Lauren Gay: The Next Gen of Style Setters Taking Over the District

D.C.’s got style. With everything from cute streetwear to tailored suits, plenty of people turn heads just walking down city streets. But who’s making their clothing, helping them decide what looks good and dreaming up the latest in fashion? It’s the designers of the city, the tailors, the entrepreneurs. Here is one of the 14 must-know figures in fashion from the DMV. Check out our October Issue for the full coverage.

Retail director at Swatchroom/Common Thread + business developer at Higher Glyphs Content Group

District Fray: Your job at Higher Glyphs is pretty complex. Can you give me an overview?
Lauren Gay: I help businesses with the experience they want to [create] through innovative ideas or concepts. So, if a business wants to do a pop-up, have a special dinner for clients or customers or just offer an online experience, I help with those concepts.

For most people approaching fashion, especially from a consumer perspective, what don’t they know about what you’re considering on the other end?
Accessibility for all people and body types. So, I think the one thing I look for when it comes to certain events or designers is if they have something for every shape and body type. If you’re curating or shopping, you make sure there’s something for everybody.

What steps do you take to be sure you have accessible clothing for everyone?
A lot of shopping. It really is doing a lot of research and taking the time to gain product knowledge and testing — actually buying and wearing the clothes and living in them. So, I really try to be like, “Yeah, I can put my name on this.”

Anything else?
I get to see stuff on runways and understand items will eventually make it into a retail store. Someone designing something — especially smaller businesses — will eventually have a fashion show, then a pop- up, then a store and that’s the end game for some. That’s where I could come in. I get to see and understand the full circle.

higherglyphs.com // @higherglyphscontent; @littlehustler83

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Aviva Bechky