Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rick Davy . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Rick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
Rick Davy came to New York from his native Trinidad to learn the ways of the big city and to live out the “American Dream.”
Mr. Davy worked as a Fashion Director for several national and international magazines, and as a wardrobe stylist for the CBS network and for the Black Entertainment Television (BET) show “106th and Park,” dressing hosts AJ Calloway and Free for several years.
Mr. Davy started the non-profit BK|Style Foundation and Fashion Week Brooklyn in May 2006. In the same year, the first Fashion Week in Brooklyn was held in DUMBO, Brooklyn to astounding revues in the NY Times, a first of its kind for a Fashion Week Event in Brooklyn, New York. The Brooklyn Magazine names Mr. Davy one of the 100 influencers of Brooklyn
Brooklyn in Mr Davy’s eyes was always a prize destination and he wanted to bring the fashionable part of Brooklyn to the world and hence we are here. as a Fashion Destination
Rick , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
A career in fashion was not on his mind while he was growing up in Port of Spain, Trinidad. After establishing a job at New York University, and eventually becoming a full-time assistant manager in the Tisch School of the Arts film department, Davy used the free tuition perk of his NYU employment to study photography and film production.
Eventually, he left NYU and started working as a production manager on music videos, including a few by hip-hop legends including Jay-Z and Big Daddy Kane. He started shooting professional model portfolios, often selecting the clothes they wore for the shoot. Davy later took fashion-related courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and in 1998 he was introduced to fellow Trinidadian Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam. Davy became Ms. Fitzwilliam’s stylist during and after her reign as Miss Universe. His work with Ms. Fitzwilliam led him to be the stylist of other Miss Universe winners and other beauty pageant winners; He also worked as the Creative Director and Fashion Consultant for several clothing brands.
His work with Miss Universe and consulting with several enabled him to travel extensively to Greece, Paris, London, Barcelona, Switzerland, Germany and several Caribbean Islands
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
“Bridging Fashion and Community” A place where fashion taps into human development and highlights amazing talent
Mission- “To Build and Bridging Creative Fashion Communities”
BK Style Foundation (BKSF), founded in 2004 is a platform for Brooklyn’s explosive fashion and creative talents along with working with national and international partnerships and collaborators. The mission of BKSF is to assist emerging creatives in honing their talent and growing their business through educational programs and projects and to provide a platform to highlight their talent with the production of Fashion Week Brooklyn
https://www.fashionweekbrooklyn.com/
BK|SF lends a voice to social issues including human rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, sustainability initiatives, poverty, community development, and training, through fashion and art.
BKSF provides a professional forum lending a voice to development programs and leadership training in the communities that need services, by bringing segments of the fashion industry together and providing resources for a sustainable future, along with social awareness programs.
https://www.bkstyle.org/
BK Style collaborates and supports other charitable organizations including; Denim Day NYC to raise awareness on sexual assault/violence, Beauty for Freedom, Soles4Souls, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and COPE NYC along with several other non-profit organizations. BK Style Network of sustainable partners includes Sustainable Fashion Week, Digital Fashion Week, and Global Fashion Exchange, Sustainable Swim Week International Miami (S²WIM), The Brooklyn Fashion Incubator, along many more.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
I think to inspire the team with your hard work in your own business despite the challenges.
Respect and work with each person to help them succeed in the areas they want to grow their own business
They are all collaborators and not employees of your company
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fashionweekbrooklyn.com/
- Instagram: https://twitter.com/FashionWeekBK
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashionweekbrooklyn/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkstyle/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FashionWeekBK
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@davylotus
Image Credits
Fashion Week Brooklyn BK Style Foundation