Today we’d like to introduce you to Samee Ahmed.
Samee, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Along with our group of friends, my brother Saber and I always wanted to start a business. The idea stemmed from our collective academic and psychedelic journeys, came after an extended trip to Big Sur in California. We decided to go into the luxury clothing market because we thought that was a space where we could mirror those experiences and defamiliarize the ordinary. That’s really where Glass Cypress was conceived and it just took off from there. We now have our own building in Houston with an interactive showroom and a design studio. Our team is made of a unique set of creators around the world, each from a different art discipline. The goal of Glass Cypress has always been to change the customer’s expectations of these big fashion houses. We produce lower quantities of our clothing, but quality has always been the focus for us since inception.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has had its ups and downs so far. The most challenging bit has been navigating the fashion industry, which isn’t always easy. This is a space that moves very quickly, so when we first started it was a lot about finding where we fit and how our voice and mission could be heard. One of the biggest struggles we’ve dealt with along the way is learning the various phases involved in bringing a concept to life. We’ve definitely had to be patient and evaluate how we want to operate things. It has been a challenge, but a very rewarding one.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Glass Cypress – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a luxury menswear clothing line. The essence of our label is to manifest philosophical and psychological explorations through constructive and aesthetic designs. That means our philosophy is focused primarily on bringing explorations of the human mind into physical form. Once these holistic elements are defined, then they are conceptually layered with intricate methods of construction and an array of unique, polished fashion. That really sets us apart from other luxury brands.
As a company, we have been proud of our ability to maintain the highest quality within our garments, which has become a specialization of ours. Our inventory is professionally ironed every 48 hours at the minimum, to ensure the right fit and construction for the customer. We only use hand-picked fabrics from Italy, Japan, France and England. Though by doing this might mean less production of clothes, we would much rather sacrifice commercial ambitions for the sake of executing top-notch quality. Another aspect that differentiates us from other clothing brands is that we produce one main collection per year, with smaller capsule releases throughout, which allows us to combine several ideas into one, cohesive collection. That will always be part of our DNA.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We grew up in Cypress, Texas, an industrial town north of Houston. We would definitely recommend anyone to start in Houston, especially if you are a local. The city has been amazing in terms of its cultural diversity and the people here have always shown a high level of curiosity toward any discipline in the arts. We strongly believe Houston will soon become central to the fashion world.
What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
In terms of future, we are excited to announce Glass Cypress was selected by Flying Solo to be one of a handful of emerging designers to receive a runway show at Paris Fashion Week on Sept. 28, 2019. We will debut eight new looks from the collection while in Paris, with eight models showcasing the brand’s latest items on the catwalk. We are thrilled to bring our perspective to Paris.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1711 Indiana St, Houston, TX 77006
- Website: https://www.glasscypress.com/
- Phone: (281) 323-3864
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasscypress/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Glass Cypress
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