We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Latrice Delgado-Macon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Latrice, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was younger, I always had a natural love for fashion, creativity, and self-expression. I didn’t just see clothing as something you wear — I saw it as a way to tell a story and show confidence. I would spend time observing how people put outfits together, styling looks, and imagining how fashion could make someone feel empowered.

As I grew older and started working in retail fashion, especially in leadership roles, I realized that fashion was more than a passion for me — it was a purpose. I saw firsthand how many talented creatives and designers existed in Detroit but didn’t always have the resources, opportunities, or platforms to grow.

That realization was a turning point for me. It made me want to be part of building something bigger than myself. That’s what led me to create Detroit Fashion Community a space where creatives can connect, collaborate, and truly thrive. In that moment, I knew my creative path wasn’t just about fashion; it was about empowering others and helping shape a stronger fashion ecosystem in the city I love.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Latrice Delgado-Macon, and I’m a fashion professional, community builder, and the founder of Detroit Fashion Community. My journey into fashion started with a deep love for style, creativity, and the power fashion has to express identity and confidence. Over the years, I built my career working in fashion retail and leadership roles, including positions with luxury and national brands, where I developed strong skills in styling, leadership, and brand experience.

Through my work in the industry, I began to notice something important — Detroit is full of incredibly talented designers, stylists, models, photographers, and creatives, but many of them lacked the resources, connections, and infrastructure needed to truly grow in the fashion industry. That realization inspired me to create Detroit Fashion Community, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering local creatives. Our mission is to provide opportunities, networking, resources, and collaboration spaces that help Detroit’s fashion ecosystem thrive.

In addition to my leadership work, I bring years of experience in styling, fashion retail leadership, and brand development. My work is centered around helping creatives feel seen, supported, and connected to real opportunities within the industry.

What sets me apart is my passion for community. I don’t just focus on personal success — I focus on building platforms that uplift others. I truly believe Detroit has the talent to be a major fashion city, and I’m committed to creating spaces where creatives can grow without feeling like they have to leave the city to succeed.

One of the things I’m most proud of is creating a headquarters for Detroit Fashion Community in downtown Detroit, which serves as a hub where creatives can gather, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships. Seeing people connect, launch ideas, and feel empowered through the community we’ve built is incredibly rewarding.

What I want people to know most about me and my work is that everything I do is rooted in purpose. My goal is to continue creating opportunities, strengthening Detroit’s fashion culture, and inspiring creatives to believe that their talent belongs on bigger stages.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One story that really reflects my resilience is the journey of building Detroit Fashion Community. When I first had the vision to create a space that supported local designers and creatives, it came from seeing a real gap in the industry here in Detroit. There was so much talent in the city, but many creatives didn’t have access to the resources, mentorship, or connections needed to grow. I knew something needed to change, but building something like that from the ground up wasn’t easy.

There were moments when things felt uncertain — from figuring out how to bring people together, to finding the right support, to staying motivated when the path forward wasn’t always clear. But what kept me going was my belief in the creatives in this city and the idea that Detroit deserved a stronger fashion ecosystem.

Through persistence, passion, and community support, Detroit Fashion Community began to grow into something real. One of the moments that made me most proud was opening our headquarters in downtown Detroit. Seeing creatives come together in that space, collaborate, and feel inspired reminded me why I never gave up on the vision.

Resilience, to me, is about believing in your purpose even when the road gets tough. My journey has taught me that challenges are often part of the process of building something meaningful, and every obstacle has only made me more committed to empowering others and strengthening the fashion community in Detroit.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One moment in my journey when I had to pivot was when I realized that simply working in fashion retail wasn’t enough for me anymore. I loved the industry and had built strong experience in leadership roles, styling, and brand development, but I kept noticing something that stayed on my mind — Detroit had incredible fashion talent, yet many creatives didn’t have the access, resources, or platforms needed to grow their careers.

That realization pushed me to think beyond my own career path. Instead of focusing only on climbing the ladder within retail, I decided to pivot toward building something that could impact the larger creative community. That decision led me to create Detroit Fashion Community.

Making that shift wasn’t easy. Starting a nonprofit and building a community platform required stepping into new territory — learning about organizational leadership, partnerships, and creating opportunities for others. There were moments of uncertainty, but I knew the mission was bigger than me.

That pivot changed everything. Instead of just participating in the fashion industry, I became someone working to strengthen the entire ecosystem for creatives in Detroit. Today, seeing designers, stylists, and other creatives connect, collaborate, and grow through Detroit Fashion Community reminds me that sometimes the biggest pivots lead you closer to your true purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Detroitfashioncommunity.org
• Instagram: @Detroitfashioncommunity
• Facebook: Detroitfashioncommunity
• Linkedin: @Latricedelgadomacon
• Youtube: Detroitfashioncommunity