Founder and Creative Director Amon Ogyiri Talks About The Legacy He Wants to Leave Behind, The Growth of NOMA New York, Responsibilities As a Black Designer, And His True Definition of Success.

We’ve finally reached the second half of the year! What seems to have been the longest fifteen months of our lives is finally getting to a point where there may be a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel. The world is slowly opening back up, businesses have lifted hourly restrictions, music festivals and concerts are taking place again, and the price of travel is astronomical. With that being said, the creatives have found ways to push through and do what they do best—create. Emerging New York-based fashion houses have also been a topic of conversation throughout the last year and what we’ve witnessed has been nothing short of astonishing. When you think of some of the rising brands from our state that have received boundless energy and support, you can’t leave out founder and creative director, Amon Ogyiri, and his brand, NOMA New York.

Amon, who was born and raised in the Bronx, used his love for early fashion and Ralph Lauren as an inspiration to launch NOMA New York in June of 2014. “My attraction to Ralph Lauren grew from his ability to capture his clothing in a gracious, clean-cut manner on black models,” Amon says. “Ralph’s way of diversifying his brand also fascinated me.” The fashion designer’s spellbinding use of storytelling through his garments also creates another narrative with his pieces that we rarely see among emerging fashion brands.

I had the opportunity to chat with Amon about NOMA New York, using his inspirations and real-life stories to build his brand, his responsibilities as a Black designer, the legacy he wishes to leave behind, and what’s next for him and his company for 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - First and foremost, how are you feeling as of today?

Blessed, God woke me up. I can walk, I can talk, I’m in good health. It’s on me to do what needs to be done.

2 - Talk about the early years growing up in the Bronx.

Growing up in the Bronx wasn’t the most exciting experience. I was a private school kid, so I had a pretty chill schedule. Gang culture was pretty relevant at the time I was growing up in the Bronx. A lot of people were getting robbed and shot so I tried my best to stay clear of that energy and the people I surrounded myself with. In High School, I played lacrosse for three years. I thought I was going to get a lacrosse scholarship and play college lacrosse but my love for fashion trumped my lacrosse dreams. I spent a lot of time buying and selling pages after-school. I kind of became a reseller at one point. I would leave school and go downtown to sell some coveted items I had purchased. Eventually, I became more serious about my brand and invested more time & money into that.

3 - You mentioned your love for fashion as a kid came from your love for Ralph Lauren. Why do you think that brand attracted you so much early on as opposed to some of the other popular brands that were prominent in the ’90s?

My attraction to Ralph Lauren grew from his ability to capture his clothing in a gracious, clean-cut manner on black models. I was able to see myself in the clothing. Ralph’s way of diversifying his brand also fascinated me. Rugby, Purple Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, and most importantly the Ralph Lauren Cafe at his flagship store on 5th Ave is a great way to encapsulate and showcase the lifestyle of his brand. Ralph Lauren epitomizes nostalgia and I grew a connection to that. That is the same reason Ralph Lauren is still relevant today.

4 - During this particular time, excluding Ralph Lauren, who would you say were your top fashion inspirations?

I had a super preppy style growing up, between private school uniform and church on Sundays. My weeks consisted of a button-down shirt, slacks, a tie, and dress shoes. I always had an eccentric style of dressing for this reason. Trying to bridge the gap between my style and “fitting in” was always a mission for me when I wanted to step out. Top inspirations during that time were Kanye West, Fonzworth Bentley, Nick Wooster, Bernhard Wilhelm to name a few.

5 - As you got older you began to make trips down to SoHo where you experienced Fashion Night Out. That’s where a lot of your inspiration came from during your teen years. Talk a little bit about that experience. Also, why do you think FNO had such a huge impact on NY fashion culture at that time.

Fashion Night Out was an interesting time in New York. It was a time where fashion wasn’t about the “hype” like how it is now. FNO impacted NY culture at the time because it brought true fashion enthusiasts together. Fashion is more than just the clothing we are wearing. It expresses how we’re feeling in the moment. There is a story behind the collections designers drop and FNO embodied that. The ability to meet people who share an open mind about fashion and how they can contribute to it was a great experience. I met a few people during FNO who have positively influenced my life until this day.

6 - Fast forward, you dropped your first collection for NOMA New York in June of 2014 which was titled the Lost Collection. What thoughts did you have going into this process?

The Lost Capsule Collection was a complex time for me. I was just a teenager trying to find myself. I have always hung out with people who were older than me, so I always had a mature mindset. I would see my friends with cars, progressing in their endeavors & here was this 15-16-year-old kid with dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur. I would join in on conversations about being successful and wanting more. The stagnant feeling of not being where I wanted to be ate me up inside on a daily basis. I was Lost at that time and was willing to do what it took to become successful or die trying. Seven years later, I think it's safe to say I've found myself and my purpose.

7 - What challenges did you face preparing for your first-ever drop and how were you able to overcome them?

I was 16 years old and broke, lol. I barely had any capital to properly release a collection, but I was determined to make it happen. I dealt with a lot of anxiety and second-guessing. “Will people support me? What if this is just a waste of money? Is this really my goal?“ I wanted to make sure this was a marathon I was willing to run. I conjured up enough capital to make a bulk order of items. I also had a great support system that was able to reassure me that this was a journey that was made for me. I took a leap of faith, called up my boy Nat who was a photographer, got some friends to model the pieces, and released my first collection.

8 - Your work for NOMA New York tells various stories. I.e. The Lost Collection in 2014 was based on you not knowing where your life was headed and you felt stagnant. The Peace Noir collection that you started in 2017, which translates to Black Peace, is dedicated to those who came before us that fought for our freedom. Why do you think it’s important for your garments and overall collections to tell these sorts of stories? Also, is your ultimate goal to make your collections relatable to real-life situations?

It will always be more than just clothes to me. During my high school years, I had an English teacher who instilled the need for “purpose” and how it applied to everything we do in our lives. This has always stuck with me throughout my life. I have always had a love for art as well. The meaning behind it. “What was the artist trying to relay to the viewer? What was going through the artist's mind?” At the end of the day, we are all human and we all go through things. We can relate to one another and I have always held the belief that if I can't relate I will at least have the open-mindedness to understand the thought process and perhaps learn a new perspective I did not have before.

9 - In your opinion, what obligations do you feel like you have as a Black designer in today’s society?

I feel obligated to set a standard for black luxury. I have always worked to place my brand on a higher caliber. Not only just working on fashion but also being a company that gives back to the community which propelled me to success. Striving to become a fashion house that will one day employ and teach individuals the ways of business, fashion + more. It's tough being a business owner and designer without a mentor. Mistakes upon mistakes until you get it right; but being able to amass supporters and collectors despite this, proves to me that there are people who believe in me and the vision I have moving forward.

10 - In a recent interview you stated that “aspiring Black creatives have so much to offer to the world.” When it’s all said and done, what would you like for those who come after us to say your offering to the world was? What imprint would you like NOMA New York to leave?

I have started an initiative under my company called P.I.F.I aka Pay It Forward Initiative. It is an initiative that I had started as I recognized the unfortunate circumstances faced by millions of New Yorkers. The Pay It Forward Initiative at NOMÄ enables patrons to take the action of helping the less fortunate of New York and eventually spreading across the world as the company grows. I aspire to go back to Africa and create jobs for the skilled seamstresses and artisans native to the land. Although the world is progressing, there still seems to be a lot of economic disparity in the motherland and around the world. My goal is to do my part to alleviate some of the poverty and provide a steady income for individuals. My imprint will be shown through the intrinsic value placed into the designs and projects created that will live on after I am gone.

11 - What is your true definition of success?

Success to me is knowing that I have impacted someone’s life in a positive manner & the ability to be an inspiration to someone.

12 - The second half of the year is here. What can we expect from you and Noma New York?

I wish I knew lol. Let's see what God has in store for us.

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