Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Love.
Noah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2010, I made the move to New York City where I currently live full time. If I’m being completely honest – outside of chasing a dream, I was running toward, what I consider a “new beginning”. It was my opportunity to recreate who I was and free myself of experiences and people who made me feel small. Part of moving to NYC was this massive dream to model and become this big name. I unknowingly moved to NYC in September – during Fashion Week – I landed on the 10th and booked a Carlos Campos show the following week – now to be clear, in this same week I managed to be scammed out of 300 dollars for a room I thought I was renting and the job I transferred with pushed my start date by month – so I essentially was broke – I only had 500 dollars when I got on my flight to NYC.
Over the course of ten years, I’ve worked on several freelance jobs, doing some extra work for HBO, a few youtube series, Fit modeling for small designers in Brooklyn. I eventually booked a gig with Brooklyn Fashion Week to walk for a designer Pharoh, but I also ended up coaching runway and coordinating. In 2011, I landed an intern position with AMCO, at the time they were a clothing brand – in 2012 they became production company AMCO NYC – producing Fashion Week and the CEO and Founder promoted me from Intern to Creative Director to Runway Director – I spent the following eight years producing anywhere between 3 to 7 runway shows a day for three days every season.
In 2016, I launched iA Management Llc, it was my start to managing models and small brands. In 2017, I took on designer Erica Walcott NY as a brand development client, and I was actively managing ten models for print and runway.
In 2018, I renamed the modeling agency iA Models NYC and increased my roster to 22 models – all models of color, including trans models.
In 2019, I was fortunate enough to expand iA Models NYC to Los Angeles, Miami Florida and Atlanta – this has been a process that I was hoping for, however, it quickly proved to be a larger task, however me and my small team were committed. At the same time, Myself and two friends (Vena Smith & Floresca Isme) Launched VNF Productions Inc., at the time I was managing a model client of mine Floresca Isme and her new luxury bag collection, preparing for her launch during SS20. What should have been one show turned into a full business and leading us to producing a total of seven runway shows in 2019 and 1 major show in 2020.
My one desire during all of this was to create space for Black Models, Black Creatives, Black People, to feel seen and be heard. Everything I do with the intention to increase others and their lives.
It all sounds like a lot, but this is just me starting.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It really hasn’t, as much as I would love to say that I’ve handled everything with grace and accuracy, I can’t. Moving to New York was hard. I was homeless for a year, I ended up in a domestic abuse situation, I fell into depression, and I even for moment, lost my position with AMCO because I was so depressed.
Starting iA Models NYC was a huge step of faith for me, I honestly fought it for a while, because I didn’t want to be responsible for any one’s career but mine. It wasn’t till I realized that my life isn’t about me, it’s about those that I impact – I’ve always knew I wanted to make an impact on others, I just thought It would be through my own rise to fame – I wasn’t exactly wrong.
With starting any business, you need time, money and lots of it all. I had time, I had very little money. So I always kept a full-time position – It wasn’t a burden because I’ve always told myself to appreciate the opportunity to be tired. In doing so, I managed to be promoted while in retail six times, and when I moved to banking, I managed to be promoted twice.
Managing iA Models NYC and its extension cities is a task in its self, especially now with COVID, but doing that and managing VNF Productions Inc., Writing as Fashion Editor for Access Report, Serving as Brand Manage for Access Influencers and Director of Content for LC Parris Cosmetics – It’s all a challenge – but I’m built for this, I prayed for this! AND MORE!
Please tell us about iA Models NYC.
iA Models NYC: iA Models NYC is a boutique agency based out of New York City with talent in LA, Miami and Atlanta. The agency was founded on the bases of serving and cultivating black models – POC’s if you will, to be politically correct; we strive to create a safe space for models of color to come and explore their growing opportunity in the fashion industry. We are known for our small but effective team – providing insight into the fashion industry, understanding the vast but complex world of visual and interpreted art we so passionately refer to as design. Our clients are exposed to the daily working of the industry, not just the casting, show, and production – but all that goes into it. We specialize in the developing of our talent and long term support they have within the agency, no matter where they find themselves.
As a business owner, the most proud I’ve been, and continue to be proud of is our commitment to the person, not just the talent or client. I make it a point to involve the entire individual, not just the client aspect – I know this is unorthodox for some, however, for me as past model, I know what it feels like to feel a like a job 24/7 – I spent most of my career as model juggling my personal and career by myself, and it was tough, tack on being black, gay and basically poor, I ultimately gave into my depression and gave up on my career, and myself for a moment. I don’t want that for the next generation of faces. It’s why I named the agency iA Models – ” I AM ” represents the person and who they find themselves grounded in and where they choose to grow.
Other agencies have the power of legacy and established networks – we have time; we have time to devote to knowing our talent and time to pour into building lasting relationships with brands that mean something to both the talent and the agency – not just a check, but purpose and mission.
VNF Productions Inc: VNF Productions Inc. is a premier all-inclusive production company based in New York City, currently specializing in Runway, Brand Development and Influencer Marketing. The company was launched in April of 2019 – we produced our first event/panel discussion as our introduction to the city and the world. Our first season of Fashion Week in New York was our largest yet, we nearly 300 plus attendees and seven designers. As far as pride goes with VNF, I’m honestly proud of the mission to create and serve designers of color – If I can be frank, I’m proud of our work toward shining a permanent light on Black Designers. Our production company (VNF Productions Inc.) caters to the vision of the designer, we believe in community and giving back to it as often as possible, its why we created the Black Business Fund – to support POC’s who own and operate their businesses in Brooklyn (where are headquarters is) and we expand that help into networks we bring our productions to.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I try very hard to not to live in my past, it’s important for me to always be present and progressive – my choices have all led to where I am now, including this interview. If I were to change or enhance a choice or moment in my life? It would be trusting myself earlier in life. I questioned who I was, what I was capable of, very often.
Contact Info:
- Address: 41 Flatbush Ave Brooklyn NY 11226
- Website: iamodelsnyc.com
- Phone: 9175866919
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/iamodelsnyc
- Facebook: facebook.com/iamodelsnyc
- Twitter: twitter.com/iamodelsnyc
- Other: vnffw.com
Image Credit:
iA Models NYC / VNF Productions Inc.
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