JAI: In the future I plan on creating a fully immersive lifestyle & luxury heritage brand. My plan to grow starts with more visibility of the brand locally, nationally & globally. In July we are going to do a pop up event at Phipps Plaza with Merge Co. boutique. Following this pop up you will be able shop the brand at Phipps Plaza via Merge Co. In addition, we plan on attending NY Fashion Week & Paris Fashion week in September! Closing out the year we will have a fall/winter collection/campaign preview followed by a spring/summer collection/campaign for 2023.
LL: I applaud you for speaking about the effects of positive imagery and controlling your mind, as there is not enough discussion about the challenges of mental health. What was the most challenging part of the past 2 years and what advice would you give to others looking to move forward?
JAI: Over the past 2 years mental health has definitely become a mainstream topic of discussion. The maintenance of my mental health has remained a priority now more than ever. The challenge of managing the unknown during the recent uncertainty over the years provided an opportunity for me to grow stronger mentally. Advice: Be mindful to control your mind or your mind will control you. Consideration of what you intake visually, physically & audibly can have an affect on your mental state. Make efforts to surround yourself with activities & people of value providing positive energy.