FASHION // Designer
Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick
the Fashion Designer from Southwest
by Dianna Donahue - Jun.01.2021
Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick, Jr. is a fashion designer born and raised in Southwest Little Rock. His earliest inspirations to design developed from a desire to create a clothing line for the Culture, but more specifically to create clothing for Black men. His 6’4” stature has given him a firsthand account of how difficult it is to find stylish, appropriately fitting clothing. With no path set before him to learn how to make this desire exist, Fitzpatrick stepped out on faith with his abilities and birthed NDEED Regime Clothing. Things have fallen in place ever since. The road has not been easy, but Fitzpatrick accredits his designing success thus far to his parents, Jamileh Kamran – his sewing instructor, his clients, his dedication, his consistency, and his passion for acquiring his dreams.
THE INTERVIEW
URBANE: Who is Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick?
Oliver: I'm a child of God. I am a King. I'm the son of Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick, Jr. and Nadine Fitzpatrick. I am the older brother of Iain Thai Fitzpatrick and the younger brother of Shanina Fitzpatrick. I try to put others before myself. I try to make the right decisions and put myself in the right situations.
URBANE: What drives you?
Oliver: To have a certain success and my parents be a part of it. They put a lot into me, and they deserve to see the fruits of their labor. Not necessarily just monetary – I've had so many visions of accepting awards or being at events and being able to thank my parents, and they actually are there. That's epic!
Like…even introducing people to my father. He's done a lot, and it's something that the same school that wouldn't allow people in has a Black man's name on a building…and he's still living. I mean, I can drive by the school, see his name, and call him right then – that's a blessing. That is dope! That turns me up and keeps me going; for him to see his son doing something positive? Man. He don't have to see me in no jail cell or hear around town that I'm doing this or that – he can relax. Being able to make them proud while they can see it, man—that means a lot to me
URBANE: Who is Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick?
Oliver: I'm a child of God. I am a King. I'm the son of Oliver Michael Fitzpatrick, Jr. and Nadine Fitzpatrick. I am the older brother of Iain Thai Fitzpatrick and the younger brother of Shanina Fitzpatrick. I try to put others before myself. I try to make the right decisions and put myself in the right situations.
URBANE: What drives you?
Oliver: To have a certain success and my parents be a part of it. They put a lot into me, and they deserve to see the fruits of their labor. Not necessarily just monetary – I've had so many visions of accepting awards or being at events and being able to thank my parents, and they actually are there. That's epic!
Like…even introducing people to my father. He's done a lot, and it's something that the same school that wouldn't allow people in has a Black man's name on a building…and he's still living. I mean, I can drive by the school, see his name, and call him right then – that's a blessing. That is dope! That turns me up and keeps me going; for him to see his son doing something positive? Man. He don't have to see me in no jail cell or hear around town that I'm doing this or that – he can relax. Being able to make them proud while they can see it, man—that means a lot to me
URBANE: What have you learned since becoming a designer?
Oliver: The people that really love you are there for you, care for you, want to see you succeed, and care about your brand; they understand your obsession with your craft. It doesn't bother them that that's all you talk about. At one time, I didn't talk to a lot of people about what I was doing because I felt nobody wanted to hear me talk about it as much as I thought about it. But it got to a point where it just oozed out...I couldn't help it!
URBANE: How would you describe your designs?
Oliver: My designs are unique, eclectic, and to the point – I don't want people to look too deep for understanding my designs unless I choose it to be that way. I like my lines to be very sleek and have the "double-take" effect.
URBANE: Who/What influences your style of design?
Oliver: I get inspiration from just being outside in nature. I pay attention to leaf color combinations and streams. I also get inspiration from movies. The most recent movie that inspired me was a movie called "A Small Favor." The main character's suits were crazy! That kinda stuff gets me turned up.
Right now, I'm getting lots of inspiration from a guy named Mr. Doodle. He does these crazy doodlings and comes up with these cartoon characters – I just be in awe. I think it's just the esthetics of him flowing through a piece with no mistake. And if he is making a mistake, you don't know he's making one because he just flows. He doesn't lift his pen. There's no hesitation. He'll start drawing on a wall and cover the whole thing with a seamless doodle. I'm pretty sure that when he first started doing his thing, people were like, “what is this dude doing?” But he's doing it! It's his own print. He's collaborating with big brands now and getting fabrics made. I mean, that type of stuff is totally different from what I do, but…it's totally unique, and I love to see people do unique things. They're honing their craft; they're doing them! That helps me to keep doing what I'm doing. People might not get it, but it's ok.
Oliver: The people that really love you are there for you, care for you, want to see you succeed, and care about your brand; they understand your obsession with your craft. It doesn't bother them that that's all you talk about. At one time, I didn't talk to a lot of people about what I was doing because I felt nobody wanted to hear me talk about it as much as I thought about it. But it got to a point where it just oozed out...I couldn't help it!
URBANE: How would you describe your designs?
Oliver: My designs are unique, eclectic, and to the point – I don't want people to look too deep for understanding my designs unless I choose it to be that way. I like my lines to be very sleek and have the "double-take" effect.
URBANE: Who/What influences your style of design?
Oliver: I get inspiration from just being outside in nature. I pay attention to leaf color combinations and streams. I also get inspiration from movies. The most recent movie that inspired me was a movie called "A Small Favor." The main character's suits were crazy! That kinda stuff gets me turned up.
Right now, I'm getting lots of inspiration from a guy named Mr. Doodle. He does these crazy doodlings and comes up with these cartoon characters – I just be in awe. I think it's just the esthetics of him flowing through a piece with no mistake. And if he is making a mistake, you don't know he's making one because he just flows. He doesn't lift his pen. There's no hesitation. He'll start drawing on a wall and cover the whole thing with a seamless doodle. I'm pretty sure that when he first started doing his thing, people were like, “what is this dude doing?” But he's doing it! It's his own print. He's collaborating with big brands now and getting fabrics made. I mean, that type of stuff is totally different from what I do, but…it's totally unique, and I love to see people do unique things. They're honing their craft; they're doing them! That helps me to keep doing what I'm doing. People might not get it, but it's ok.
URBANE: What’s your fondest memory of fashion?
Oliver: The first Designers' Choice show that I did was my first real fashion show. It took me a lot to prepare for that. Everything came down to the wire. I had a big delay with one of my designs just hours before the biggest day in my career. Like, all these disastrous things happened behind the scenes that nobody knows about, but then to see it come through – into fruition – like that, perfect. It was a real proud moment. My mom was there; my dad was there; Ms. Jamileh Kamran (the woman that taught me how to sew) was sitting front row…I mean, it was really dope. It meant a lot to me.
And then this last show that I just did in California – it was just…another level. I felt in my element in California. As far as the fashion aspect, they [Californians] get it. And it's not to say that people in Little Rock don't get it because they do – I wouldn't be sustaining like I am if they didn't. But there [in California], you don't really have to explain too much. It's like…it ain't no convincing. Once they see it and recognize they haven't seen it before, then it's like, “who are you, and where can I buy this?” When I tell them how much it is, I usually get “That's it?!” My experience here has been “I see it, but who are you, and why does it cost so much?” It just seems there are several obstacles that I have to get over just to get someone to consider purchasing.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you’ve shared the runway with?
Oliver: Korto Momolu – she's so close now. She's almost like family. I talk to her pretty often. Real good people, man.
URBANE: Where have your designs taken you?
Oliver: My designs have taken me to New York, Hollywood, Atlanta, and potentially London soon. On a personal level, it has given me new direction that has helped me discover who I am. When someone is a person that creates…that's a very vulnerable place. You're creating something that's coming out of your mind and heart, and you're giving it to other people to judge. They have no idea who you are, or what work you put into it, or what work you might not have put into it, and you're hoping that people like it. That's a vulnerable place to be in. But it has helped me to be more sure about myself and have more confidence in my abilities.
Oliver: The first Designers' Choice show that I did was my first real fashion show. It took me a lot to prepare for that. Everything came down to the wire. I had a big delay with one of my designs just hours before the biggest day in my career. Like, all these disastrous things happened behind the scenes that nobody knows about, but then to see it come through – into fruition – like that, perfect. It was a real proud moment. My mom was there; my dad was there; Ms. Jamileh Kamran (the woman that taught me how to sew) was sitting front row…I mean, it was really dope. It meant a lot to me.
And then this last show that I just did in California – it was just…another level. I felt in my element in California. As far as the fashion aspect, they [Californians] get it. And it's not to say that people in Little Rock don't get it because they do – I wouldn't be sustaining like I am if they didn't. But there [in California], you don't really have to explain too much. It's like…it ain't no convincing. Once they see it and recognize they haven't seen it before, then it's like, “who are you, and where can I buy this?” When I tell them how much it is, I usually get “That's it?!” My experience here has been “I see it, but who are you, and why does it cost so much?” It just seems there are several obstacles that I have to get over just to get someone to consider purchasing.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you’ve shared the runway with?
Oliver: Korto Momolu – she's so close now. She's almost like family. I talk to her pretty often. Real good people, man.
URBANE: Where have your designs taken you?
Oliver: My designs have taken me to New York, Hollywood, Atlanta, and potentially London soon. On a personal level, it has given me new direction that has helped me discover who I am. When someone is a person that creates…that's a very vulnerable place. You're creating something that's coming out of your mind and heart, and you're giving it to other people to judge. They have no idea who you are, or what work you put into it, or what work you might not have put into it, and you're hoping that people like it. That's a vulnerable place to be in. But it has helped me to be more sure about myself and have more confidence in my abilities.
URBANE: What’s your fondest memory of fashion?
Oliver: The first Designers' Choice show that I did was my first real fashion show. It took me a lot to prepare for that. Everything came down to the wire. I had a big delay with one of my designs just hours before the biggest day in my career. Like, all these disastrous things happened behind the scenes that nobody knows about, but then to see it come through – into fruition – like that, perfect. It was a real proud moment. My mom was there; my dad was there; Ms. Jamileh Kamran (the woman that taught me how to sew) was sitting front row…I mean, it was really dope. It meant a lot to me.
And then this last show that I just did in California – it was just…another level. I felt in my element in California. As far as the fashion aspect, they [Californians] get it. And it's not to say that people in Little Rock don't get it because they do – I wouldn't be sustaining like I am if they didn't. But there [in California], you don't really have to explain too much. It's like…it ain't no convincing. Once they see it and recognize they haven't seen it before, then it's like, “who are you, and where can I buy this?” When I tell them how much it is, I usually get “That's it?!” My experience here has been “I see it, but who are you, and why does it cost so much?” It just seems there are several obstacles that I have to get over just to get someone to consider purchasing.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you’re been shared the runway with?
Oliver: Korto Momolu – she's so close now. She's almost like family. I talk to her pretty often. Real good people, man.
URBANE: Where have your designs taken you?
Oliver: My designs have taken me to New York, Hollywood, Atlanta, and potentially London soon. On a personal level, it has given me new direction that has helped me discover who I am. When someone is a person that creates…that's a very vulnerable place. You're creating something that's coming out of your mind and heart, and you're giving it to other people to judge. They have no idea who you are, or what work you put into it, or what work you might not have out into it, and you're hoping that people like it. That's a vulnerable place to be in. But it has helped me to be more sure about myself and have more confidence in my abilities.
URBANE: What do you hope to accomplish with your designs?
Oliver: One of the major goals is that I want my designs to eventually put my business in a position to give back to the community how I want to give back to the community. I've always wanted to show the kids in Southwest Little Rock that you don't have to be a rapper, or a basketball player, or a football player, or a dope boy to be successful. I was raised right here, and we didn't have many lawyers, doctors, designers, artists, or writers coming into Southwest and the Southwest Community Center to talk to us. There were a lot of ballplayers that would come through and talk with us, which I'm very grateful for them doing that, but there wasn't much diversity. What about the kids who aren't athletic or desire to play sports but can code the hell out of a computer?! Kids need to see options amongst people that look like them. Our kids need representation. I want to be that. I'm trying to do that for my little brother. He has a shoe company, so he's seen my progression from then to now. It's imperative for him to see my path so he can extend his.
My dad is a Basketball Coach, and his players always use to want to go to a big D1 school. My dad used to ask them, “Do you know where Dennis Rodman went to school?” Nobody does. It was his talents and skills that made recruiters come find him. Now he's in the Hall of Fame and got a few championship rings. I believe that when you're great at something, and you put in the work, the Universe just makes away. Our kids are not being taught that concept consistently. I want my work to do that.
Oliver: The first Designers' Choice show that I did was my first real fashion show. It took me a lot to prepare for that. Everything came down to the wire. I had a big delay with one of my designs just hours before the biggest day in my career. Like, all these disastrous things happened behind the scenes that nobody knows about, but then to see it come through – into fruition – like that, perfect. It was a real proud moment. My mom was there; my dad was there; Ms. Jamileh Kamran (the woman that taught me how to sew) was sitting front row…I mean, it was really dope. It meant a lot to me.
And then this last show that I just did in California – it was just…another level. I felt in my element in California. As far as the fashion aspect, they [Californians] get it. And it's not to say that people in Little Rock don't get it because they do – I wouldn't be sustaining like I am if they didn't. But there [in California], you don't really have to explain too much. It's like…it ain't no convincing. Once they see it and recognize they haven't seen it before, then it's like, “who are you, and where can I buy this?” When I tell them how much it is, I usually get “That's it?!” My experience here has been “I see it, but who are you, and why does it cost so much?” It just seems there are several obstacles that I have to get over just to get someone to consider purchasing.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you’re been shared the runway with?
Oliver: Korto Momolu – she's so close now. She's almost like family. I talk to her pretty often. Real good people, man.
URBANE: Where have your designs taken you?
Oliver: My designs have taken me to New York, Hollywood, Atlanta, and potentially London soon. On a personal level, it has given me new direction that has helped me discover who I am. When someone is a person that creates…that's a very vulnerable place. You're creating something that's coming out of your mind and heart, and you're giving it to other people to judge. They have no idea who you are, or what work you put into it, or what work you might not have out into it, and you're hoping that people like it. That's a vulnerable place to be in. But it has helped me to be more sure about myself and have more confidence in my abilities.
URBANE: What do you hope to accomplish with your designs?
Oliver: One of the major goals is that I want my designs to eventually put my business in a position to give back to the community how I want to give back to the community. I've always wanted to show the kids in Southwest Little Rock that you don't have to be a rapper, or a basketball player, or a football player, or a dope boy to be successful. I was raised right here, and we didn't have many lawyers, doctors, designers, artists, or writers coming into Southwest and the Southwest Community Center to talk to us. There were a lot of ballplayers that would come through and talk with us, which I'm very grateful for them doing that, but there wasn't much diversity. What about the kids who aren't athletic or desire to play sports but can code the hell out of a computer?! Kids need to see options amongst people that look like them. Our kids need representation. I want to be that. I'm trying to do that for my little brother. He has a shoe company, so he's seen my progression from then to now. It's imperative for him to see my path so he can extend his.
My dad is a Basketball Coach, and his players always use to want to go to a big D1 school. My dad used to ask them, “Do you know where Dennis Rodman went to school?” Nobody does. It was his talents and skills that made recruiters come find him. Now he's in the Hall of Fame and got a few championship rings. I believe that when you're great at something, and you put in the work, the Universe just makes away. Our kids are not being taught that concept consistently. I want my work to do that.
URBANE: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Oliver: I want my clothing to be here still when I leave. Being able to
actually leave something tangible on this earth when I'm not here – I think that's really, really dope. It's like you're adding to the world when you do things like that.
Also, I want to make sure to uphold my family's last name. That really means a lot to me. My parents have done a lot in the community and have been pillars in the community. They have done a lot to raise me and put me in situations for certain opportunities. It means a lot to me to continue the name that they have built.
I want people to remember me for going after my dreams and not going after the cliché things. Not doing the cliché things – going after what I wanted to and being relentless at it. Like…"he said he was gonna do that, and he did it!"
URBANE: What project are you working on right now?
Oliver: I am working on a denim line. It's gonna be epic! It's a cheetah print denim – it'll be a part of the virtual line that I put out, which is season 3. I also have a jacket design that I'm working on that's part of that line, which includes custom patches.
There is also a women's line in the works – suits, blazers, and vests. With that, I'm looking for a female version of me that can model and actually design. I know my designing process is not the only way, so I'm looking for a female to complement my design with hers. It
would be really dope to have a woman's point of view. I'm also working on my office in downtown Little Rock.
I'm going to drop that jacket within the next few weeks. I make all my announcements on social media – Facebook and Instagram so people can keep up with me there.
URBANE: Any positivity to give other Arkansas designers?
Oliver: Don't give up. Stay true to You. Study the art and become a student of your craft. Upgrade what you think you already know. You want to design, learn how to design. And don't only learn from people you know that design, but also learn how to design from people that don't look like you. Learn from people that don't execute the same style as you. When you hone in on your craft, you become a master at it. Become a master at it.
Also, whatever belief system that you have…cultivate it. You're gonna need it. Because it's going to be some people and some situations that might not be conducive to what you're trying to do, it's going to be people who don't believe in you…it's gonna be family members – that are very close to you – that are not gonna believe in you or support you. There are gonna be friends that are not gonna support you. And you're gonna have to develop a tough skin without animosity towards anybody.
Don't be afraid to seek help. You can't do it all. And keep it real with yourself.
Oliver: I want my clothing to be here still when I leave. Being able to
actually leave something tangible on this earth when I'm not here – I think that's really, really dope. It's like you're adding to the world when you do things like that.
Also, I want to make sure to uphold my family's last name. That really means a lot to me. My parents have done a lot in the community and have been pillars in the community. They have done a lot to raise me and put me in situations for certain opportunities. It means a lot to me to continue the name that they have built.
I want people to remember me for going after my dreams and not going after the cliché things. Not doing the cliché things – going after what I wanted to and being relentless at it. Like…"he said he was gonna do that, and he did it!"
URBANE: What project are you working on right now?
Oliver: I am working on a denim line. It's gonna be epic! It's a cheetah print denim – it'll be a part of the virtual line that I put out, which is season 3. I also have a jacket design that I'm working on that's part of that line, which includes custom patches.
There is also a women's line in the works – suits, blazers, and vests. With that, I'm looking for a female version of me that can model and actually design. I know my designing process is not the only way, so I'm looking for a female to complement my design with hers. It
would be really dope to have a woman's point of view. I'm also working on my office in downtown Little Rock.
I'm going to drop that jacket within the next few weeks. I make all my announcements on social media – Facebook and Instagram so people can keep up with me there.
URBANE: Any positivity to give other Arkansas designers?
Oliver: Don't give up. Stay true to You. Study the art and become a student of your craft. Upgrade what you think you already know. You want to design, learn how to design. And don't only learn from people you know that design, but also learn how to design from people that don't look like you. Learn from people that don't execute the same style as you. When you hone in on your craft, you become a master at it. Become a master at it.
Also, whatever belief system that you have…cultivate it. You're gonna need it. Because it's going to be some people and some situations that might not be conducive to what you're trying to do, it's going to be people who don't believe in you…it's gonna be family members – that are very close to you – that are not gonna believe in you or support you. There are gonna be friends that are not gonna support you. And you're gonna have to develop a tough skin without animosity towards anybody.
Don't be afraid to seek help. You can't do it all. And keep it real with yourself.
For updates on Oliver’s designs, follow him on Instagram & Facebook @NDeedRegime - or - visit his website - www.NDeedRegime.com.
