Latoya Mcleary is a Jamaican Born Fashion Stylist and Creative Director based in New York City.
Latoya’s Fashion Journey started at the Style Institute in New York City taught by Celebrity Stylist Anita Patrickson. Latoya showed true talent and was top of her class which earned her the opportunity to assist Celebrity Stylist Anita on major Fashion Productions in Los Angeles this continued to build on Latoya’s experience as a Fashion Stylist and Creative Director.
Latoya didn’t stop there. She later enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Earning her Diploma in Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Management. She continued her Education at the Conde Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in London, now called The Vogue College of Fashion, studying Fashion Marketing, Fashion Production, and Creative Direction.
Latoya Also Studied Fashion PR and Communication at the University of Madrid. Her dedication to learning and gaining first-class Knowledge and experience from the best continued at The School of Style Mentored by image architect Law Roach studying image architecture. Latoya is one of the School of Style Founding Cohort.
Latoya is always working and evolving at such a rapid pace that she used her experience and knowledge in the fashion industry to start her own eyewear brand HauteLife World. Created out of her love for traveling and Fashion. HauteLife World have been featured in many Magazines including Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and Harpers Bazaar Magazine. HauteLife World have been on major runways around the world including Milan and Paris.
Latoya is not only a creative but a true visionary that wants to use her platform to inspire and be impactful through Strategic Partnerships around the world with a focus on her country of birth Jamaica.
LaToya McLeary Questionnaire
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion and creative direction?
A. So many things inspired me to pursue Fashion. I have always felt the most alive when im doing fashion. Fashion for me is Transformative. A hidden language. Fashion is art in motion, getting to tell my stories through art, through fashion, and through design is fulfilling and rewarding for me. I was born with this innate fashion ability, cutting and designing my own clothes when I was a teenager in Jamaica. The obvious choice was to continue to nurture this ability into a business.
Q. How did your experiences studying and working internationally shape your creative vision?
A. My experience studying and working internationally shaped my creative vision and process in so many ways. Fashion is a Global Market and a pull inspiration and ideas every where that I go. The things I see, the people and culture I interact with all over the world. It also gives me a clearer point of view for how I create. My Eyewear brand Hautelife World was created out of my love for travel and Fashion.
Q. Tell us the story behind launching your eyewear brand, HauteLife World.
A. HauteLife World has been so life changing for my career. I started in the Fashion Industry as a Stylist and Creative Director. Then later moved into eyewear design Which change my point of view on products and product development I love sunglasses it’s the most iconic and eye catching accessory. I wanted to create a lifestyle brand with Hautelife World Eyewear not just to sell eyewear but to show people that through fashion you can inspire and be impactful as well.
Q. What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
A. The most rewarding moment in my career so far is being featured in magazines I grew up reading as a little girl in Jamaica. Magazines like Vogue, ELLE, Marie Claire, Grazia among many other top publications in the world. This is a true testament about believing in my innate talent to build on something I love that means so much to me. Another career highlight for me is receiving so many messages from people telling me that I have inspired them so much and that to me, is the most rewarding moment as well in my career.
Q. How do you hope to use your platform to inspire and create change, especially in Jamaica?
A. I believe strongly in using my platform to encourage and inspire others especially in my home Jamaica. Jamaica is a country filled with so many Talented people but for most they lack visibility through lack of Resources and opportunities. If Jamaica had a more strategic and structured way of helping creatives in Jamaica it would be so impactful and Life Changing to many people. This is why myself and fellow Jamaican based in IceLand Carlotta Olason founded The Jamaica Fashion Council (JFC) We founded this platform to help develop and nurture Jamaican Creatives. I wish I had this platform when I started my fashion journey. For more about the Jamaica Fashion Council visit www.jamaicafashioncouncil.com
