We were lucky to catch up with D’angelo Thompson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, D’angelo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?
Many creatives especially now are trying to find a sense or belonging and companies that value their work. Being a business owner and educator for over 20+ years, I find if you educate your staff, accomodate those with families, and extend business opportunities for them to grow, you will maintain loyal employees and eventually colleagues. It creates a community of creatives that are prospering and avoids a mentality of “lack” that many creatives can have in my experience.
You can see this in the tech world with companies like Google and in my world of entertainment where more and more producers work remote and the talent can work in many markets. So, I would say the main trends I am seeing is more access to opportunities outside their markets and working with or for comapnies who value them.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been very blessed through hard work as a creative artist for over three decades.
As a young artist I navigated the fashion industry for about 8 years in NYC. I got my big break in 1997 while living in San Francisco by doing HMU for a young actress, Salma Hayek, for the ‘Fools Rush In’ press junket in the Bay Area. From there I worked with other notable talents like Jean Claude Van Damme, Jamie Foxx, John Leguizamo, and years later in NYC with talents like; Wendy Williams, Martha Wash, Aretha Franklin, Kevin Hart, John Oliver, MTV, Law & Order, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Vogue, Real Simple, Domino, First for Women, WWD, and many more.
My main focus has been makeup and grooming, but have expanded to being a trainer for cosmetic brands, product development, educator, published author, and producing.
I think what has kept me busy is how I treat people and try to connect with them when they are in my presence and I genuinely care about them. Also, I care how they feel and want them to look their absolute best. My focus as an artist is to enhance a person’s natural beauty whether its a model, actor, actress, or executive.
The reason for my longevity is my professionalism, openness to learn, follow through, and to be able to see what’s next for me and my chosen industry.
Navigating this path has not been easy, but I feel extremely blessed for all the doors that have opened, as well as the accolades.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I also co-own Next Frontier In Fashion for the past four years with my business partner, Javier Pedroza. Our main objective is to give emerging and marginalized fashion brands a platform to showcase mainly during NY Fashion Week. We also help with media opportunities, get their product on creative artists and celebrities, and some business coaching.
Javier and I actually met through volunteering for The Latino Commission on AIDS Benefit Committee for the annual Cielo Gala. I loved how he worked and his passion to impact the community that mirrored mine. Most think I am laid back, but I am very goal oriented and truly a type A personality, he is the samr but is definitely more chill than me, which works.
When the world was on fire in 2020 due to the pandemic and racial tensions in America at all time high, many young designers of color were sharing their experiences in the fashion industry, particularly during NYFW, we decided to do something about it and NFIF was born. We just celebrated 6 seasons in September 2024 and are in the process of rebranding to reach a larger audience not only in fashion but in all of the creative arts here in the states and abroad.
We are currently co-producing the annual Kent State University School of Fashion NYC x IFA Paris Fashion show on October 17th, 2024, showcasing their top student designers.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The key word is resilience as a creative and business owner. You must remain creative and step outside of your comfort zone. I think the biggest lesson is to ALWAYS keep like minded individuals around you and successful people/mentors in your industry. Community and relationships matter. I would say that my biggest lesson as a freelancer, permalancer, and entrepreneur is to create many streams of revenue, and maintain strong authentic relationships that are aligned with one another. Also, remember there will always be ups and downs in all businesses, take that time to pivot, it’s all about the pivot which I have done often.
Read the trades, listen to people, basically read the writing on the wall and be proactive. Most people wait too late with many decisions in their lives and end up being reactive. In the past two or so decades I have only been caught off guard twice and wasn’t prepared. I learned the lesson and made the necessary pivots even when it seemed crazy to others. I firmly believe no matter what, when, and where a downturn happens, as long as you are proactive you will always be okay.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dangelothompson.art
- Instagram: @dtbeauty71
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlicious777/
Image Credits
Photogragraphers:
Ezequiel De la Rosa
Jason Roth (Book Cover)
Justin Clynes
Keith Major
Actor, Jaden Michael for Interview Magazine (B/W)