“My name is Edwing D’Angelo and I am a fashion designer here in New York City. Creativity is the part that pleases me the most and fulfills me when it comes to sewing, I love creating, I love colors, I love pretty fabrics.”
D’Angelo is the fifth generation of a family of seamstresses from Buenaventura Colombia, however, he is the first designer of his house. He came to Queens when he was 13 years old with his parents and siblings who he says have supported him wholeheartedly.
“That filled me with incredible strength to be able to grow, to be able to endure.”
And break the barriers of an industry that according to him is not entirely inclusive.
“The way the fashion (fashion) system is set up in New York, the support is not really for people of color,” D’Angelo explained.
D’Angelo studied business administration and fine arts at Baruch College. Due to financial difficulties he started working in a law office while designing clothes from his house.
One day, her younger sister asked her to design her prom dress and she ended up making 32 dresses for her friends.
“When I said ‘here’s something here,’ because everyone was blown away and I made money,” D’Angelo said.
D’Angelo.
D’Angelo opened his first atelier in Harlem but it didn’t do well and had to close. Still, he learned from his mistakes and continued to train despite the lack of opportunity in the industry.
“And create my own path where I was going to open my own stores, my own ecosystem.”
A path creating designs inspired by the culture and colors of her native Colombia and giving opportunity to models of different races and with physical disabilities for her fashion shows.
In 2016, he was the first designer to present a collection with the majority of Afro-Colombian models in his country during the Colombiamoda fashion show.
“For me it is very important that this is replicated throughout Latin America and that one day the colors do not exist but that the content of each person exists, right?
In 2021, D’Angelo fulfilled his great dream of opening an atelier and boutique in Harlem, where he presents his collections serving the African-American and Latino community who have always supported him.
On December 25, 2022, however, he suffered a great loss.
The atelier was flooded, damaging the vast majority of his designs and machines. Due to losses and lack of orders, he has had to lay off some employees.
“You have to be humble and put your head down and say this is too much for me.”
The community of designers, friends and clients have donated to an account of gofundme that a friend created.
To make donations and help in the repairs of the atelier you can go to the Gofundme page Edwing D’ Angelo Designer
