What keeps you passionate about your work?

What keeps me passionate about my work is that its always more than fashion, i've had a big support system of people who have been apart of my journey since day 1 and what im building is also for them so when that day comes when I have the capital I need, I can then call them and let them know they can quit their jobs to come on board full time and they to can do what they love. Im building my brand and business to be that of a CHANEL level to be a household name and is legacy and family.

How has your label and production evolved over the last four years?

Over the last four years my label has evolved in having more resources available to evolve my design detail within the making of the collections and each collections you can see that level up within the design element and detail and construction. Each collection has a different narrative and purpose and also a cause that pays it forward to the community to be able to give back.

Why did you decide to stay in Dallas? What were the advantages for you?

I decided to stay in Dallas and build my company and my brand here because Dallas is like a blank canvas to be the pioneer of whatever industry your in and build something that could be forever. My advantages was not leaving and seeing that the community of Dallas within the art and fashion circles want to be able to stand behind and support new talent and nurture and support that talent. I definitely proved my consistency to that community for them to see that I was here to stay.

What is the biggest influence on your thinking?

My biggest influence is music and cultures of different ethnicities and backgrounds and being able to harness that and history and technique and modernize those ideations to compartmentalize what ultimately becomes a collection. My Fall/Winter 20 "FREEDOM" collection was inspired by me wanting to celebrate the victories and sacrifices that came from those who fought for us , the African American race, during the civil rights movement, to be able to enjoy the freedoms we have and enjoy today. But also always remaining a student of my industry and some collections start with experimentations for pushing my design details before understanding what the narrative would be which sometimes becomes more clear once I get closer to completing it in mid process where and what I’m intuitively feeling and what it becomes.

about charles smith ii

A rising up and coming young designer originally from Harlem, New York now residing in Dallas, Texas, Charles Smith II is leading the art and fashion community in young generations both in his city and on an international stage. His diverse aesthetic vision is apparent in his luxury brand “Smith II” and his edgier ready-to-wear brand “DO NOT TOUCH,” a line for young fashionistas who are also influenced by fashion but still want to eat after acquiring it.

Charles Smith II transition from a player in the NBA D-League, to a model, and then to a designer showed him just how powerful following your dreams can be. He has walked in Fashion Week in New York, Miami, Berlin, London, Paris, and Milan, experiences through which he saw one side of the industry. Living in Milan, Italy from 14 to 16 years of age and again from 19-21, Charles honed a European style through first hand experience in the European fashion world.

He has dressed fashion notables as Nancy Rogers, Daphne Guinness and celebrities such as Rev Run’s daughter Angela Simmons, Chris Brown’s ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran, and also Lenny Kravitz’s daughter Zoe Kravitz, just to name a few.

Charles has inspired and influenced his young followers by showing them that a kid from Harlem can make your visions a reality with sacrifice, consistency and the ability to figure it out.

Understanding that the word “CAN’T” is not a real thing.