This story was published in the Chic Daily Magazine.
Dontae Campbell, founder of Laboratory, showcased his most recent collection at Tempe Fashion Week (TFW) on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Campbell started his fashion designing career about seven years ago when he was living in Indiana.
“In Indiana, there’s no real new fashion there, so I wanted to try something new, I wanted to be different,” Campbell said. “That’s when I found out I had something that a lot of people liked.”
During his first year working as a designer, Campbell took part in New York Fashion Week and was invited to Paris Fashion Week twice but was unable to go due to cancellation of the events.
Laboratory, Campbell’s brand, is described as, “testing and experimenting with fabrics” on its Instagram account (@laboratory.official), and it rings true whether one saw the TFW designs or simply scrolls through the designer’s Instagram feed.
With a white minimalist feed, the focus is completely on the creative direction of each photo – highlighting shoes, pants, shirts and shorts designed by Campbell.
Designing and finding the passion to create are both hard work, but being a creative is something that comes natural to some. Not everyone can just articulate how to incorporate lace, pearls, and different color ways onto pink Dickies.
“I feel like just the creativity [is a gift], learning how to use different things, looking at everyday objects and finding ways to reform that into whatever you’re trying to work with,” Campbell said. “My aspect would be clothes, so I take everyday things and I try to form that into a different inspiration for new designs and stuff like that.”
The latest collection by Campbell was finished the night before TFW’s premiere and this, along with however he’s feeling in the moment, impacted the design decisions.
“Usually when I get no sleep, I use a lot of reds, so there are a lot more reds in this collection and I used a lot more abstract items,” Campbell said. “I can definitely tell when my feelers are a little bit off because I start doing asymmetrical things.”
“From Church Service To The Streets” was the theme of Campbell’s experimental collection for TFW. During the set, models walked the runway to songs like “Jail” by Kanye West, “Almeda” by Solange, and different piano melodies, which helped capture this theme.
“This is the newest twist on my collection...It’s kind of a formal wear, but still streetwear because I actually do specialize in streetwear clothing,” Campbell said. “I wanted to do a little twist with formal attire so I can grab the [attention of the] audience, but also the audience that I already have.”
Model Fabio Capri works for Corella & Co. Model Development and has worked with Campbell on multiple projects, including walking for Campbell’s collection at TFW.
“As a person I would describe him as a very ambitious and passionate person, I think he attacks his work just as strongly as he attacks life,” Capri said. “As a creative he’s groundbreakingly innovative, the stories behind his work and his symbolism behind it, as well as creativity and uniqueness are very special...I definitely see myself continuing to work alongside him.”
Although creatives had been preparing for TFW for about eight months, Capri said he was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
“I was directly involved and knew what to expect but that greatly exceeded all my expectations. I have participated in many shows and as far as coordination, inclusivity, and professionalism, I put it above any other,” Capri said.
Model Jonathan Batalla has also been working with Campbell for about six months. Batalla works for Corella & Co. Model Development as well and sees Campbell as someone with no limits when it comes to creation.
“I’m honored to continue to work with Dontae for his fashion show,” Batalla said. “I’m feeling thrilled and hopeful because of the potential Laboratory has to continue in rising and attracting more creatives.”
Both Capri and Batalla will be working with Campbell on his show in November. These two along with Kyle Fedasiuk (@the.kyle.high.club on Instagram) seem to be the ‘faces’ of Laboratory, as they are in multiple photoshoots on Laboratory’s Instagram account.
“He’s been working hard, so whatever he gets, he has it coming. Mark my words, man deserves all the success,” Capri said.
Although this was my first time meeting Campbell and seeing his designs, it is clear to everyone who meets him that he has an innovative and creative mind, one that will continue to grow as he creates. Being a creator is easy, but being a creative is something that takes passion and consistency; Campbell inspires me and others to be just that. Making a suit tie out of a bandana, adding streetwear-esque buckles to a suit vest, and experimentation with different textures in these formal attire settings were some of the designs that stuck out to me personally and drew me in.
Dontae Campbell, creator of Laboratory, will be debuting his Unisex Spring Summer 2022 collection on Nov. 13 in Tempe, Ariz. The theme for this show will be “To The West.” To find more information and keep up to date with Campbell’s fashion career, follow @laboratory.official on Instagram.
Comments