Dapper Luq is a fashion brand founded by American designer Luqman Haskett.
His brand recently showcased its collection in last year’s Global Fashion Style Awards which were held in Ghana. We interact with Luqman about the Brand’s focus within the African Continent.,
Luqman also provides some details on how the COVID 19 pandemic has affected his brand and what he is doing to keep the momentum.
TR: Luqman Haskett thank you for giving us an opportunity to interact with you?
LK: Thank you for reaching out. I am always excited to share my story.
TR: Can you describe to us the man behind the brand, Dapper Luq fashion brand?
LK: Overall I am a lifetime lover of fashion and style. In 2014 I first introduced Dapper Luq the fashion blogger.
In 2015 I began modeling and traveling, in 2017 I became a stylist and in 2019 I became a designer and launched my first collection in February 2020.
TR: Luqman your brand is unisex, it’s rare for one to have a unisex brand which focus on suits for both ladies and gentlemen, what inspired you to follow this path
LK: Since my days as a stylist I have always loved to style and dress women. When I introduced my collection, I wanted to ensure I provided unique suits for both men and women.
I aim to provide clean looks with colors, you don’t always see in stores.
TR: Last year, you showcased part of your suit collections at the Global Style Fashion Awards in Africa,in a summary what is the story behind the collection you presented?
LK: I showcased my fall/winter 2020 collection at the Global Style Fashion Awards. This collection was inspired by the many shades of fall. All the suits are well fitting and feature tans, browns and oranges that are commonly seen during the fall.
TR: How do you manage to make sure that the collections that you exhibit have a connection with Africa/the African story?
LK: When I think of Africa I always picture amazing patterns with each having a unique story. I didn’t want to copy patterns that are in African Fashion.
Instead I wanted to bring colors and suits that compliment our skin tone and look amazing on the beautiful models I always see in African Fashion Shows.
TR: As advice to someone who wants to buy a suit for the first time, what features should they look for?
LK: When I am looking for a suit I look at the fabric and the fit of the suit. Unlike a lot of fashion suits are not about name brands. Instead it’s all about the quality of the fabric and the fit of the suit.
TR: You reside in the USA and it is one of the countries in the world that has been the most hit by the COVID 19 virus. How has it personally affected your brand especially market wise?
LK: I launched the Dapper Luq Collection February 2020 in Algeria. My goal after that launch was to feature the collection in four other African countries.
Unfortunately, COVID hit in March and all my planned trips were cancelled. When I returned home in March, my goal was to use all the resources I had to continue to promote my brand.
Social Media has been great for helping me remain relevant and at the end of 2020 I was able to travel to Tanzania and Ghana to feature my latest collection.
Overall, the pandemic has required me to think differently about my brand, but it has not stopped my growth.
TR: Speaking about markets, how does someone in Africa purchase your designs?
LK: In 2021 I will be updating my website and having many of my items will be available on there. The website is www.dapperluq.com.
LK: Luqman besides being a fashion designer ,you also used to be in radio broadcasting and you host the show ‘Dapper Hour’,can you shed more light on the show?
LK: As I stated earlier, I love all things fashion. My radio show and even my YouTube are ways I am able to share my perspective on fashion with the world. I want to be seen as a subject matter expert when it comes to fashion, so I’m always looking for ways to do that.
TR: What’s next for your brand in 2021?
LK: In 2021, I will be updating my showroom in the United States. I plan on launching two new collections and featuring it in four international shows. Hopefully each quarter in 2021 will have a show. Finally, I am looking to release a book on men’s style.
TR: As we wrap up the interview besides Ghana which other African countries are you hoping to tour?
LK: In 2021 I am hoping to travel to South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Seychelles.
TR: I am looking forward to seeing you in Zimbabwe so I can get one exclusive suit made by Dapper Luq.
LK: Yes definitely, keep my posted on any upcoming fashion events there. Thank you so much for considering me for this interview.
~Dapper Luq
WHO IS LUQMAN HASKETT?
Luqman is an online radio personality with his show “The Dapper Hour”. The guests discuss upcoming fashion events and men’s wear. In 2018 Luqman started the Dapper Luq YouTube Channel to give fans the opportunity to travel with him to numerous fashion events.
He has hosted several workshops on dressing professionally to both young men and adults. Luqman is a true believer that the ultimate goal in life should be to find what you are passionate about and find a way to make a living doing it.
In 2019 Luqman officially launched his custom suit line Dapper Luq Collection. Haskett is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and a lifetime lover of fashion. In 2014 after two consecutive military deployments he decided to share his passion for men’s fashion with the World.
Dapper has appeared on runways in New York, Washington DC, Virginia and North Carolina.
