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"Such is beauty. Its variety is infinite, its possibility is endless." - W.E.B. Du Bois

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5:31 Jerome by Jerome LaMaar

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5:31 Jerome Envisions a Multicultural Tribe of the Future

By Jennifer Ortakales

     Yesterday’s presentation of the 5:31 Jerome Spring/Summer 2017 collection, proved why Jerome LaMaar’s painstakingly embroidered streetwear is worthy of Beyoncé and Mariah Carey. LaMaar’s designs hit everyone with a burst of unabashed energy and playful glamour on a sweltering day at Pier 59 Studios.  

     Fur in the summer? Pearl and seashell encrusted Birkenstocks? Large straw hats to shade the hottest of sunbathers? That’s right. The models looked like the coolest people you will ever meet and together, they were a show-stopping crowd.

     LaMaar’s SS17 collection, “Away,” revolves around an ideal future where cultures intermingle, “kind of like a family portrait of awesome looking people who are either a tribe or a crew,” said LaMaar, inspired by his own Afro-Portuguese, Cuban and Ethiopian heritage. “It’s really symbolic of where I think the planet is going to shift to in the future.”

     The Bronx-native reflects more than his predictions for the world in his designs. Cryptic number appliqués on bags and jackets symbolize important dates in his life – past, present and future.

     One of the numbers in his label, 31, is his current age or “golden year,” as he calls it. Eighteen marks the age he received his first salary working for Kimora Lee Simmons at Baby Phat. Between the ages of 39 and 40 he wants to own a successful television production company and 58 is his year for good fortune.

     From a shredded, beaded denim jacket to sequined camo pants, days of hand sewing go into the details that make every 5:31 Jerome piece so unique.

     LaMaar’s strong team of family members has supported his design dreams (or “jreams” as is emblazoned on his sweatshirts) since he was a teen. His sister and close friend Ebony Rice is his all-around assistant.

     “I’m the younger sister so automatically I was on the job,” she said. Rice works backstage during shows and recruits volunteers and cousins for extra help.

     “Everyone knows how to hand sew,” she said. “They didn’t know before, but they know now.”

     Rice says LaMaar has always been a forecaster with his eyes looking ahead of the trends. “He has a vision that no one else has,” she said.

     He aims that vision at the young, cool and multicultural generation of tomorrow. “I’m designing for a real person…someone who knows what they want.”

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Why Now?

     After a long break from blogging, I’m giving it another go. This decision came on a whim a couple days ago with no planning, no design or layout ideas and no fancy strategy for social media marketing. All I know is that I have stories to tell and I don’t want to wait my whole career to tell them.

“Every day presents a new opportunity to hear and share those stories.”

     Such is the life of a freelance writer, searching for her big break in New York City. In the last four months, I’ve graduated college, lived at home, toured France and Italy with my family, walked away from the one promising job interview I’ve had (more on that to come) and finally appreciated the beauty of New Hampshire.

     Now I’m back in N.Y.C. for fashion week and I believe this city holds purpose besides my career. As I look out the window of my cousin’s apartment in Harlem, I see rows upon rows of other windows. But what I see beyond those windows are people. People with stories of travel, creativity, heartbreak, love, faith and perseverance. Every day presents a new opportunity to hear and share those stories. That’s why each day I’m not writing I wonder if I’m veering off track. On the days I do write, I feel a sense of direction, even if I don’t know where I’ll end up.

     Friends and family might be wondering why I don’t start up my old blog again. Jenny’s Open Closet was a wonderful way to practice writing and connect with the fashion world, but my world isn’t just about fashion anymore. Journalism and my growing faith have shown me that there is so much to learn from our daily interactions with others. Fashion has a deep power to tell our stories, just like writing does, so I will continue to cover fashion by merging both forms of expression on this new blog. Additionally, I’ll write about art, culture, society and travel in ways that bring deeper meaning to our daily lives.

     I haven’t figured out a way to “market” this blog in just one sentence yet. Finding this blog’s purpose is going to be a continuous process that will unfold in unexpected ways. My greatest hope is that people will come here to be inspired and find beauty in places they never thought to look.

-- Jennifer

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Coming soon. 9.9.16