Fear of God fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo returns to FAMU, his alma mater

It was 1997, his first year at Florida A&M University, and Jerry Lorenzo Manuel Jr. was new to The Hill.

The student athlete found his way to the baseball diamond, following the footsteps of his father, former MLB player and manager Jerry Manuel Sr.

Little did the younger Manuel know then, he'd find his gift and a place in high fashion, snatching the attention of A-list celebrities like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Gigi Hadid, who've all been spotted wearing his luxury streetwear line: Fear of God.

More than 25 years later — after launching his wildly successful line and sister labels, partnering with mega brands like Adidas and Nike, and shattering perceptions of high-fashion gatekeepers — he returned to his Rattler roots.

He's better known as Jerry Lorenzo. This time, he came back to Tallahassee not as a student but as the featured speaker for FAMU's Black History Conversation.

The intimate discussion, moderated by School of Business and Industry Dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud, showcased a man who went from working part time at The Gap at Tallahassee Mall (now Centre of Tallahassee mall) while in college to amassing millions with his fresh eye and attention to detail.

One of his main takeaways was the importance of pursuing your passion over everything else. And, staying true to himself, no matter what room he entered, no matter who he encountered.

"You don't really get a chance to find that gift unless you give everything to what's in front of you," Lorenzo said.

Fear of God founder Jerry Lorenzo talks about inspiration

The part-time gig at Gap was his first taste of the retail world and the hard work it demanded.

Still, with sports in the back of his mind, Lorenzo said he initially envisioned using his bachelor's degree in journalism to land a public relations job.

Upon graduating FAMU, he decided to pursue an MBA at Loyola University Chicago, where he continued to work in retail for brands like Diesel and Dolce&Gabbana as a graduate student.

He later worked as a marketing director for a sports agency, while also promoting parties in Los Angeles. At the time, he noticed the look of some streetwear that mostly had graphics or logos.

"So my vision was for something that was in between street and luxury that didn't exist," Lorenzo said. "It wasn't necessarily a T-shirt with the graphic but it was the shape and fabrication."

The self-taught designer launched Fear of God in 2013 and later rolled Fear of God ESSENTIALS and Fear of God Athletics, which recently debuted in partnership with Adidas' new, exclusive on-court uniforms for the men's and women's basketball teams for the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers, according to ESPN.com.

He's made headlines throughout the country for his collections and racked up accolades along the way, including being named Wall Street Journal Magazine Fashion Innovator 2023 and GQ Fashion Awards Maverick of the Year 2023.

During the Q&A, more than a dozen students stood in line for a chance to ask Lorenzo questions ranging from how he overcame early obstacles, brand pricing and the hunt for his niche in the fashion industry.

FAMU President Larry Robinson said the conversation was "inspirational to everyone in the room, including me."

"But, I can imagine the students who are thinking that this person came from this institution and went on to these great achievements in his life," Robinson said. "I think he's sending a powerful message to all of them. Once you find yourself, the sky's the limit."

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU grad and Fear of God fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo speaks