Local artist provides resources for local fashion professionals

15th December 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer

If the success of Fashion Week New Orleans and NOLA Fashion Week weren’t proof enough that New Orleans is making its mark in the fashion industry; Briana Henry is not only showcasing her talents, but laying the foundation for others to succeed here at home. Those pursuing a career in fashion don’t have to venture to New York or Europe for the resources to upstart their brand. Henry has set up shop here in her home town.

The UNO grad is the founder of NOLA DDM, in Gentilly, a fashion and accessory design, product development and manufacturing company dedicated to providing independent designers and clients with the resources to streamline their production process and transform local manufacturing into the most affordable, innovative option for all. The fashion/incubator factory hybrid includes a fully equipped sampling room, manufacturing facilities, classroom space and a state-of-the-art computer lab complete with the industry’s latest design and production software.

NOLA DDM serves as the only handbag, accessory and shoe manufacturer in the city.

While maintaining a career freelancing and teaching art at New Orleans Charter Middle School and digital photography at Dillard University, Henry started to seek out her other apparent affection, fashion design.

The New Orleans native’s background is in Graphic Design and photography and moved to New York City to study at F.I.T. (Fashion Institute of Technology)

Concentrating on accessories, Henry obtained an Associate Degree in Accessory Design in the 1-year program from FIT in 2006.

“I did paintings and photography a lot when I was in college,” I was interested in fashion, but was always afraid to leave New Orleans,” she says.

Henry, who considers herself a late bloomer, left New Orleans at age 27, with plans to take courses in apparel design and accessory design.

“I just planned to go for a semester and get this knowledge and move back home and do something with it,” she told The Louisiana Weekly.

Henry’s plan was to gain enough knowledge and experience in the industry to return home. That changed when the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of her belongings that were left in her Gentilly apartment.

“I lost all my artwork and all of my equipment.” She says. “So I felt at the time that I didn’t have anything to go back to.”

She was then offered a position at Coach Leatherware Inc. by one of her FIT professors, and worked there as a technical designer and engineer for five years. A lucrative position with a prominent luxury fashion company wasn’t enough to keep from her returning to New Orleans.

“I was homesick,” Henry said.

In July 2013, she opened NOLA DDM; never losing sight of the vision to not only establish her brand, but to provide an outlet to other local fashion professionals as well.

“It was something I thought about a long time ago,” she added. “When I moved back home, I knew there were a lot of designers trying to establish the industry here, and I wanted to be a part of that. “

The vision was solidified when she was referred to ex-Saint Malcolm Jenkins. Henry helped the NFL free safety take his passion for bow ties to his brand, now known as Rock Avenue.

“He had an idea of what he wanted, so I went to New York and sourced a lot of his fabrics and from (Promenade) locally.” She says.

Since then, Henry has earned a little over 20 more clients, which includes the popular S&PC, the Treme Sidewalk Steppers.

“I did their outfits in 2009 and 2010 outfits out of leather, ostrich and lambskin,” she told The Louisiana Weekly.

Henry, who is the wife of trombonist Corey Henry, returned home and also helped to develop the Fashion and Arts department at Joseph S. Clark Prep High, where she serves as Department Chair. She is also the Department Chair at FINO (Fashion Institute of New Orleans)-the noted fashion education program for local high school students.

“We have so much talent here, working with them has been so rewarding,” Henry told The Louisiana Weekly. “It all really pays off; and it does a lot for the teenager’s self-esteem. I would have students who were afraid to even speak in public, but when they hit the runway, they’d would go back out and walk the catwalk again because they confidence was so high. It is hard work, but when we do our fashion shows- it is worth the effort.”

Henry is determined to give aspiring young fashion professionals the tools needed to help them get a head start in the highly competitive field. She’s invested in books from F.I.T. and Parsons (The New School for Design) as part of her curriculum.

“I tell the students the industry has so many types of jobs to offer — threading, production and merchandising. It’s not about just being a designer.”

Her commitment to helping aspiring young artists hasn’t stopped her from continuing to develop her own line of shoes and accessories.

“I do a lot of outerwear, like tunics and capes and (capelets), along with accessories and handbags,” she says. “I’m trying to focus on items that are more versatile when it comes to fit. I’m actually doing everything out of leather.”

Henry’s line is geared to be available this spring; it will also include flat sandals for women.

“I’m trying to make this business work. It’s challenging, but I’m going to make it work.”

This article originally published in the December 15, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.