A fashion stylist that’s worked for magazines like Vogue and TIME left the nation’s fashion capital of New York to launch a menswear startup in Chicago.
Whitney Michel, a New York native who attended Parson’s School of Design, launched her brand, Michel Men, with a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $10,500 in 24 hours.
Michel Men sells neck ties, bow ties and bandanas made of silk, cashmere and velvet. The garments, which are hand-made in both New York and Chicago, range from $130 to $275. Besides fashionable ties, Michel said she is making her brand stand out with sleek packaging and hand-written letters to every purchaser.
“I always wanted to have my own brand,” said Michel, who worked on the styling teams for male celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Bradley Cooper.
With her connections in the fashion industry, she’s been able to get her products in front of high-profile fashion editors and celebrities. Michel says she already has actors like Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine wearing and promoting her line.
“Michael Caine, while he was doing his press run for ‘Going in Style,’ wore Michel Men for his press shots,” Michel said.
Now that the Kickstarter orders are being delivered, Michel said her next step is getting her products into luxury retailers, like Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman. And once she revamps the company's website, consumers will be able to buy Michel Men’s products there.
Further down the line, when Michel Men begins gaining more traction with consumers, Michel said she wants to expand her line to other garments like t-shirts and jeans.
