INTERVIEWED BY BMA™ MEMBER/WRITER- BLACK DESTINY
AUTUMN B., THE DESIGNER BEHIND FOUR™ IS ORIGINALLY FROM NEWPORT NEWS, VA AND CURRENTLY RESIDES IN MARYLAND. I WENT TO VISIT TO DO A SIT DOWN INTERVIEW ON BEHALF OF HER DECIDING TO JOIN BMA™. SHE BELIEVED IN THE PROJECT ONCE IT WAS PITCHED AND IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST TO DO AN INTERVIEW. WE MET ON A COLD WEDNESDAY AT HER CUTE MARYLAND BUNGALOW. SHE STANDS 5'1 FEET TALL WITH A RASPY YET APPEALING TONE. SHE GREETED ME WITH A HOT CUP OF HERBAL TEA AND A CHICKEN SALAD! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! AND YES, I SAID THE JOKE!
"WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE FOUR™ ?"
AUTUMN DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED A LUXURY STREETWEAR BRAND THAT SHE COULD AFFORD. "I ADMIRED THE WORK OF THE ESTABLISHED BRANDS BUT I WANTED MY OWN. AND ONE I COULD AFFORD."
"WHY DID YOU NAME IT FOUR?"
THE NAME BEHIND THE BRAND SIMPLY CAME FROM THE FACT SHE HAS 4 CHILDREN. BUT SHE NEEDED THE NAME TO ALSO BE RELATIVE TO THE CLOTHING SHE WAS GOING TO CREATE. "I MEAN IT'S A SUCCESS TO HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND NOT GO CRAZY!" SHE SAID LOUDLY WHILE THROWING HER HANDS IN THE AIR. "BUT I WANTED IT TO MEAN MUCH MORE TO ME. I'M A MOM, YES. BUT I'M ALSO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. I WANTED AN ACRONYM THAT EXPLAINED WHAT I WANTED TO CONVEY TO MY CUSTOMER."
"WHAT DOES FOUR MEAN?"
FREEDOM. OPULENCE. UNITY. ROYALTY. "I WANT TRUE FREEDOM.YOU KNOW THAT JOYFUL FEELING THAT NOTHING CAN DESTROY YOU. THAT HIGHEST PEAK IN YOUR MIND, THAT'S FREEDOM. FEELING OPULENT IN MY CLOTHING IS A MUST. DRESSING UP IS MEANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. UNITY IS WHERE MY PEOPLE LACK, BUT WE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING. WE JUST HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT. ROYALTY, I MEAN, WE ALL COME FROM LINES OF KINGS, QUEENS, GODS, AND GODDESSES." SHE EXPLAINED PASSIONATELY.
"WHEN IS THE EARLIEST MOMENT YOU RECALL WANTING TO GO INTO FASHION?"
"I USED TO MAKE CLOTHES FOR MY BARBIE DOLLS OUT OF SOCKS, SCARVES, CLOTHS; WHATEVER I COULD FIND TO CUT UP, I MADE IT INTO A CUTE SKIRT AND TOP. I EVEN MADE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES!" SHE RECALLED ALWAYS WANTING A PLACE IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY BUT LIKE MOST BLACK CHILDREN RAISED IN A SINGLE PARENT HOME; SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION OR MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD. "MY CLOTHES WERE HAND ME DOWNS OR I STOLE THEM FROM MY FATHER'S GIRLFRIEND," SHE LAUGHED. "I PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AND MADE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING." PUTTING PAST TRANSGRESSIONS BEHIND HER SHE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COOL ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF HOODIES, TEES, HATS & SWEATSUITS.
"FOUR™ IS MY CUSTOMIZED STREET READY-TO-WEAR, HOUSE OF FOUR™ WILL BE GARMENTS CREATED FROM MY HAND & MIND, FROM FABRIC CHOICE, TO FULL GARMENT DESIGN."
CHECK OUT HER ECLECTIC STREETWEAR BRAND HERE: https://bmashop.us/collections/four