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What advice would you give someone who
wants to mirror your success?

You must love fashion to be successful in the indus-
try. Fashion is a cycle so it’s important to be innova-
tive

What sense of purpose do you draw from
What was your most your community?

Providing a unique service is very important. Supply
challenging experience? and demand keep your business going.

My most challenging experience was working Allen Iverson’s wedding on location in New Jersey. Allen How has the pandemic impacted the fashion
and his wife are from my hometown in Virginia. To do the wedding, we shipped 25 custom tuxedos industry?
from my Cincinnati shop to Philadelphia as well as custom alligator shoes priced at $1,500 a pair from The pandemic has crushed the fashion industry.
Texas for each groomsman. Many major stores have closed their doors for the
first time in years. Fashion shows and fashion week
After arriving in Philadelphia on Wednesday to get everything prepared for the fittings, we discovered events have been cancelled. Hundreds of hair salons
someone leaked our location to the media. Our hotel was also the destination for the bachelor party. and barber shops are still closed.
Around 5 p.m., Allen’s manager, Moe Moore, called to move us to another hotel. Then, on the morning
of the wedding, I was asked to put together two more groomsman outfits, which meant adding two
more tuxedos and finding two more pairs of alligator shoes. It wasn’t a problem since I had a black What was your experience like filming Black
card to charge everything. Panther with Chadwick Boseman?

Being in the studio and watching Chadwick work
By the end of the event, the wedding featured six white limos, two 55-passenger buses from Virginia, with the Director, Ryan Cougler, and the rest of the
a white super-stretch Escalade, and three Rolls Royces. Allen even hired a circus to entertain the kids cast was magical. Ruth Carter, a Hampton University
during the wedding and reception. Helicopters were everywhere. It was unbelievable.
alum from my hometown in Virginia, did an amazing
job with the wardrobe. She was also the costume
designer for Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America 2,
which you’ll also see me in as a Palace Guest. Stay
What advice do you have for first-time entrepreneurs starting a tuned.
business amid the pandemic?

Major companies have not yet rebounded, so my best advice is not to
open a new business during the pandemic. Can you tell us more about your work feeding
the less fortunate?

We are blessed to be a blessing. Our Carki Global Inc.
What’s your truth of authenticity? 501-C3 Foundation, co-founded by my wife Dr. Kiki Mi-
chelle Williams, has given hundreds of boxes of free
People should stop being copycats and be genuine about what they
believe in. Be creative. Be original food to those in need during the pandemic. We also give
toys to children during Christmas.

What’s your opinion on what’s going on in the world Will you leave us with some encouraging How can we reach you?
today? words?
470-418-7277
It’s called “life.” Every day brings a new challenge. There will always be ups Life is short. Live and love your family, your brothers, mrcarlylew@yahoo.com
and downs. Always be ready to pick yourself up and keep going. Learn as and sisters. All lives matter
much as you can to get to the next level. @iammrcarlyle @mrcarlylew

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