Fresh from Los Angeles we sat down with Dallas based fashion designer, Charles Smith II, who became the grand prize winner for the first edition of the OnlyFans “Creative Fund: Fashion Edition. Smith II competed with 9 other designers from across the nation in a series of challenges for the opportunity to win the grand prize of $50,000 and a mentorship from prestigious designer Rebecca Minkoff. The competition debuted May 17th via OFTV, the platform’s free streaming service and app and features celebrity judges including stylists Luxury Law and Meave Reilly and Beyonce’s make-up artist Sir John.
Charles Smith was the only designer in the competition selected from Texas. Charles Smith II, of Dallas, is a former NBA D-League player and working model with Elite Model Management who turned fashion designer who retired modeling at 23 to pursue fashion design full time.He studied fashion design at Art Institute of Dallas and branched off to launch his clothing lines “Smith II” his luxury wear brand and “Do Not Touch” his streetwear collection. His vision to create is disruptive while incorporating his roots, mastering the formula of high end luxury and urban contemporary while showing followers a new, fresher approach that is raw with truth, transparency and mystique. Smith II has seen his fair end of success with his designs being featured in Vogue, Huffington Post, Dallas Morning News, Good Morning Texas and mentorships from fashion legends such as Andre Leon Talley and Virgil Abloh.
When asked what prompted Smith to join the competition he mentioned, “I knew with the opportunity and being able to compete that I could share my story, my brand, and my journey while giving me a platform to be seen and judged by people who are well respected in the industry. The resources the prize money could provide would help me scale my business and give me the capital to move forward and to grow further.
Check out our #COSIGNConversations interview with Smith below.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smiththe2nd
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cosignmag
