Venny Etienne, who is most recognizable for his stint on Season 17 of Project Runway, has established himself as a legit designer to watch. His prints and patterns have been seen on the likes of Beyonce, Cardi B., and actress Michelle Williams, just to name a few. For a little background on Beyonce’s Haitian American designer, Etienne’s parents migrated from Haiti to New York, specifically Brooklyn, where Etienne grew up and where he discovered his desire to be immersed in the fashion industry.
He started designing clothes for his church fashion shows at a young age and eventually attended fashion school, studying under couture experts in the fashion capitals of the world, Milan and Paris. Etienne attended college at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and later transferred to Wade College in Dallas where he graduated as salutatorian of his class with a degree in merchandising and design. It was in Dallas that this Haitian American designer made a name for himself in the fashion scene through networking and local fashion shows.
However it wasn’t until 2019 when Etienne’s talents were finally recognized on a national scale after landing a spot on Project Runway, a fashion design TV show, and placing in the top seven of the cast. This catapulted his career and put him in the public eye. The Haitian designer, however, is getting most of his recognition for having a hand in one of Beyonce’s most iconic looks: a jaw dropping structured yellow belted jacket dress, adorned with multi-color flowers of blue, purple and green worn in the “Black Is King” music video. Designing this dress could only be described as a dream come true for the designer who always aspired to dress Queen Bey herself.
Beyonce’s Haitian American Designer
Etienne has recently taken on a new project, his own brand: LEVENITY. Inspired by the look he created for Beyonce, the brand is recognizably American sportswear but with a sophisticated, edgy twist that makes it wholly unique. The bold colors and patterns seen in his newer collections are influenced as well by his Haitian roots and New York living, celebrating his Caribbean heritage as well as the city that inspired him to pursue his dreams.
