Our Story
The Seeds of Smokey Vale
Smokey Vale actually began in spirit when our founder went to visit his relatives in the UK...
The boutiques of London in the 80's were the epitome of cool. When Smokey Vale’s founder, Paul, brought clothes from London back to New York, his friends went crazy for them. Giving in to their requests, he sold his new clothes to them, and continued this routine with continued trips to London.
He’s since gone on to build relationships with underrepresented brands wherever his travels have taken him. After a successful career in the corporate world, Paul faced a number of life-altering circumstances back to back, compelling him to take stock of his career and consider what really mattered. He resolved to open a boutique that would showcase his curated selections and engage with the community, and he’d name it after a beautiful neighborhood from his hometown.
Once Paul got to know Luis, he invited him to join the store as Creative Director, knowing he would bring his own cultivated network of labels and companies. From the brands Smokey Vale stocks, our barbershop services, to the events we host, community plays a role in every aspect of the store.
Founder
Paul Howlett
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Paul moved to Brooklyn in the late 80's. A successful career in finance took him to many places like Brazil and New Zealand, but he always had an immense love of fashion and wanted to have his own store that speaks to his dedication to community values. The store’s namesake is a serene neighborhood nestled in the hills of Kingston overlooking the bustling urban landscape of the city. Smokey Vale Brooklyn represents that aspirational place, where you can belong to an elevated community.
Creative Director
Luis Paez
Lou moved to Flatbush, Brooklyn at a young age and grew up within a circle of like-minded creatives, musicians, designers and artists. With a background in photography, he worked in many small boutiques always connecting on a personal level with brands he admired. As Creative Director, he curates and organizes store events and products and provides the voice for Smokey Vale’s social media presence.
Denim Specialist / Embroidery Artist
Ramell-Correen Fredrick
A Queens native, Ramell has called Brooklyn home since 2008. At a young age Ramell knew that he wanted a career in art. He has explored with various mediums over the years, but started working with textiles and thread around 20 years ago. He has the answers for a lot of your denim based questions and also your guy for an alteration or to save your favorite jeans from a slow death. Additionally as an Embroidery artist, Ramell has been making one of a kind, hand cranked, thread on fabric art for the last 5 years utilizing a 100+ year old Singer machine.
The Store
Tuesday - Saturday
11am - 7pm
Sunday
12pm - 6pm
