Ladies and Gentleman, you are in for a treat! We found a WkendHer who is just as beautiful as her creations! Normally, we do an extensive bio, but I’d like to highlight her fashion insights.
Without any further delay, I’d like to introduce you to Ms. JoDeanah Noble aka “JoJo,” designer behind Jo David Design Studio.
This rising star is a native of Adair Park in Atlanta. Often mistaken for a Georgia State alumna (we adopted her anyway), Jojo attended Savannah College of Art and Design and the University of West Georgia. Through her years of study and practice, she has curated designs in every category from womenswear, menswear, and – most recently – childrenswear. What’s most endearing about Jojo is that despite her pseudo-veteran status as a designer, she maintains a sense of humility that just makes you love her.
She’s got a good spirit, y’all! With her passion for fashion, heart of gold, and a keen eye for design, she deserves to be setting runways ablaze.
Here’s how I know she is fire: I told her about the concept for the shoot… 24hrs before go time. She responded and said, “I love it. I’ll make an outfit.” She sent me a sketch of the design and the images you see are what came out. SHE IS NICE WITH THE NEEDLE.
If you need anything custom, go see JoJo! In the meantime, get to know her a little bit more:
When did you realize that you had a passion for fashion (ima total cliche lol)?
My high school had a journalism magnet program with an emphasis on the arts. Our fashion department received lots of praise with local celebs coming to the shows, news coverage and huge crowds. As a senior in the fashion program, it was a highlight of our high school career to be selected to create and show our collections at the highly anticipated fashion show. One day, while doing an interview for our school magazine, I was asked whether I’d be pursuing fashion in the future. I was quoted saying that fashion was just a hobby and that I was going to college to pursue a career in journalism. During my first semester of college, a designer dropped out of a fashion show. I happened to be at a party with one of the models in the show and she spoke to the director. The director loved the collection I had just shown a few months earlier in high school and, within a week – when I thought I’d spend the rest of my days writing papers and searching for stories – I was soon known around campus for being a designer. After that, almost every organization hosting a fashion show – from fraternities across campus to students from schools across the state – were asking me to make them items and/or to be apart of their fashion shows.
In hindsight, I was always interested in fashion. I always admired my parents style. My brand, Jo David, is named after my dad. It’s one thing to have a passion for something and another to have the talent to execute it. I feel my actual talent is what fuels my passion to continue to create. For me, it’s almost as if I’m paying homage to my family and my ancestors. Being a fashion designer in the 50s was just seen as just another housewife or seamstress and not seen as a very skilled or meticulous talent. History means so much to me and I have the ability to not only express myself, but also tell a story in every aspect of the clothes I make – from the fabrics used to the techniques I’ve learned.
How many times did you mess up your first outfit?
My high school’s fashion program was a bit competitive to get into. I begged my counselor relentlessly to place me in the program. On the first day of class, my teacher taught us how to set up the sewing machine and sew a straight line. When I got home that day, I set up the brand new sewing machine left unopened for months and started sewing. I think it was more surprising to people how quickly I picked up sewing and actually did a good job. Before then, as a kid, I would make Barbie clothes out of socks with a needle and thread and a toy sewing machine. I wouldn’t say that I messed up my first outfit. However, my mother always made it clear that if I wanted to really be able to make clothes, then it should look just as good on the inside as the outside, which meant that everything needed a lining. I thought linings would be my downfall! But even today, I encourage people to look inside my clothing to see the detail and feel the lining of my clothing. Everything has a lining now. EVERYTHING. If it doesn’t have a lining, that means there is an even more detailed finish. Plus, a motto we have in design, is that, “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.”
What does success with your business look like?
Success for my business is having staying power. I never want to be placed into a box of what a fashion designer is “supposed” to do or look like. I want to continue to elevate and change people’s perceptions. One of the biggest things I’m working on is to create my own in-house production studio and showroom. It’s also important for me to create and build partnerships with others businesses and brands.
My grandmother always told me that there are so many lessons to learn through cooking. Is the same true of fashion/design?
Of course! Patience, focus, determination, and execution are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through sewing. Due to my attention to detail, it seems like I find the hardest way to do things, but that’s the fun part for me! Just as someone can taste a spoonful of whatever is on the stove and tell you every spice and ingredient used, I look at clothing and can dissect how many pattern pieces, types of fabric and finishes are used. It’s just things you pick up and can do over time, subconsciously.
Who is your favorite designer?
I really don’t like to pick favorites…and that goes for anything, but especially when it comes to fashion designers. However, I do admire a lot of people – whether it’s their technique, fabric choices or presentation styles. The designer who I look forward to seeing every season is Josep Font of Delpozo, who checks each of those boxes. All the looks have a bold yet airy feeling about them that is very inviting. Other designers who I really tune into include fellow SCAD alum, Azede Jean-Pierre, Dzochen and Fausto Puglisi.
What is the most insightful quote that you have encountered?
I had a quote that hung in my room growing up, “Lower your voice and strengthen your argument.” I did a lot of public speaking engagements growing up. There wasn’t a school, church play or event that I did not have a microphone. So this quote has helped me a lot. Not to mention, I was on the debate team, class president and representative, a yearbook editor, and a few votes away from prom queen. It was always important for me not to just be noticed, but to be heard. When I spoke, I wanted to be engaging and knowledgeable. I quickly learned that having all the tools and information to make your case is better than being the loudest. There’s another quote that says, “Style is a way for you to speak without using words.” When i walk into a room, my outfit will already be a conversation starter, then when I speak. It’ll be enough to keep it going.
If you could meet anyone today that could push your business forward who would that be and how do you think that could make an impact?
This person is constantly changing, so right now, the person that I would like to meet and have this sort of insight from is Virgil Abloh. I’m intrigued by the collaborations he’s done, his design process for creating for his brand Off-White and the fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton. It’s exciting to see what he shows up with next. With the position he’s been given, I think that people are feigning for his vein of creativity. I think he has a situational awareness around this and knows he has the ability to pass the torch to other talented designers who can not only maintain, but elevate brands and create opportunities.
On a personal note, I’m more interested in having a sustainable, growing business rather than making pretty clothing. My expectation is that anyone who I seek out as a mentor will have to protect my talent and nurture it. Carefully choosing who to work with and how to showcase yourself and your brand is something I think that Virgil has mastered. His mentorship would not only be a confidence boost, but also an inspiration. His track record is unmatched.
“I am all about championing this new era of designers becoming the new rock stars.”
Virgil Abloh