Designer of plus-size fashions celebrates 10 year mark
Jasmine Elder has been on quite a journey.
She dabbled in fashion when she was a Southwest DeKalb High School student in the 1990s but said her creations were more eye-catching costume than practical everyday wear. Now she’s a bona fide designer whose clothing can be seen on celebrities on red carpets and popular TV shows and can be found in boutiques and online.
“I started with $50 and a sewing machine from Walmart,” said Elder.
Elder is celebrating her 10-year career in the fashion industry and the longevity of her fashion line Jibri. Her styles are designed for plus-size women and include evening wear, poolside designs, bridal, pants, dresses, skirts as well as accessories and gifts. Her colors are bold, her fabrics are often breezy and flowing and she describes her designs as “glamorous.”
Elder said she’s been plus size her entire life and creates clothes she hopes will make women feel beautiful and empowered.
“I want women to feel beautiful every day,” said Elder. “We need to embrace our own beauty.”
Apparently, a growing number of people agree including stars such as singer Jill Scott. According to Elder, it was Scott’s purchase of multiple pieces of her line from a boutique that propelled her on the path to success.
Elder said she also supplies designs for TV shows such as Star in which rapper/actress Queen Latifah has been outfitted in Jibri wear, Empire in which actress Gabourey Sidibe has worn Elder’s designs and The Voice for some of its contestants.
From her showroom/workshop in Norcross, Elder and four employees handcraft her designs. The showroom is open by appointment only and ocassionally she has events open to the public. She also displays her designs at traveling pop-up shows and attends Fashion Week in New York.
Although Elder was making her own styles while in her teens, initially she didn’t consider a fashion career because she wasn’t aware that was an option and plus size wasn’t popular as it is today. Her clothes are made for women who are sizes 10 to 28 “ for the fashion-conscious curvy woman,” according to her website jibrionline.com.
Elder’s journey has included getting an economics degree from New York University, working 42 jobs (in fast food, retail, as a travel agent, museum worker and on Wall Street but not in economics). She credits friends such as her late mentor Jibri Mann, for which her business is named, for helping her along the way as well as fashion bloggers for creating buzz around her line. Elder said she’s been approached by people interested in purchasing her brand but so far she’s declined.
“I don’t know if I want that right now,” she said.
Elder will celebrate her 10-year anniversary April 28 at Bio Bio in Atlanta. The event will include an art installation, a tribute to a fashion photographer, introduction of her new collection and children’s fashion line and a party to cap it off. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP. For more information, go to jibrionline.com.
