From left, Zack Mexico band members Joey Lafountaine and John Saturley with Long Way Home designers Devontae Armstrong and Treveon Govan

Designers embrace their roots at Homegrown Fashion Show

Maggie Miles - Correspondent

In December, 2019, Treveon Govan was living in Charlotte – he was homeless, sleeping on a friend’s couch and feeling a little lost. His interest in fashion, though, was a constant for him.

He had always been into fashion and even had a concept for a clothing brand with his cousin Devontae Armstrong, but they weren’t sure where to take it. The people he was staying with started organizing a fashion show – it was a bunch of friends and creatives coming together to showcase their creativity. Flooded with inspiration, he thought, “If they can do this, why can’t I?”

He pitched Armstrong the idea for a fashion show that honored home, that featured the artists who inspire them, and that would bring together the community. A home-grown fashion show held in their hometown. Armstrong was in.

The Homegrown Fashion Show will be held in Manteo at the Dare County Head Start Center on June 11.

It’s about more than clothes. According to Govan and Armstrong, this show is a way to tell their story, their brand’s story and pay tribute to their hometown, Manteo, where it all started.

The cousins will pay homage to local inspiration, using the show to feature designers like Derik Wineland of Mom’s Sweet Shop, and Shane Farrow, 31, a Manteo native himself. Farrow created his brand Wescott (named after Wescott Park in Manteo) to honor and bring awareness to his hometown and neighborhood, so the premise for the show is especially close to his heart.

“I’m super excited about it,” Farrow says. “We are bringing something creative to Manteo. When we were growing up, we didn’t have this kind of creative opportunity, so I feel like it's something great, especially for the future generation.”

Many other local, young designers will also feature in the show, all from diverse backgrounds. That was another goal for Govan and Armstrong: bringing together urban culture, surf and skate culture, or “Manteo kids,” “beach kids” and people from different demographics and upbringings who might not normally be in the same room. Govan says he feels like he can be that bridge.

The cousins’ love of fashion and desire to be different since they were young. Since 2016, they dreamed of ideas for their fashion brand, sitting in Armstrong’s old car for hours, dreaming and talking about ideas and how they wanted to make a difference on the Outer Banks.

They came up with their streetwear brand’s name “Long Way Home,” seeing it as figurative for the paths in life.

“I feel like most people are on the long way home, and home is somewhat of a metaphor because it's not a person, place or thing, it’s a feeling. It’s an energy of fulfillment and aligning with whatever your purpose is,” Govan says. “Everything in my life has taken the long way. I wasn’t blessed with a silver spoon. I was never one to take shortcuts. So it's like everything has always been the long way home.”

For Armstrong, Long Way Home is about the journey individuals share to find something special that makes them happy.

“Growing up in Manteo gave me a hunger for change. We have limited resources here, and I noticed that from a young age,” Govan says. “This is home, and it’s a beautiful place, but I’ve noticed that there’s things missing in the culture here.”

For instance, he points out, other than sports, there weren’t a lot of outlets for them as kids. Neither of them realized they could be artists/creatives until later in their life.

“I ain’t nobody special, but what I am is somebody who sees what's not and I kind of took that amongst myself to say ok, we ain’t got it, but I think I can make it happen and I think I can bring a light,” Govan says.

Chris Sawin, executive director of Dare County Arts Council, saw that quality in Govan, which inspired him to become a partner for the show and help source its funding.

“Right away, we knew that Trey was onto something really special. His natural ability to bring together innovative artists with a common purpose is extraordinary,” Sawin says.

More than anything, the guys want to encourage local youth to not worry about what other people do, think or consider cool.

“Don’t be that guy that follows people. Be a leader. It’s 2021 – the whole fit-in thing is just dead. I’d rather you just be yourself at the end of the day. Don’t try to fit in with what your parents or whoever you’re around. If you want to wear certain things, just wear it and be happy,” Armstrong says.

Govan agrees, speaking from personal experience, saying, “When I was in school I was a sports guy. I didn’t really tap into my artistic ability and my creativity until later in life, but I want to show kids that it's okay to be creative and to be weird. Try different things. And whatever it is you find within yourself, stick with it, because I am someone with no experience in any of this, no degree, and we’re making it happen.”

The duo plans for this event to be more of a festival than a fashion show. It will showcase an array of artistic outlets – fashion, music, artwork, culinary arts – that they wish they’d see as kids.

A runway set up at the Head Start Center will feature local designers, including Local As It Gets, KIIIND, Ruckus, Mom’s Sweet Shop, Ruckus, Wescott, Starr Boutique, CCM Workshop, Amiligoisili and Made by Jinx. Following the fashion show, the runway turns into a stage for performances by local musicians Holden McOwen, Tshombe Selby and Zack Mexico. Food trucks, a car show, a local artisan market will also be onsite.

Govan hopes the event will inspire people to pursue the unfamiliar and embrace their curiosity, interests and passions. “I want people to see that it’s important to dream … and it's important to try things and fail and just to keep going.”

“That,” he says, “will lead you home.”

The Homegrown Fashion Show begins 6 p.m. Friday, June 11, at the Dare County Head Start Center in Manteo. General admission is free. VIP tickets available to purchase at www.eventbrite.com.