Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Camryn McClain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Camryn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The Idea of the brand in its most finialized form came from my thesis project titled “Braided Heritage”. The collection was inspired by my family business Dudley Beauty and the cosmetology school my mom ran with my Grandfather and still runs today. The collection was also an appreciation towards myself and my won connection to my hair and braiding. While creating this collection, I realized how important growing up in a cosmetology school, and the nostalgic memories meant to me. Following my debut collaboration with Hypebeast, when deciding to start the brand, I knew that I wanted it to be a brand that allows people to feel the nostalgia I felt when creating my thesis.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from Silver spring, Maryland. Growing up, I’ve always been interested in fashion from watching my parents and grandmother dress and exploring their closets. I started designing and sketching when I was 7 years old. I would upcycle thrifted or hand-me-downs whenever I got the chance. I was able to go to an arts and humanitarians high school that had a fashion elective program and stayed in that ellective all 4 years. I presented in fashion shows at school, then later in Baltimore Fashion week before leaving to study abroad at the Fashion Institute of Technology Florence Italy campus.!

In 2018, I spent my freshman having a life changing experience at Polimoda in Florence, Italy studying fashion and art history. I learned first hand couture practices, visited manufactures, mills, and fashion week events in Paris and Milan. After that life changing experience, I moved back to the New York campus to finish my degree. During my time at FIT I have 4 internships at major brands in runway, women’s wear, streetwear and retail. I interned for mostly small brands with small teams like Merlette, Private Policy, and Cinque a sept where I was able to the my hands on every part of the business. My first corporate internship at Perry ellis also had a very small team, allowing me to gain so many great lessons for my own brand.

What really defined my career was my senior year and thesis projects. That was when I truly doubled down on wanting my own brand and designing in preparation of it. My thesis project titled “Braided Heritage” was my first deep dive into my childhood and translating that into fashion. The collection was a love letter to myself and was inspired by my family’s cosmetology school in Washington, DC. The main cobalt blue is from the logo the school. I grew up around hair, beauty, and the black community. My connection to my hair and culture is the foundation of my brand Renée. Renée means transformation in french and is also my middle name.

In 2023 my Coach women’s rtw assistant apprenticeship was my first job two weeks after graduating. I had applied a year ago to the position and ket up with the recruiter until I graduated. My experience there truly shaped me as a designer and business person. I worked in runway, retail, outlet, special projects, and their sustainable initiative Coachtopia. The position was very hands on, I even got to design some things myself that hit the runway or Coach stores. I was able to present a project on my ideas for the future of Coach to the creative director Stuart Vevers as well as the board of vps and senior level potions in design, marketing, sales, and more. I was eager to be in every fitting and meetings whether they where about merchandising, sales, or how the company operates.

My big break came when I received an email from Hypebeast for a collaboration sponsored by Black Voices Create for 2 piece capsule and lookbook presentation for NYFW. The funny thing is I thought it was a scam and didnt answer for two weeks! The email came towards the end of my contract with Coach amidst applying to other positions. While on set for the collab, I received so much love for the capsule and my senior thesis and was motivated by the Hypebeast team to try and start my own venture. I knew I always wanted my own brand, and had imagined I would have one after working in the industry for 3-5 years after college, I had no idea I would manifest this to come any sooner. The capsule collection created was two unisex pieces. I decided to continue my thesis with this project, also marrying my love of 90’s nostalgia and functional sustainability staying true to my brand name about transformation.

I believe it’s my curiosity and courage to take risks set me apart from others. Werther’s is moving to Italy, or staring my own business with no school background in entrepreneurship, I am truly passionate about fashion and the business behind it. I launched my first ready to wear collection just before my debut at Hypebeast HQ for NYFW. It was very messy, I made a lot of mistakes with production, budgeting, and business planning. At the same time, I am most proud of myself for taking the chance starting scrappy. Now I am looking to expand my team with funding and more collections.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The earliest pivot I made was in high school actually. While I still had a high interest in fashion, it was viewed as a hobby to others. Growing up I was extremely athletic and participated in track and became a heavy hitter in volleyball playing in school and club volleyball. As an african american, an athletic scholarship is seen as one of the best entryways into college. Although it would have saved money, I always loved fashion and knew that what I truly want was to become a designer. Most schools don’t offer fashion studies, and if they did, they were not known for it. I was on track for volleyball athletic scholarship for college and had to turn down over 15 schools and clubs. I had to make the decision to follow my dreams. Later that year I got accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology study abroad program. At the same time, I had entered into Baltimore Fashion Week, presenting my first collection on my own outside of school. The show was 3 days before my flight to Italy and a new life. Baltimore Fashion week was a pivotal moment for me because it confirmed my passion, talent, and ability to become a designer. It confirmed my feelings to want my own brand and live in New York.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the idea that I needed to learn everything before starting my brand. I had believed through school and outside opinions to wait to start a business until you’ve been in the industry long enough, even if it meant passing on opportunities. During interning and college, it became very apparent that young designer needed to “pay their dues” before beginning their own ventures or to be taken seriously. I understood where other’s where coming from and I do believe experience is an important part of starting a business, but so is the courage to take a risk. Your can learn from experience, or trying something on your own, but knowledge is important when you use it. I know I am not getting any younger. I had to decided to start regardless of what others thought of me. Risk taking and entrepreneurship is hard, but if it was easy everyone would be doing it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reneenyc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneenewyork/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reneenewyork23
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98550537/admin/feed/posts/

Image Credits
Hypebeats collab black denim jacket and blue vest shot by 📸: @nateshuls Nate Shules, Stylist: @justinb00ne, Model: @victorkund Lookbook images shot by 📸: @qttphotography Jacob Tran, Model: me Studio skirt production shot by @qttphotography Jacob Tran