Submitted by Melissa Howsam — Correspondent
Cotton may be "the fabric of our lives," but it's also the seed that's locally sourcing the vision of 31-year-old virtuoso Ricky Moore Jr. Father of up-and-coming local urban clothing line Nyla Elise — and of the now 5-year-old girl for whom it is named — Moore is doing more than making clothes. He's fashioning a movement.
Fabricated in fall 2008 from the ground up, the grassroots get-up org that got its start in a one-bedroom apartment does more than stitch hand-printed shirts with swagger, it makes a statement, tailoring raw materials into real meaning and purposefully outfitting the everyman.
Nyla Elise isn't just trickin' us out in trendy threads. It's putting its trademark on couture culture and unifying the community, and racking up rave reviews in the process. "Nyla Elise is history," says the designer du jour of his line that's decorated pages from Spin Magazine to the Washington Post, and outfitted events from SparkCon to the Raleigh Obama Presidential Campaign to the Sweet Auburn Fest in Atlanta. "Nyla Elise is you. Nyla Elise is me," he continues. And then he challenges, "Do you have what it takes to be Nyla Elise?"
We recently sat down with Moore to get the skinny on the soft goods ... and what it means to be behind a brand that ever so artfully redresses the age-old adage — where it's not just the clothes that make the man, but imagines what kind of man it takes to bear the brand.
Q: How did Nyla Elise get its start?
Nyla Elise started out in a one-bedroom apartment and is continuing to expand and grow every day. Nyla Elise is a grassroots company, which prides itself on using local resources. I took time out to research local manufacturers who shared similar concepts as Nyla Elise and found a local manufacturer who uses cotton grown right here in the state of North Carolina.
Q: You weren't always a clothier. How else would you describe yourself and how you got here?
If someone asked me to describe myself I would shout out the following: overachiever, dream chaser, hard worker and self-motivator. I was born and raised in Raleigh and played basketball throughout high school and college. I was actually ranked as one of the top 50 players in the nation by analyst Dave Telep, and I went to Hampton University on a full basketball scholarship, before making a transition from basketball to football at Greensboro College. I later spent time with the Buffalo Bills franchise in training camp and played arena football as wide receiver. Sports taught me a lot about dedication and hard work and I apply those same ethics to my life and clothing company. Now, I am a 31-year-old father of two, a husband, a brother and a son, and I am the nucleus behind the Nyla Elise Clothing Company.
Q: Where did your inspiration for Nyla Elise come from?
Sports have been a major part of my entire life. Playing sports taught me dedication and hard work. I knew once I was done playing sports that I was going to have to apply the same dedication and hard work to whatever path I chose. I have always had a desire to leave a positive imprint on the world, and what better way to do it than to share it on a T-shirt. Nyla Elise Clothing Company is special to me because I named the company after one of the most important people in my life, my daughter. She was a new beginning for me and she gave me the opportunity to leave a positive impression upon her life. My desire is to take the same positive energy she brought to me and share it with the world. Designing and printing T-shirts gave me this opportunity. I wanted this clothing line to be more than a T-shirt someone threw on in the morning; I wanted this clothing line to be a positive movement.
Q: What's the significance of naming the brand for your daughter, in terms of your vision for the brand?
I wanted to name my company after something that had meaning. Nyla Elise represents the growth and everlasting love that I have for my daughter. The company has grown since its inception and I believe the company will continue to prosper and grow. My wife chose the name Nyla after the Nile River in Africa. The river is an important piece of culture and deep in history and the developments of civilizations. The Nile River provides so much to so many people; much like the future I see in both of my children.
The true essence of Nyla Elise is more than a name; it is a blossom from a seed planted hundreds of years ago. A blossom designed to grow into a being that represents beauty, power, soul and strength. A blossom destined to be great no matter what adversity she may encounter. Nyla Elise is history. It's all of us.
Q: But NE is more than a brand. Per your MO, NE "is history. NE is you. NE is me."
I wanted to make feel-good clothing with positive messages or concepts. Specific clothing that has a meaning and when people put the shirts on they really feel as if they are making a statement — from the "The Fast Food America" design, to the "No Dream Killers" design. People can relate to a lot of the ideas or concepts that are on the T-shirts. I want the Nyla Elise brand to make history and leave its impressions on the hearts of people. The shirts are made for everyone.
Q: You say NE is "a blossom from a seed planted hundreds of years ago." How so?
The seed that I am referring to is the seed of our ancestors. Through their hard work and sacrifice we are able to take advantage of opportunities and make waves that were not freely available to everyone in the past. We are blossoms from their hard work and their struggles.
Q: You challenge the community with "Do you have what it takes to be NE?" What do you imagine that entails?
Hard working, motivated and [having] a positive attitude. My daughter's spirit and inner strength is very strong. Even at a young age she is very passionate in everything she does.
Q: So, sure, clothing keeps us from walking around naked. But the choices we make in what we wear is much more meaningful. What do you want your garments to say about the people who slip into them?
Our clothes are made for everyone, young to old, valedictorians, nerds, geeks, prom queens/kings, captains of football team or captains of the chess team, skateboarders, break dancers, deejays and musicians from hip-hop to rock. I want the shirts to represent everyone as a community no matter your walk of life or lifestyle!
Q: Your clothes are locally sourced and mostly manufactured right here in N.C. Tell us a little about the process.
I come up with the ideas or the concepts for the tees. Then I meet with my design team (Murel and Simon) and we get the design on paper. My team is AWESOME, and I love and appreciate the hard work and dedication that my guys put in. We have become like brothers.
As far as process, it's the process and materials that shape the uniqueness of the product. 95 percent of the garments are manufactured (including the cotton) here in North Carolina. I hand-print each shirt (ranging $20-$60), so each tee has a personal likeness to it. Also, I have begun to create the cut of some of the shirts so they have a specific fit to them.
Q: Speaking to that uniqueness, you have a shirt in your catalog that reads: "This garment was handmade in a tiny shed somewhere in the backwoods of N.C." True story?
Very true.
Q: That's raw. What's next for NE's collection?
Nyla Elise wants to continue to grow and expand as a company. We are constantly thinking of new ideas to continue the diversity of the line. This fall we are releasing Nyla Elise varsity jackets and continue offering sweatshirts and hoodies.
