Today we’d like to introduce you to Kishmere Carter.
Hi Kishmere, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I first started sewing and drawing in elementary school. I’m from Ithaca, New York. I first started drawing comic books and sewing stuffed animals. My mother sewed a lot when I was a young child and I learned how to sew from her. In middle school, I started painting and drawing on my clothes. I also joined the school choir… also around this time, I was in a boy band with my cousin and friends.
In high school, I took my first sewing class. I enjoyed it so much that I started doing local fashion shows with my friends as models. I went to college in New York City at the Fashion Institute of technology in 1994. I studied fashion design for 2 years. To make extra cash I did part-time fit modeling for local designers, I also interned with a designer Danielle Gisiger, who designed clothes for the Grammys, Lion King Broadway show, Tommy Hilfiger, Drew Barrymore, and more.
After a couple of years in New York State, I left the east coast and headed to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, I was able to do some clothes designing for Kip Blackshire and a couple of members of Prince (purple rain singer). band. I also helped style clothing for a few music videos, helped coordinate fashion show events, and sew for local Los Angeles people. Then I moved to Las Vegas after a few years in L.A. I stayed to make strippers’ clothing there. After a few years of Las Vegas, one night I loaded up my car and wanted to check out Seattle.
On my way to Seattle, my car broke down in Utah. After a couple of months of car mishaps, I discovered that a lot of movies and TV programs are done here. A designer named Amy Roberts was w my gateway into doing many films and commercials, and more as a costume designer. I have won around 10 awards for my costumes in the film, commercials, and dance costumes.
I also first started taking singing training from Jill Austin, and now train under Eric Michels (from the group Foreign figures) I have put out 1 album which includes rap and rhythm & blues tunes. I’m currently working on a second album with a gold record producer David Devaney, also working on a single with world-famous singer Jenny Jordan.
I also was the key Tailor on Yellowstone with Kevin Costner for Season 3. I have 3 music videos out. My own clothing store and a website up.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel that my life has had a lot of struggles.
In my early years, I had to face a lot of prejudice as a male in the fashion industry that seemed to favor women more at the time in the late 1980s. I also have received a lot of hate and prejudice as a black man in America.
It’s hard for some people to see black people as business owners.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Some people have considered me a triple threat or an artist genius or an artist renaissance man.
Because I can draw, paint, rap, sing, design clothing, sculpt, photograph, and more, I suppose there are not a lot of people who can do all of those artistic things well.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the industry of music having more independent record labels.
I also see the return to CDs and Records being purchased. I see there being more concerts being able to be watched online. In fashion, I see there being more male designers, more cool futuristic clothing styles that light up and you can program to do things like keeping you warm but be lightweight.
Clothing innovation.
Contact Info:
- Email: Kishcarter@gmail.com
- Website: Kishmerecarter.com
- Instagram: @Kishmerecarter
- Facebook: Kishmere Ali carter
- Youtube: Kishmere Carter
