Jujuan Lewis is staking his claim in the fashion world all the way from Chattanooga, Tennessee with a refreshing look at his preppy meets college line. The line represents comfort, streetwear, all enhanced with an educational look.
I spoke with the upcoming designer about his line, making fashion in the heartland, and the future, hopes, and desires of his line and where he sees it going.
How did you get involved in fashion?
I’ve always been infatuated with clothing and the art of piecing together different elements. It wasn’t until after college, despite having a finance degree, that I realized I could pursue fashion. The idea first struck me in January 2020, shortly before COVID-19. I immersed myself in studying fashion, watching shows, interviews, and learning from icons like Ralph Lauren. After discovering my design identity, I launched my brand in February 2021.
Where did you get the name for the line?
The name Arius Juan is a fusion of my brother’s name, Cadarius, and my own, Jujuan. I noticed that many successful fashion houses started as family endeavors, and I wanted to echo that sentiment.
Where did you get the inspiration growing up in Tennessee behind Collection 4 ‘American Prep’?
The inspiration came from my hometown of Chattanooga, where I attended both private and public schools. I observed the nuances and similarities in their uniforms, which formed the foundation for the collection. I also wanted to draw the parallels between the two such as the carbohydrate molecule printed skirt which represents the consumption of carbs in public school or the coffee colors of the collection which represents the over consumption of coffee at private schools across the country.
It seems to draw from neutral colors but with a streetwear sense. Was that the goal with this collection?
Absolutely. My aim with all my collections is to balance emotions and colors using American elements. I believe streetwear is a significant influencer in fashion culture, hence its presence in my designs.
Did you know you wanted to branch out and create skirts and jackets with this particular line?
Yes, expanding into skirts and jackets was always part of the plan. I wanted to capture the
complete aesthetic of prep and private school uniforms. Moving forward, all details and pieces attributed to a collection will meet at the intersection of the themes we want to convey.
The line appeases to both sexes and seems comfortable to the eye as well. Thoughts?
When I first started Arius Juan, I wanted to make sure comfort was a priority. Wearing what you want despite what others think is a huge deal for me. I’ve found that majority of people like an array of clothing outside of the standard they’ve seen. This can be seen throughout American Prep and other collections I’ve produced.
Where do you see this line going? What are your future endeavors?
My goal has always been to be the greatest conceptualist and creative director within the
industry. I see Arius Juan as a fashion house beyond measure which pieces in every major
retailer very soon. A couple of future endeavors would be establishing a global footprint as well as giving back to my hometown community to promote creativity and design and help foster a new generation of artists.
Where can we get your items? Online only?
All items are sold exclusively online at Ariusjuan.com.
