We are proud to introduce you to Maury Cesair of Chicago, IL.
Recently we caught up with Maury to learn more about his high fashion brands Cesair and C for Cesair that are sold internationally from his showrooms in China.
Q & A with Maury Cesair
BFW: When and why did you choose to open a showroom in china? How did this opportunity come about ?
CM: I currently have multiple showrooms around China located in Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Guangzhou. This opportunity came about through a business group that I joined here in China known as BNI. BNI (Business Network International) is a business organization of entrepreneurs and businesspeople that helps the network to increase and expand their businesses through referrals and collaborations. By joining this group my only purpose where to find the right people in certain industries to do business and collaborations with to sell back to North American and Europe. Little did I know that my fellow members saw more than that for me and presented the opportunity for me to expand my brand here in China.
The plan is to integrate into China through the acceptance of the influencers within the Chinese market. I would like to have my brand sold in popular concept stores, boutiques, department stores, and exclusive club house before launching a big flagship store here in China.
BFW: What type of clients do your store cater to. What is your ideal shopper in terms of target market?
CM: The CESAIR Brand caters two different clients. I currently have two brands CESAIR and CforCESAIR.
The type of clients for CESAIR are women and men who are entrepreneurs, business officials, politicians, musicians, artists, actors and anyone who want to exude a confident, powerful, courageous and bold image during work and social gatherings.. My goal is to show others their presence and for them to command their attention conquering the person inside of themselves.
The CforCESAIR clients are younger usually college students or in the early stages of their career who prefers Urban street clothing with a little preppiness. These individuals tend to make a statement with their clothing and are forward thinkers who love speaking out.
My ideal shopper is a person who loves to dress to impress, show their status &position and is not afraid of being different.
BFW: What is your merchandise assortment offered in your showroom?
CM: For CESAIR the assortment are of three categories; day wear, formal business wear and party attire for both women and men. We carry separates, dresses, suits and formal gowns. For CforCESAIR the assortment are of t-shirts, shirts, pants, jeans, shorts, outerwear and dresses for men and women.
BFW: What are your clothing price ranges?
CM: CESAIR has a contemporary price strategy for the RTW line ranging from 60-110 usd for separates, 100-500 usd for dresses, 150-650 usd for suits and 300-800 usd for gowns. customization ranges from 100usd and up couture and bespoke ranges for 600usd and up. CforCESAIR is at the budget price range starting from 20usd to 150usd.
BFW: Where can people go online to shop your brand?
CM: People can shop online for CESAIR at CESAIR.co and CforCESAIR at cforcesair.com
BFW: What is your brand story? Where were you born originally ?
CM: I was born and raised in Chicago, IL USA. After having a career in the US Army as a visual communicator director, obtaining an MBA and traveling the world, I chose to attend fashion school in my late 20’s at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale instead of pursuing my PhD in mass communications.
BFW: Who or What has been influential in launching a fashion career ?
CM: My fashion career was influenced through experiences that I made from living in Japan and in Europe. There is a totally different concept in wearing clothes that is exciting, self-expressive and uniqueness which drew me into that world. But it wasn’t until watching the movie The Devil Wears Prada, that I knew exactly what I was supposed to do with my talents as an artist and designer.
BFW: How long have you been a fashion designer? What advice will you give other for pursuing an international fashion career?
CM:I have been in the fashion industry since I was in high school creating and making my own clothes for various special events. However, I only have been a fashion designer for 5 years designing for particular clients in Chicago, Germany and royalty in Saudi Arabia while obtaining another career in the military.
My advice to others that are pursuing an international fashion career is to have a point of view that can translate and resonant throughout many countries. Second, have the capital of financial backing to expand your brand products and brand message across countries and thirdly be more than just a fashion designer but also a businessperson.
BFW: Describe your latest fashion collection?
CM: The latest collection for Cesair is a tribute to change which is symbolized by butterflies. So, you will see butterfly motifs on business suits, blazers, jackets and tops that are combined with colorful and sleek separates and dresses. This change is in reference to women progressing in career positions, leadership roles and social acceptance in higher roles. Butterflies was chosen to represent this change because they are creatures that physically changes their appearance and abilities through hard work and determination.
In the CforCESAIR introductory collection you will see printed graphic t-shirt, Cesair icon motif, sweatshirts, pullovers, jackets, jeans, pants, combat boots and round brim hats.
About Maury Cesair
Maury Cesair is a Chicagoan fashion designer based in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany. Through his artistic and creative designs in fashion, Maury contributes to the narrative of women empowerment and equality as he calls it “The Grit and Grace of a Woman”. This creative direction was manifest through his experience and examples of a what a strong woman is from his mom, his aunt’s , grandmothers and the women he served in the U.S Army with. Throughout his life Maury knows nothing less of strong woman. He always admires the strength that women possessed and celebrate that strength in his designs. Always having that strong woman in mind he combines his cultural experiences with essence of the military to create eclectic, bold and exciting designs.
During his teenage years, Maury and his grandmother, Bennie Barron, grew to have a special bond as she taught him the basics of sewing and spent all their time together doing projects and crafting.
At the age of 19, he left the country for the first time and moved to Japan for college and cultural experience. After a year he moved back to the United States, joined the U.S. Army only to be sent back out of the country to serve in Germany and in the Middle East, for the Iraq War.
Follow him at
https://www.facebook.com/Cesair/ https://www.instagram.com/cesair_official/