Fashion | Arts & Culture | Arts, Culture & Community
Designer Tea Montgomery is joined by his family, from left to right: his father David Edwards, his brother Devon Edwards, Montgomery, his mother Rachelle Edwards, and his son Haiven. Montgomery launched a new project called ETHOS at The Third Space. Mindi Rose Englart photos.
Tea Montgomery is on a mission. He wants to dress folks in everyday costumes that help them express how they feel and/or how they want to feel. And he wants to bring people together and honor them, no matter where they are in their journey.
Montgomery laid out the vision for his latest creative project, ETHOS, to a full house of friends, family, and fashionistas at the opening reception at The Third Space in Hamden on Sunday. He said the evening was the first of a series of five events that will include music, video, food, and, of course, fashion, that he will host over the course of the year.
“A new art discipline I’m exploring is curating talent and producing experiences, telling stories through collaborative art,” he said.
Montgomery defines ETHOS as an introspective view into the traits and characteristics that form who we are, how we present to the world and where our power lies; the project is supported by a $20,000 Artist Corps Grant from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.
Montgomery is scaling up his business, Threads by Tea, with the ETHOS line, which consists of five themes: The Heroes (the villains and anti-villains walking the streets every day), the Jungle (which includes peace and beauty as well as predators and dangers), the Lovers (matching and coordinating sets), Clarity (futuristic, breezy, transparent materials), and Ethos (a culmination of all the collections).
The parts of the collection represent the journey of self discovery and self actualization Montgomery is on and the fashion line and associated events give form to the wisdom he’s accumulated along the way.
“This is me telling my New Haven story,” Montgomery said. “It’s who I am and how I contribute to the world.”
Looking regal and comfortable in a floor-length tunic and loose pants from his ETHOS Clarity line, Montgomery was clearly serious about the work he’s doing, but his sense of humor came through, too, as he explained how a piece from the Superhero line (shown at right in the photo above) has a skirt that can also be worn as a cape.
“Say you’re going to a ball,” he said with a smile. “Then some mayhem happens in the city. You need your cape and there it is.”
As guests considered the ideas, archetypes, and possibilities of the evening, Montgomery said, “Think about yourself. Are you a hero or a villain?”
Helen Kauder and V (Violeta Ware) wearing designs by Montgomery.
Guests wearing outfits by Montgomery mingled and talked about why they loved his work. They spoke of his creativity and attention to detail.
Helen Kauder said she became inspired by Montgomery’s ETHOS collection at a recent Table and Gallery event and asked if he would design an outfit for her using her own fabrics–pieces of silk she’d purchased 40 years ago on a trip to China and Thailand. He had it ready so she could change into it for the opening.
V (Violeta Ware) of Beware Design spoke about how Montgomery described his ETHOS collection.
“That’s why I appreciate Tea,” the designer said, while also wearing a Montgomery creation. “He appreciates art for what it is. Which is everything.”
Montgomery’s family–parents David and Rachelle Edwards, son Haiven, and brother, Davon Edwards (owner of High Caliber Sounds in Hamden)–a close-knit and creative group themselves, chatted with guests.
His mother welcomed people as they entered. She said that since he was young, Montgomery, who is now 37, has always had his own way of thinking and expressing himself.
“He’s a vibe for us, too!” she said, with a smile.
Top photo: Montgomery sorting through personalized name cards. Bottom Photo: Table design by Ronneshia Smith of Phoenix Design.
As part of the ETHOS experience, Montgomery invited local businesses to partner with him for the event’s food, drinks, music and decor. So, while guests enjoyed music by DJ Dooley-O and drinks and empanadas prepared by Chef Hazel Lebron of Caribe Soul and her staff, Montgomery’s other collaborators were hard at work below transforming an unfinished basement into a stylish event venue for the intimate ticketed dinner that followed the opening.
Chef Hazel Lebron of Caribe Soul and Ronneisha Smith of Phoenix Interior Decor.
Ronneshia Smith, of Phoenix Interior Decor said Montgomery invited her to do the decor for the event. She took inspiration from Montgomery’s fabrics, especially the clarity line, she said.
“Drapes on the ceiling. Flower tablescapes. I was going for elegant but eccentric,” Smith said.
The Third Space owner Sydney Williams and a friend prepare the space.
Sydney Williams, who has owned The Third Space with husband Mike Brown since July, helped decorate. She is a multi-disciplined creative and maker from New Haven. She’s also an Artist Corps grant recipient in Montgomery’s cohort.
Chef Steve Roberts of Nappé Roots served a thoughtful tasting menu. As each course was served, he explained to guests how they corresponded with Montgomery’s collections, like a spicy papaya salad to represent the Jungle and a savory duck cassoulet for The Lovers.
The mixologist for the evening was Lebron. Like Roberts, she concocted five cocktails to match Montgomery’s themes. Those drinks, mixed with the set list DJ Loren Jefferson chose, had people singing and dancing in their seats, and sometimes out of them, between courses.
DJ Dooley-O.
“He’s going to be a legend,” said DJ Dooley-O. “He’s on a legend ladder right now.”