Vintage Meets Modern this Pittsburgh Fashion Week

By Payton Ferris

As a suit maker, with a vintage appreciation stemming from family inspiration, Malcolm Staples pushes boundaries to create beautifully fitting pieces for both men and women.

Growing up, Malcolm saw his grandfather as a stylish man who dressed fashionably for events as simple as going to the barbershop. With this style in mind, Malcolm is able to pull from times such as the 1950s by utilizing accessories like ascots, scarves, and hats. By doing this, Malcolm is able to contemporize these details and place them in a “natural setting” within his work.

With trademark suit making, Malcolm ventured out into creating “elegant and tailored” three-piece suits for women. Despite “being a one-person operation”, he adjusted quickly to “follow demands” of his female clientele and now has more female clients than males. This expansion of style also inspired him to experiment more with popular female pieces by designing dresses and gowns as well.

Originally from Michigan, Malcolm comes from a “lower income, single parent household”, which taught him “the value of working hard” to find success. His mother is a large influence on his work as her love and support encouraged the possibilities that he could achieve.

His nephew Lamarr Woodley, who was an outside linebacker with the Steelers for six years and was with them for their Super Bowl XLIII win, introduced a connection to Pittsburgh for Malcolm. He was drawn to Pittsburgh by relating to aspects of the “blue collar town” and appreciated the hardworking community.

For the future of fashion, Malcolm hopes that the industry will proceed in a circular motion to keep up with evolving trends. With the importance of staying relevant, he hopes that designers will learn how to change with society without taking the rapid changes personally. Malcolm believes that we all have to “continue to reinvent ourselves along the way” to achieve our defined success.