We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnathan Hayden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnathan, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Everytime I think, “okay, maybe this it”, something miraculously happens that is significant. More than another sale, we’ve stayed the course and see big PR opportunities or prizes come our way. Many times, I think staying resolute so that you’re prepared for when opportunity does present itself is key to take advantage of success.


Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a ready-to-wear fashion designer in New York City with my studio in the New York City Garment District. I am most excited about my backend efforts to create accessibility to manufacturing for independent designers and small brands. My studio for my business is on the same floor as the factory where all of my brand’s apparel is made. Having taught and now running my own brand, there is such a gap to overcome in domestic manufacturing resources that prevent small and minority owned businesses from producing, yet unable to afford the large minimums overseas factories often require from accounts. As we know, since the 80s, manufacturing has all but evaporated in America. For fashion, the garment district, which originally boasted over 800 factories, is now under 200. These are often first-generation immigrant, family-owned businesses that relied heavily on word of mouth and large American apparel companies for work. Today, that work is gone, and with Senda, who I’ve partnered with, I liaison between new and small brands to help them grow, but also diversify the portfolio of the factory so they’re not wholly dependent on the perpetuity of big accounts for survival –especially when a pandemic hits. This local, domestic perspective for the industry allows more oversight, quality-control, and sustainable growth with shared resources and overhead for brands. I hope to see it grow!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh this is tough. Depends on the friend! But my go-to’s for a good time in NYC are art, culture, and food. I’m always down for Thai food or Ramen. Can’t go wrong with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, but NYC always has great niche exhibits at Mnuchin Gallery or Yares Art Gallery. If/ when the performing arts are open, I always suggest a Broadway show or my favorite, a play. I’d definitely fit some nature in Central Park, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, or a nice sunset run by the Hudson. Depending on the friend, I always try to coax them into taking a high intensity BPM spin class! MY FAVORITE!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shoutout Brandice Daniel of Harlem’s Fashion Row, the non-profit in NYC that selected my brand to be the recipient of an award. That money helped keep the lights on and remain visible in the industry. Her organization focuses on supporting BIPOC designers in the fashion industry and all of the talent selected and nurtured by their organization are growing into brands to keep an eye on in the industry.

Website: www.johnathanhayden.com

Instagram: @johnathan.hayden

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnathanhayden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnathan.hayden/

Image Credits
Portrait with Black Jacket (which can be the main article picture if you think is better): Oye Diran Lookbook Images with the Asian Model: Kilian Son Comicbook Illustration by Nozomi Uchida Vogue Feature Portrait by Rafael Martínez

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