Photo: Shaniah Armani  

Womenswear fashion designer Raheem Zwade Devenish has always known fashion was his calling. With an “instinctual” approach to designing, he says, “I was around four or five years old when I fell in love with the process of making clothes.”  

After a decade designing red carpet-ready womenswear—under his eponymous label—the Trinidadian-born, Brooklyn-based designer is turning his attention to menswear. His recent trip to Paris, France, saw him representing his brand both as designer and model, posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in pieces from his Fall/Winter 2025 collection.

Adding his own spin to the viral 2016 throwback challenge, Devenish shared that he received celebrity co-signs that year—most notably from Naomi Campbell. And with archived menswear designs worn by Future and Kofi Siriboe, Devenish is now looking to expand his label offerings for Spring/Summer 2026, and beyond.  

Read our exclusive interview with Devenish below to learn more about what’s next for him and the brand.

BROTHER: How many years have you been working in the fashion industry?

ZWADE DEVENISH: I’ve been working in the fashion industry for over 13 years. My first major gig was working an internship for the Billionaire Boys Club clothing brand, back in 2013, at the Roc Nation headquarters, here in New York. Since then, I’ve been building my career across various areas of fashion and growing, both creatively and professionally.  

Photo: Shaniah Armani

When was the moment that you realized fashion design was your calling?

As a child growing up in Trinidad, I realized fashion design was my calling as I spent most of my time in my mother’s boutique—an ideal place, rather than being outside in the hot sun, watching my dad play soccer. I was around four or five years old when I fell in love with the process of making clothes, and even at that age, it felt instinctual—I would watch her create, cut, and sew garments. Looking back, that was the moment I understood this is my calling.

What inspires you as you create your collections? And are there any challenges that you may face in presenting your work to the world?

I’m deeply inspired by a woman’s resilience, her femininity, and her ability to navigate the world with strength and grace. The women I know and love are a constant source of my inspiration when I create. That inspiration can shift depending on the collection—on the source, the muse, and the emotional direction of my art—but one thing always remains consistent: I design for a very specific person. My work isn’t for everyone, and I’ve learned to lean into that. I spend a lot of time being intentional about who I’m designing for, as I design for a woman who is comfortable in her clothes and confident in her skin.

One of the biggest challenges I face is visibility. Having my work seen by the masses on a global scale and getting the right eyes on my womenswear collections—while staying true to my vision—is an ongoing process.  

Who is pictured as a reference on your creative mood board?

RIHANNA!! I feel so connected to her Caribbean roots, and I can relate to her on so many different levels. I came to the United States from Trinidad (at the age of 7), and I had to assimilate into a new country and culture. But beyond that, I love her sense of style. Her level of taste is immaculate, she looks great in anything, and her being Caribbean is just the icing on the cake. I would love for my designs to be worn by her one day. I’m shooting my shot here, lol!  

Photo: Shaniah Armani

Why do you think it’s tough for emerging designers to get started in the global fashion business?

It’s tough for emerging designers to break into the global fashion business because of capital, access, and most certainly, the gatekeepers. The fashion industry is still structured in a way that favors those who already have proximity to power, funding, and visibility—but none of those barriers have stopped me. I’m fully aware of the lack of equity when it comes to Black creatives, Black talent, and of course, Black designers! Navigating this industry means consistently pushing against systems that weren’t built with us in mind. My journey has been about creating my own access, building my own momentum, and creating my own space within that structure, and refusing to let those limitations define what’s possible for myself or my brand.

Where do you envision your brand within the next two to three years?

Over the next two to three years, I see my brand expanding with intention. I’m currently developing a new collection that includes more menswear, which feels like a natural evolution of my work. I shared images of myself wearing some of the garments in Paris, last September, and I think it may have gone over people’s heads because I’ve never positioned myself as the “model” in a traditional, highly produced way. When I present my art to myself, it’s usually stripped down—shot casually with an iPhone camera, without the bells and whistles. That choice was deliberate.

Photo: Zwade Devenish

I’ve experienced significant success in menswear, from my first high-profile client being Future (in 2017), to most recently, the actor Kofi Siriboe wearing the brand (in 2024). This new chapter is about celebrating that journey—both the brand and my vision. It’s about having the audacity to be a little Black boy from Trinidad, coming to America and pursuing his dreams unapologetically. Paris has always been part of that dream, too, and doing a shoot there felt symbolic—a personal and creative milestone. Moving forward, you can expect to see more of that intentional storytelling, more visibility, and a deeper connection between my identity and the brand. The future of the brand is bolder and more personal.