Today we’d like to introduce you to LYNETTE LASHAWN.
Hi LYNETTE , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When people see the television appearances, magazine features, celebrity clientele, or major productions I’ve been a part of, they often assume my journey began in the spotlight. The truth is, it began behind the scenes.
For more than twenty-five years, I immersed myself in every facet of the fashion industry. I worked behind the scenes in fashion production at New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and other major fashion productions, where I learned how brands are built, collections come to life, and fashion influences culture, commerce, and communities. I wasn’t chasing recognition. I was studying the architecture of the industry, knowing that every experience would prepare me for something greater.
Some of my most meaningful lessons, however, happened far away from the runway. While working at Daffy’s, I spent countless hours styling women in the dressing room. They often came in searching for an outfit, but they left with something much more valuable: confidence. Watching women see themselves differently through fashion changed my perspective forever. That’s when I realized fashion wasn’t just about clothing. It was about transformation, empowerment, and helping people recognize their own worth.
That philosophy became the foundation of my career.
More than sixteen years ago, I founded Off The Hanger in downtown Newark, creating more than a boutique. I created a destination where fashion, confidence, and personal style intersect. After spending more than two decades in the industry, I launched High Street Original, my luxury outerwear and leather accessories brand. The name is deeply personal. It’s named after High Street in Newark, the block where I grew up. Every collection pays tribute to the community that shaped my resilience, creativity, and determination. It’s a reminder that where you come from can become the very foundation of where you’re destined to go.
Over the years, my career has expanded across product development, styling, design, creative direction, fashion production, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural curation. I’ve had the privilege of designing for remarkable women, including Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union, and Sarah Jakes Roberts. My work has been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Essence, Ebony, United Airlines’ Hemispheres, and Budget Travel. I’ve appeared as a fashion expert on PIX11, was featured on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip, appeared in HBO’s And Just Like That…, and worked on The Devil Wears Prada 2. Along the way, I’ve been honored with awards recognizing my leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, and contributions to both the fashion industry and my community. Those accomplishments have been incredible milestones, but they’ve never been my motivation. They’ve simply affirmed that I’m walking in my purpose.
I’ve also always believed that success carries a responsibility to reach back. Throughout my career, I’ve styled women rebuilding their lives after surviving domestic violence, helping them rediscover confidence through personal image. I’ve mentored emerging creatives, taught fashion boot camps and industry workshops, and shared the knowledge I’ve gained because I believe the greatest measure of success isn’t what you achieve for yourself, but what you make possible for others.
As the retail landscape continued to evolve, I recognized that my next chapter wasn’t about opening another store. It was about building something bigger than myself. After spending decades watching fashion drive tourism, investment, and economic growth in cities around the world, I began asking one simple question: Why not Newark?
That question became Newark Fashion Night Out.
I founded Newark Fashion Night Out because I believe fashion can be a catalyst for economic development, cultural pride, and community transformation. My vision extends far beyond producing fashion experiences. I’m building a citywide platform that creates opportunities for designers, retailers, artists, beauty professionals, photographers, restaurants, hotels, students, and entrepreneurs while positioning Newark as a premier fashion destination. Fashion is simply the vehicle. The true mission is creating lasting economic impact and expanding opportunities for the people and businesses that call Newark home.
When I think about legacy, I don’t think about magazine covers, television appearances, celebrity clients, or awards. I think about the doors I’ve opened, the lives I’ve impacted, and the platforms I’ve built that will continue creating opportunities long after I’m gone. If my work inspires the next generation to dream bigger, create boldly, and believe that Newark belongs on the global stage, then I’ll know I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
Fashion may be my medium, but legacy has always been my mission.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has shaped the leader I am today.
Like many small business owners, the pandemic dramatically changed my business. As consumer behavior shifted and retail evolved, I realized I couldn’t simply rebuild what once was. I had to reimagine what was possible.
That season became a turning point. Instead of focusing on rebuilding one business, I began thinking about how I could create opportunities for an entire city. After spending more than twenty-five years in the fashion industry, I understood that fashion could be a powerful driver of tourism, economic development, and the creative economy.
That vision led to Newark Fashion Night Out. What began as a response to a changing industry became a platform designed to create opportunities for designers, artists, retailers, beauty professionals, hospitality partners, and small businesses while positioning Newark as a premier fashion destination.
I’ve learned that setbacks aren’t the end of the story. Sometimes they’re the very thing that prepares you to build something even greater.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work sits at the intersection of fashion, culture, business, and community. Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve built a multidisciplinary career spanning fashion production, product development, styling, design, creative direction, retail, entrepreneurship, and cultural curation. I’ve had the opportunity to work behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and other major fashion productions, while also designing for women including Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union, and Sarah Jakes Roberts. My work has been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Essence, Ebony, and other national media, and I’ve appeared on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip, HBO’s And Just Like That…, PIX11, and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Today, I’m best known as the founder of Newark Fashion Night Out, a citywide platform that uses fashion as a catalyst for economic development, tourism, and cultural impact. What sets me apart is that I don’t just create fashion experiences—I build platforms that create opportunities for others. Whether I’m mentoring emerging creatives, collaborating with cultural institutions, or bringing together public and private partners, my work is always centered on creating meaningful, lasting impact.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single accomplishment. It’s knowing that I’ve built a career that proves fashion can do more than inspire style. It can strengthen communities, elevate cities, and open doors for the next generation. That’s the legacy I’m committed to building.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Newark is its resilience, creativity, and authenticity. This city is filled with extraordinary talent, rich history, and people who genuinely care about seeing Newark thrive. From its artists and entrepreneurs to its cultural institutions and small businesses, there’s an undeniable energy here that’s inspiring. Newark has always been a city of innovation, and I believe we’re just beginning to realize our full potential.
If I could change one thing, it would be how often Newark is underestimated. Too many people still see the city through an outdated lens instead of recognizing the incredible progress, creativity, and investment happening here. I’d love to see more collaboration, more support for our creative economy, and more people choosing to experience Newark firsthand rather than relying on old perceptions. That’s one of the reasons I created Newark Fashion Night Out—to help tell a different story and showcase the city through the lens of fashion, culture, and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://IAMOFFTHEHANGER.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/off_thehanger/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOUTIQUEOFFTHEHANGER/
