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-029- r Memphis can dress too. It’s not limited to geography, it’s on the individual.” The Black Farmer By James Jones Keithville, Louisiana is a small town right outside of Shreveport, and about two hours outside of Dallas. It’s also the place that birthed Isaac McFarland, a More house College junior majoring in Business Marketing. Those here in the AUC know him best as "The Black Farmer.” As the moniker suggests, McFarland grew up on a farm. “Essentially, my family grew up on a farm,” McFarland said. “We’re 25-plus years in raising black angus cattle. We also show them; it’s like a formal dog show, but with a cow. He laments the fact that Blacks are un derrepresented in this endeavor. Often times, another Black family will join the competition only to leave two years later. It’s lonely at the top, indeed. He proudly shows off a picture on his phone of Coco Chanel, one of the family’s show cows that they got from Illinois. “The lifespan of these cows is like two years, it’s so fast-paced,” McFarland said. “At the age of six months, we start to wean them to get them show ready. It’s a lot of tying them up, brushing them, washing them, blowing them off. It’s work; I just grew up working.” For McFarland, understanding his up bringing on the farm is crucial to his story and his entrance into the world of style and fashion. “What guided me into fashion, I would isay, is the farm,” he says. “The clothing is very natural to me. You have to be able to work in it." This is further compounded considering the fact that in elementary and middle school, he was required to wear a uniform, iwhich meant that there was little space for individual expression there. Style 'wasn’t really a thing yet. ■However, once he got to high school, 'things began to change. '“I went to a private school with people who didn't grow up on farms,” McFarland : said. "So for me, it was about leaving 'those spaces and going back twice a day feeding the animals. It’s a lot of transi tioning. So, I would say there, I grew my 'best ’sense of style.’” He was also influenced by his siblings, in THE SARTORIALISTS particular, an older brother who also at tended Morehouse. He exposed Isaac to streetwear. “My older siblings really influenced my style,” McFarland said. “My brother is like slick bougie, so he was always wear ing Polo.” From there, Isaac experimented like a mad scientist. “It was trial and error, for real,” McFar land says. “I think that’s the best way to learn your own style.” He wouldn’t say he models himself after any particular celebrity, but he did learn from watching others' swagger. He always appreciated the way that Pharrell and An dre 3000 have their own lane. “I think it’s all about how you carry your self,” he said. “It’s all about how you move. You could have the best outfit and still be a cornball.” He also makes sure not to look too hard at what others are wearing, because oth erwise; he would only end up looking like them, which he sees as disrespectful. That’s also his best advice for anyone looking to develop their own style. "You never want to just copy anyone,” McFarland said. “That’s plagiarism, and at some point, you have to be true to your self.” Staying true to himself and true to his family means everything for McFarland. That’s why all of his clothes carry the “McFarland Family Clinic" logo, which he wears as a badge of honor. Fashion is his way of fulfilling his ultimate goal: provid ing for his family and educating the youth on the important things in life. From day one, Maya Reynolds has always been passionate about fashion. Growing up, she took a special interest in Rihanna and her sense of style. She’s al ways been a fan of Rihanna’s willingness to experiment with her clothing. Today, she counts influencer Aleali May and Mar jorie Harvey as her biggest inspirations. This is reflected when one asks her to de scribe her aesthetic. “Very street chic,” Reynolds said. "I love gym shoes. It’s rare that you’ll catch me wearing heels unless I have to. I’m in love with sneakers; and then outfit-wise, I just love to be comfy, but I also like to show my figure.” She’s especially passionate about show ing her figure because she sees so many people being shamed for doing the same. Despite being such a stylish person, Reynolds typically avoids the spotlight. She never wants to be seen as the person doing too much. "I’m very into humble-flex,” she said. "I don’t like for things to say ‘Balenciaga’ or ‘Gucci,’ anything like that. If you know, then you know. I’m not really into taking pictures to flex.” Regardless of her obvious fashion acumen, Reynolds doesn’t see herself becoming a clothing designer. Instead, she’d rather be a personal shopper, putting clothes and outfits together. Of course, she’d love to style her role model, Rihanna. That being said, the ultimate goal is to open her own “Geek Squad,” with an all black woman staff of technicians. It goes without saying that they'd have a stylish workplace. "Stylistically, I want my business dressed like ‘this is today’s color scheme, do what you want with it,”’ Reynolds said. “I’m very big into tattoos; I have nine, so I defi nitely don’t see my business as a place where you have to be all covered up. I want people to be able to be themselves, but still look put together.” Who says being yourself and being a pro fessional are mutually exclusive?