J.L. Creative Studios fashion line started by designer Jeremy Lavoie

FALL RIVER — Last year, Fall River native Jeremy Lavoie got his big break as a fashion designer. Now, he’s building on that success and bringing it back to his hometown as much as he can.

“It’s so overwhelming, but it’s such a good feeling too,” he said.

In 2021, Lavoie, worked with his brother, Jonathan Lavoie, and another partner, Stephan Solway, to launch J.L. Creative Studios to sell clothing he’s designed.

In the months that followed, his brand quickly picked up steam, with requests for his signature custom canvas jackets and vests coming in from NBA players and musical artists.

And, he’s begun working as a personal stylist for people like pro basketball player Ta’Quan Zimmerman and celebrity car broker Brandon Medford. He broke into that business by forming connections with people who bought custom jackets from him.

“Now, it’s become a partnership,” he said.

“It all started with one artist”:Fall River native Jeremy Lavoie launching fashion brand

Now, Lavoie is getting noticed by bigger companies including Carhartt, Fashion Nova and Ethika that are working with him and providing clothes for his clients.

Lavoie, a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, started working with his alma mater’s fashion department last year to teach students about the industry along with lessons on sewing and design. He’s also worked with other schools in the city including Talbot Middle School and Resiliency Preparatory Academy.

On July 30, he’ll be hosting an outdoor event (likely at Kennedy Park) to talk to kids about the fashion industry, with plans for a few NBA players to attend. Later this year, he also hopes to take on a few Fall River students as interns and bring them to fashion events in New York City and to his embroidery shop in Providence.

Along with teaching them the ins and outs of the industry, Lavoie also wants to encourage young people to develop their own personal styles and have the confidence to promote themselves and form relationships that can help them in the future.

“I get these questions all the time, ‘how did you meet all these people?’” he said. “I want kids to really see, ‘you can do this too. You can make these connections too if you put the work in.’”