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From Cass
Hey Harlemites, we’re back at it! We want to feature a Harlem brand that recently made the transition from fashion design to art design.
The influence of art has been woven into fashion design for decades. Current art trends include street art, immersive art, contemporary African art, and the Memphis art revival.
While highlighting Harlem’s Milton Wes brand, we offer consumers a look at a contemporary art brand that offers colorful visual art and a fresh take on Art + Home decor. Additionally, we had the opportunity to discuss how Milton Wes. CEO, Corey West uses art as healing therapy.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Corey Wes, CEO of Milton Wes. Watch our interview below:
Cass: It’s a pleasure to talk with you again. The last time we met, you were engaged in fashion design. You’ve recently rebranded and moved from fashion to art. Congratulations on your introduction to the Milton Wes brand of art and home decor. What inspired the transition from fashion design to Art design?
CW: Initially, I made t-shirts under the brand Flirtatious-T and then switched to Urban FLRT. From a sales perspective, the new t-shirts were becoming obsolete. From there I developed Milton Wes, initially a home decor collection of cushions, blankets and mugs.
During the pandemic, I transitioned from t-shirt design and brand development to art curation. I realized there was a market for art. It was an easy transition from fashion to art design.
Kass: Tell us about your new brand Milton Wes. What does Milton Wes stand for? Describe your brand inspiration.
CW: The inspiration behind the brand is to make art accessible. We walk with art every day. The vibes and colors of street and urban art make cities brighter, better and more exciting!
When it comes to Milton Wes, Milton is my grandfather’s name and Wes is a variation of my middle name. My grandfather was one of the first African-American conductors on the New York MTA. He worked in the yard, where they kept the trains.
He talked about the graffiti on the trains and how when the cars came back to the yard they cleaned them, but when they came back they had the graffiti on them again. Riding the train with my grandfather, I was simply mesmerized by the color and artistic expression of graffiti.
Kass: Why Milton Wes?
CW: Well, it’s easy. I have a unique eye for art, inspired by early influences of graffiti art and I love interior design. During the pandemic, people were looking at blank walls and were inspired to redesign their personal spaces.
Art decor allowed consumers to communicate their hope for the future through home decoration using artistic expression.
Kass: You’ve noted that art is something you’ve traditionally used for healing. Living in a post-pandemic world, how does the Milton Wes brand speak to mental health, using art for healing and comfort?
CW: Living in the heart of the pandemic, people were surrounded by emptiness, which means there was silence, there was stillness, life was still. People started working from home, lost touch with people, things and places for a while.
Personally, having beautiful art in my home brings me joy. When you’re feeling alone in a space, you can look at the color theory of a piece that takes you back to a happy moment in time.
Kass: You’ve always been very open about who you are and the things you’ve been through. Why is it important to discuss mental health among minority communities? How will you use Milton Wes partner with mental health programs to support the Art for Healing movement, post-pandemic?
CW: Mental health challenges often have a negative connotation and are seen as a weakness. Mental health issues are seen as an ugly stigma, and if you’re a minority, that stigma gets worse.
As the Milton Wes brand continues to develop and grow, I would like to partner with mental illness programs to provide scholarships for emerging minority artists.
I will work to demonstrate that art is also a way to meditate and create. We at Milton Wes want to create a positive and safe place for people to interact through the inspiration of art.
Kass: As an art enthusiast, what do you want consumers to remember about the Milton Wes brand?
CW: “Art is life, art is knowledge, art transforms energy and stimulates your soul.” – Corey Wes.
Kass: Harlemites – remember, your art is an expression of who you are – how will you style your art and home decor? As always, make it your own! Stay tuned to The CW on its website http://www.miltonwes.com and on social media on Twitter @coreywes212, Instagram: @miltonwesart and Facebook – @coreywes212
Photo: 1-5) Photo.
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