St. Louis designer works with celebrities, but it’s young people at home he hopes to inspire with his work

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – From Beyonce’s Renaissance tour to the stage at The Muny, designer Brandin Vaughn has worked with a number of stars. But he says his real love comes from designing for people in St. Louis and inspiring the young people who walk by his Cherokee Street store.

“Growing up, I didn’t have an example of what it was for a Black man to become a fashion designer. So opening up this space in a neighborhood where I can influence young Black men or young Black girls walking by, that this is a career they can be successful in,” said Brandin Vaughn.

Vaughn began sewing as a teenager as a way to improve the clothes he’d get at the thrift stores. But it wasn’t until later that he realized it could be a job.

He opened his store on Cherokee Street in 2017 and has worked with celebrities like Beyonce. Seeing clothing he helped create on a stage in front of thousands is the inspiration to keep going.

“It”s like ‘Oh my god, it’s surreal’.I just touched that. I just made that. It lets me know that I’m doing the right thing,” said Vaughn.

He does custom work but he also wants people to know they can walk into his shop on Cherokee Street and buy items off the rack.

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