He has style — and swag

What is swag?

You’ll know it when you see it — and you’ll see it in Philipé Winston-Weeden, the mastermind behind Kartier` Couture Clothing Company.

The 29-year-old Canton resident and budding fashion executive uses the words “style, substance, and swag” to describe his new clothing line. He says swag is “confidence in who you are, what you do, and how you do it.”

What he is doing is launching a clothing line that expresses his swag and allows others to do the same.

“If you have style,” Weeden says, “you can put on a $5 shirt and still look good.”

His company, launched in Cleveland in 2007, has eight employees. A Garfield Heights native, Winston-Weeden said he plans eventually to move the headquarters to Stark County, where he and his wife and son live. He relocated to Canton to be near his church, Breath of Life Christian Center, and his pastor and friend, the Rev. Sheldon Brown.

Winston-Weeden said he started out in the fashion business when he was only 5, modeling clothing with his twin brother. His mother was a seamstress.

“Since I was first able to dress myself, I’ve always dressed out of the box,” he said.

A semi-professional football player for the Cleveland Cobras, Winston-Weeden said compliments from his teammates inspired him to branch out his love for fashion into a business.

“In 2007, I said, ‘Focus more on the fashion line than on football,’ ” he said, noting it gets harder to play as he gets older. “The pain doesn’t go away as easy.”

Winston-Weeden’s line, designed entirely by him, features what he considers staples, including a classic-fitting, short-sleeved bandline shirt, a revival of the classic ’80s Members Only jacket, T-shirts and tank tops, hats, vests, bow ties and messenger bags — all with the embroidered signature ‘K`’ trademark in bold colors.

Affordability is a priority to him and he is striving to keep his costs down.

“I want everybody to be able to wear it. I love it. It looks good. Why price it at $200 a shirt?” he said.

Winston-Weeden even took sewing classes to educate himself on each part of the fashion business.

“I have to know every aspect of the business,” he explained. “I have to know how long it takes to make something.”

Local fashion designer and tailor Curtis Strickland of Strick-ly Fashions tailored Winston-Weeden’s new Distinguish Collection, which is predominately black and gold clothing.

“It’s very metro,” said Strickland. “It’s worn by a man, but by a man with flair. It’s a softer men’s line.”

Strickland calls Winston-Weeden young and innovative and believes it’s time for his line to get more public recognition.

“He has a good following already. It’s time to get these things out,” he said.