Verified, ambitious and on the rise… Fashion designer Milan Harris has her sights set on empowering the world.
ESSENCE caught up with Harris—who was in between designing her red-hot fashion collection, Milano Di Rogue, and finishing a fiery NBA All-Star game collaboration with rapper Meek Mill (she designed the performance wardrobe for Mill’s dancers during his stage set)—for an exclusive interview.
In addition to making clothes, Harris is famously known for encouraging others with motivational social media posts—her Instagram feed is peppered with quotable gems she frequently drops for her 399k followers. Scroll below to read Harris’s thoughts on dreaming big and designing her own future.
ESSENCE: What is your inspiration for the brand? Milan Harris: When I decided to create my brand, I was obsessed with my boyfriend’s clothes. They were extremely comfortable and looked cute on me, and the styles were amazing. The only thing I didn’t like was the fit. For Milano Di Rouge, I wanted to design high-quality, stylish clothing that was tailored to fit both men and women.
How long have you been designing?
I started when I launched Milano Di Rouge (in July 2012).
What does Milano Di Rouge stand for?
It’s a backronym for “Making Dreams Reality.” My brand is the product of me making my dreams a reality.
Who is your target customer?
Milano Di Rouge doesn’t target “customers,” we aim to motivate and inspire the dreamers and go-getters of the world. The Milano customer is anyone making their dream a reality.
Where do you see your brand in five years?
Considering my work ethic, I tend to shy away from long-term goals. I can achieve my version of success in less than five years. Every day I work hard to inspire, empower and breathe life into people who have dreams and goals. Overall, I want to provide these dreamers with workspaces, entrepreneurial hubs and environments that will aide them in making their dreams a reality.
For more information on Harris and to shop her brand, visit milanodirouge.com.
