Jai Lyle MCMLXXXII: A fashion brand that honors family, history, and culture

Jai Lyle’s journey into fashion wasn’t a direct path—it was shaped by years of exploration and a deep commitment to creativity. Reflecting on his life before launching Jai Lyle MCMLXXXII, Lyle explained, “I was focused on music during that time.”

Lyle describes himself as “more of a creative than a fashion guy,” attributing his artistry to a diverse range of influences. Growing up in a musically inclined family, he honed his creative mind through playing the alto saxophone, drawing, and experimenting with design. His grandfather, Dr. Thomas Lyle, was a renowned band director with tenures at Florida A&M, Alabama State University, and Stillman College, where a building bears his name. These rich familial influences shaped Jai Lyle’s approach to creativity as deeply personal and universally resonant. His move to Atlanta was initially driven by a desire to become a music producer, but his artistic vision extended far beyond music. “Even back then, I had ideas about how I dressed and created certain things,” he reflected.

While attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) and earning an MBA, Lyle took his first steps into the fashion world and other creative ventures. He co-founded a line called Luciano Lyle with a childhood friend, Gene Warren, from Orlando and co-created a pop culture TV show, Doin’ Da Fool, on WB with another childhood friend, IC Hartsfield, from Tallahassee. “I started a fashion line in college,” he shared, though his passion for fashion briefly took a backseat as he pursued music. After moving to Atlanta, Lyle worked with a music producer before heading to Los Angeles to collaborate on a capsule collection for Adidas. Though the project didn’t come to fruition, it marked a pivotal moment. “Coming back to Atlanta, I realized I had to make something happen—I had to seal the deal,” Lyle said, describing the drive that reignited his focus on fashion.

Jai Lyle MCMLXXXII stands apart in Atlanta’s fashion landscape, often leaning toward graphic tees and bold textures. Lyle’s designs, however, emphasize timeless cuts, detailed tailoring, and heritage-inspired elements. Drawing on influences like Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Karl Kani, Lyle balances classic craftsmanship and modern sensibilities. His attention to detail is evident in thoughtful touches like tailored cuffs designed to retain their shape and waistlines that naturally blouse out.

The brand, officially launched in 2020, had a soft debut featuring pieces like the Hankins Park Sweater. The designs honor Lyle’s family, including Dr. Sylvester Hankins, a pioneering Black physician in the Orlando, Florida community, where a park is named after him. One of the biggest inspirations behind the brand is Lyle’s mother, Doris, a designer, model, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority member during her time at Tuskegee University. She met Lyle’s father, Britt, a tennis player and Tuskegee Hall of Fame nominee there. Their love story became central to Lyle’s creative vision, with their tender gaze inspiring his trademark piece, Love Supreme (a title that pays homage to John Coltrane’s iconic jazz album). Reflecting on this, Lyle remarked, “Being a product of my parents’ love, I coined it A Love Supreme.”

The seeds of Jai Lyle MCMLXXXII were planted during this transitional period as Lyle reflected on his promise to his late mother, who passed away in 2005. “I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I knew I had to deliver on it,” he said. His mother, Doris, who studied fashion, guided his decision to build a brand that honors family, history, and culture. “This is a way to honor my parents, our ancestors, and everything they worked hard for,” Lyle noted.

The last color Lyle saw his mother wearing was red, a moment that left a lasting impression. That day, he promised to become the greatest version of himself and share his gifts with the world. 

For Lyle, fashion became more than a creative outlet—a canvas for storytelling. “It’s about elevating and building on our ancestors’ challenges, highlighting their successes, and using their sacrifices to help us ascend as a people and individuals,” he emphasized. When asked about his connection to fashion, Lyle explained, “Fashion is just a space I’m using as a canvas to tell my story and our story.”

The result is a brand that intertwines personal history with a broader vision of cultural empowerment, inviting wearers to carry forward their legacies while forging new paths. “As luxurious as the clothes look on the outside, they’re merely a reflection of the jewels within us all,” Lyle shares. The brand aims to inspire self-discovery, elevate the spirit, and ignite the energy needed for personal growth to “attract the luxuries of your mind,”  Lyle said. 

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