After his show last Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet the face behind Camrich Mann, Brennan Manuel. We met in the dressing room. It was a hectic scene – models were being dressed for the next show and the smell of hairspray was palpable. Somehow we managed to have a successful conversation among the chaos. At only 27, Manuel is very humble, but also very articulate and passionate about his work. He had finished school at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and then returned home to New Orleans. As we chatted I discovered that while he first entered the world of fashion design in high school, he had just graduated from Tulane Law School. At the moment, however, law was not on his mind. He was in a whole different mindset when designing fashion, he told me. Although, he did admit that when it came to how he approached fashion and law there was one thing in common – his attention to detail. He is a practical man who firmly believes functionality is an important factor when it comes to making clothing. He mentioned, for instance, that everything he designed has pockets – including items for women. I thanked him for the effort because I often find myself annoyed at the many skirts and pants I own that don’t have pockets, or worse – faux pockets. Unfortunately, I caught him at a rather busy time and our conversation was cut short. Thankfully, I was able to get in touch with him later to get a little more insight into the philosophy of his designs.
When did you begin designing and what was/were your first project(s)?
I began designing a line of streetwear when I was in high school and I had shirts screenprinted with my logo. I was selling them at school and handing them out to friends to wear for promotional purposes.
When did you graduate from FIT? Tulane?
I finished going to FIT in May 2010. I came back to New Orleans to finish up law school and graduate in December 2010, even though I couldn’t walk until May 2011.
What are the most important factors you consider when creating a garment/outfit?
Details, functionality, fabrication, and fit. The best clothing is the kind that gives you the “wow factor”, for lack of a better term, when you look at them closely. You have to make fashion approachable and once the consumer approaches the garment then you reel them in with the unique attention to detail that makes them feel as if spending a little more on this garment is worth it. Take Miu Miu and Prada RTW collections for example. From far away pieces can look kind of hit-or-miss but seeing the clothing up close definitely wins naysayers over.
In regards to function, particularly for menswear you need to have something that can easily be taken off, have closures that work and don’t obstruct, drawstrings that adjust the fit while still keeping the silhouette masculine, pockets (because men don’t carry purses), etc. Going back to fit, it is important that clothing not only covers the body but accentuates the good parts of body, while hiding others. Fabrication is almost more important than all of the factors that I mentioned. Fabrication can turn a regular sports coat or a basic sheath dress into a luxe item. Fabrication is what sets apart a pair of wool trousers at Gap from Ermenegildo Zegna.
Does anything you learned in law school play a part in how you manage your own line of clothing?
It will when I am trying to protect my business ideas and designs as best I can. For right now, I’m really focusing on building up my creative muscle.
You mentioned a women’s line. Is it available or something still in the works?
It’s something that is still in the works. Even when it does premier it will be a work in progress because I’m still establishing my vision for womenswear. But I can say that I will not “fake” womenswear, and by that I mean just throwing something together on a form and sewing it up. Good women’s clothing needs just as much structure, planning and attention to detail as menswear.
Is your clothing for sale? How does that work?
My clothing is for sale through custom orders but as far as mass market, no. I will be holding a sample sale of the clothing from my runway shows soon though.
Do you wear the clothes you design? Any favorite brands?
I do wear the clothes that I design. I design in separates, so if I am wearing my clothing it may be my trousers paired with a tee from Uniqlo. My favorite brands right now are Richard Chai and the now defunct, +J collection at Uniqlo. I really like the classy womenswear that Jason Wu puts out as well.
For more visit: https://www.facebook.com/camrich.mann.clothing
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Brooke Larsen is a New Orleans-obsessed native who aspires to simultaneously be a comedian, photographer, teacher, writer and a professional unicycler. Brooke has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of New Orleans where she now works as an Academic Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts. hellobrookelarsen.com
