Meet Alvin Valley, Palm Beach Fashion Designer

This month, Out Palm Beach speaks with designer Alvin Valley, founder of the Alvin Valley fashion brand.

A Conversation with Alvin Valley

Can you explain why and how you want a woman to look and feel in your clothing?

It’s an ever-evolving story. The creative never stops. My brand really is about the woman I dress, coming into her own — empowered femininity, the juxtaposition of masculine lines and a woman’s silhouette. I am inspired by every one of my clients, friends. I want them to look beautiful, happy and, above all, expensive. (I want them) to know their self-worth, and express their confidence through my designs, walk taller and command a room. I design for the doyennes, even the ones in training.

You were born in New York and grew up in Spain. Can you tell me a little bit about your upbringing and eventually settling in the Palm Beah area? What inspired you?

Well, my journey has been unique in a way that most people didn’t have the childhood I had. I never felt like I belonged. Living in Europe, I was considered American, and moving back to America I was considered too Latin. My younger years I was lonely, though admittedly also an extrovert. I was the middle child … so I looked for attention outside of my home.

I eventually went to the University of Miami to study architecture … and dropped out to start my business in third year. I was 20. Gutsy. Still am, but wiser! I then moved to New York four years later as my brand grew, and I eventually became hailed as the “King of Pants.” I came to Palm Beach in 2021. I followed my clientele down here, and I am loving this chapter!

Tell us a little bit about your early childhood and your interest in fashion. You had told me a very interesting story about Coconut Grove, and a ladies T-shirt that you had designed and that gestalt moment when you realized a lot of young women were wearing your design.

As a child, as a gay boy, I was very popular with all the rich popular girls. It’s incredible how much power they had even over the bullies. And a lot of them are still friends with me, these many decades later! I still dress them, and now their daughters. too!

I opened my first atelier and shop in Coconut Grove, which is surrounded by all the girls’ private schools. I know my client. Instead of having lunch, they would come and shop during break. They all had credit card accounts with me, and so they shopped freely. One 15-year-old spent $35,000 in one year —  this is 1995!

At that time, I had designed a tank top that tied in the back and (gasp) I sewed my label on the outside so you could read my name. One evening I was at the movies and was waiting to get to the counter. In front of me there was an ocean of girls buying tickets, and my date signaled to look at what they were wearing … they all had the top in different colors. I realized I had done enough in Miami and needed to go to a bigger market, New York, and the rest is history.

What were the basics for the line created in New York, and what was your goal for women with your designs during that time?

Well, New York gave me the freedom to design a real wardrobe. I could work with wools, cashmere, et cetera — all the fabrics I couldn’t use down in Miami. I also focused in more tailored clothes. The brand and I became much more sophisticated. The girls I dressed were becoming businesswomen, going to charity lunches and balls. We evolved together.

From New York you took your designs to the Palm Beach area. What was your impetus, and what was it about Palm Beach, the people in fashion, the environment or all of the above, that made you decide to launch in Palm Beach?

During the pandemic, I was doing lots of made-to-measure in my shop in Southampton. By October, all my clients were saying that they were moving to Palm Beach … not one mentioned Miami. So, I figured this was data I was getting. I immediately called my friend to find me a spot on Worth Avenue. The three-month pop-up turned into three years! This stint inspired me to evolve from a New York tailored style to embracing the Palm Beach lifestyle, which is lots of color, tons of caftans, breezy dresses … and no pants, really, which is what I’m known for. But that’s where I need to make my clients happy. That’s the evolution. But we’re revisiting pants now with the launch of a denim line.

How did you meet Johnna Pomasan, and how have you two teamed up in the hopes of making your brand global?

Eventually the friendship turned into a business relationship. I’m so excited over the new denim line, particularly the jeans! The fit is amazing on every body shape. They are miraculous!

The response to them has been overwhelming, and we are keeping up with orders as fast as we can. The company is fast becoming all encompassing. Every woman will have access with our new online store. We will be in every woman’s closet … and soon (we will) be in men’s closets also! The future is bright with Alvin Valley.

What else would you say about this partnership with Pomasan?

Johnna is an amazing woman, client and now friend. She loves what I do and believes so much in the vision. She is a dream client for any designer. She’s willing to try anything, and the way she approaches life is really an inspiration. I am so lucky to have her and her husband in my corner. They support me in all my endeavors. We were recently in Paris for the pop-up shop opening during Fashion Week and then did factory visitors all over Italy. It’s been a fun journey!

We currently have a great collaboration with the Four Seasons, which we started last year with the launch of Four Seasons Chicago. We are discussing other locations.

We have a summer shop in Southampton on Jobs Lane, and we have a shop-in-shop at the Faena Hotel in Miami. Last year we also opened our flagship in the North Palm Beach/Palm Beach Gardens area, which is starting to grow.

All of my interviews seem to have a common thread: They fall in love with the Palm Beaches. Can you tell me what you think, what you love and what you feel about Palm Beach?

Palm Beach is a dream. What’s not to love? The elegance of its people, everyone is so polite and civilized. The architecture and the beaches are beyond everyone’s dreams. It’s really a spectacular setting to live and work!

What advice would you give young creatives or business people about how to start a business? Also, what advice would you give the young LGBTQ+ community about how to be true to yourself and stand out in life like you?

Starting anything in life takes a lot of courage. I really had no fear starting my business, and I have been able to succeed in building something, because I relentlessly move forward. I have failed as well, but have learned so much from that! Creative people need to open themselves to be independent, yet able to ask for help from their circle. I didn’t do it alone and am definitely not doing it alone now. It takes a village.

As far as the LGBTQ+ I would give the same advice. You have to be yourself, but also know that in business it’s our clients who take center stage. If the design had a fabulous sleeve, but the client looks better without it, make the client look best. That’s the winning formula: a balance of ego and selflessness.

Shop Alvin Valley at alvinvalley.com.

Frank D’Agostino is a playwright, composer, executive producer, figure skater and active member in the Southern Florida community.