Cincinnati, OH - This year, the conversation in fashion gets a new thread, quite literally. Damar Fairbanks, Creative Director and founder of Lace / Cravat, is launching a new collection featuring tailored sport apparel. Renowned for his knack for archival influences and unexpected details, Fairbanks is set to refresh everyone’s wardrobes with pieces that are as clever as they are classic.

Lace / Cravat, the Cincinnati-based luxury lifestyle label officially announces the release of Season 2: Downtown, expanding the brand’s vision of archival menswear and womenswear rooted in American nostalgia, elevated tailoring, through a modern lens.

Built on the belief that true luxury lives in detail, Season 2 continues Lace / Cravat’s commitment to craftsmanship, vintage textile sourcing, and timeless silhouettes that bridge heritage and future.

Season 2 draws inspiration from the overlooked elegance of 90s downtown Cincinnati — an era where sport, tailoring, and cultural identity blended naturally. The collection introduces refined outerwear, elevated essentials, and signature pieces designed with the precision of classic menswear, reimagined through a contemporary ethos.

A Journey Woven with Purpose

Fairbanks’ road to design is as original as his collections. “I didn’t know I wanted to work in fashion. It started with a logo sketch before I joined the military,” he recalls. After serving more than three years in field artillery, including special duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fairbanks found inspiration in himself, where others saw only popular brands. In college, he transformed the utilitarian aesthetic of flak vests into elegant corsets and vests for runway shows, blending protection with panache.

His story, stitched together by service with 16 years in corporate as an apparel designer, curiosity, and an aversion to fleeting trends, eventually gave rise to Lace / Cravat. The brand’s philosophy? Elevating luxury to mean a deep dive into archival research, unexpected textiles, and vintage silhouettes, rather than just expensive price tags.

Timeless Over Trendy

In an age where fast fashion fills store bins and landfill sites, Lace / Cravat advocates for something different. “We want our customers to reach for our pieces in their closets years from now, finding them just as relevant and inspiring as the day they were bought,” Fairbanks shares. Rather than chasing the latest micro trends, he channels over 21 years of combined industry experience at giants like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Fruit of the Loom, and Perry Ellis into collections that marry quality with originality.

This “slow fashion” approach means every collection starts with an idea (perhaps the geometry of downtown Cincinnati’s architecture or the atmospheric nostalgia of the 1990s) before blossoming into limited-edition garments crafted from rare vintage textiles. By keeping runs small and production agile, Lace / Cravat sidesteps the wastefulness of mass production while delighting consumers with an eye for the unique.

Designing with Conscience

While sustainability is the talk of the industry, Lace / Cravat places authenticity above buzzwords. Instead, we limit waste by using most of our fabric, invest in natural fibers, and source vintage materials that have already stood the test of time,” Fairbanks asserts. The team produces most pieces right here in the United States, working closely with local factories to guarantee both quality and speed to market.

Fairbanks adds, “One of the perks of U.S. manufacturing is being hands-on by visiting the factory, discussing with pattern makers, and making sure every detail is just right. It’s about building real relationships and creating jobs, not just business transactions.”

Consumers’ appetite for quick, disposable fashion may have peaked and Fairbanks sees a swing back to long-term value and garment appreciation, especially among younger shoppers. “People want to know their clothes have a story and will last. The reality is that spending more on a garment actually saves money in the long run. A $100 sweater you love for a decade beats three cheap ones you toss a year later,” he explains.

Looking Ahead: Rooted, Ready, and Innovative

As Lace / Cravat’s line debuts, Fairbanks is laser-focused on growing from Cincinnati outward, with an interest in serving the Midwest before expanding nationally. “We want to offer something special: clothes with archival character, made domestically, designed with intent. And we’re excited to see where this new chapter is heading,” he says.

About Lace / Cravat

Founded by Damar Fairbanks, Lace / Cravat is a Cincinnati-based luxury apparel brand with an affinity for archival fashion, vintage textiles, and forward-thinking design. Produced in the United States in limited runs, each collection invites consumers to invest in quality and originality over price. Most recently, Nike invited Lace / Cravat to redesign the NBA All Star Game uniforms for the 2026 Game in LA. The Lace / Cravat jersey officially released and was featured in the NBA 2K video game for PlayStation and Xbox.

For more information about Damar Fairbanks, please visit https://www.damarfairbanks.com/