NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880) – Brooklyn native, Romeo Hunte began his fashion career by "deconstructing" his mother's clothes at an early age, and throughout the years he developed a unique style of mixing fabrics leading him to work with icons, including Beyoncé and former first lady Michelle Obama.
In a special Black History Month feature with 1010 WINS, Hunte shared his journey with anchor Larry Mullins.
Hunte's early exposure to fashion came from the women in his life. His grandmother was a seamstress and his mother was a "fashionista," always dressed on point. His mother's strict dress code for him, favoring shoes and boots over sneakers, ingrained a sense of style that was both classic and disciplined.
"In the beginning, my mother did not allow me to wear sneakers,” Hunte said. “It was just either shoes or boots. And I think that was just her way of just making sure she was raising me to be a gentleman.”
Hunte later on got into streetwear and more athletic wear in elementary school.
“I always balanced tailored fashion with hip-hop,” Hunte said. “Biggie [Smalls, aka The Notorious B.I.G.] was my first favorite rapper. That was my first CD to purchase, actually. It just influenced me more to add this swag to this tailored preppy boy.”
This early foundation laid the groundwork for his unique style, a blend of tailored sophistication and street-savvy flair.
Hunte's creative journey took a turn when he decided to pursue fashion over athletics. He turned down two full athletic scholarships in track and field and decided to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
Launching his brand in 2014, Hunte quickly made a name for himself in the fashion industry. His designs caught the attention of celebrities like Zendaya, Lewis Hamilton, and Idris Elba, quickly becoming a recognized brand.
The Romeo Hunte brand is synonymous with luxury outerwear and innovative apparel that combines feminine and masculine elements. His signature pieces, such as the Combo Trench, have become must-haves among the fashion elite.
Hunte's journey wasn't without challenges. Hunte explained that he faced skepticism and had to navigate the competitive and often exclusive world of high fashion.
“I didn't have that many people that believed in me that I could do it,” Hunte said. “Not that they doubt what my vision is. They just looked at the odds. And I was scared that I would be destroyed or hurt. I think it took a lot from street smarts and also keeping my eye open and learning and absorbing what each room or each person I would meet in the industry and learning from some of their mistakes and saying, ‘I'm not going to make the same mistakes.’”
Hunte is not just a celebrated designer but also a mentor and inspiration to young aspiring designers, especially those from marginalized communities. He emphasized the importance of staying true to one's vision.
"I would say for a young designer to do as much research as possible,” Hunte said. “Start off with your logo and your name. Make sure that you register all that good stuff. And then go for what you really want to make.”