Youth Profiles

Meet Mekahel Butler, age 24, from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. He is a featured designer in the upcoming Passion And Paradise Fashion Show Fundraiser event on May 16 to benefit YourPassion1st. He designs and creates his clothing line Glo-Babies in a lab in Austin (“aka” the garden level of his beloved grandmother’s home). He has been mentored by YP1st’s executive director, Chris Thomas, for 7 years, and they've forged a close collaboration over the years. Q: Why did you start your clothing line, Glo-Babies? Mekahel: When I was 14, one of my good friends passed away through gun violence. And I saw other premature deaths happen to young people.  I couldn't fathom how many individuals the same age as me that was just passing away. I just couldn't fathom, like, we 14 and 15 years old! No way we should be feeling like this, and living in such fear. I felt like I wasn't born to just be out here living in fear. Like, no. The world is too big for that. At that time, I didn't even know what was outside of my zip code. So it's like, man, it starts somewhere, so I had to start. That was my start. My friend was calling himself Glo-Baby at a point in time. It was just one of those West Side slang words, where if you knew you was a glo-baby, you a person that like to put on nice clothes, like to look good, smell good, feel good at all given times. You’re not ashamed of it, just unapologetically being in that glow, baby. Q: I’m so sorry for your loss. Your resilience is inspiring. What is the philosophy of your fashion? Mekahel: Over time, my focus changed. I was speaking mainly to my friends and people my age. Fast forward 7 years, now, anybody could be a glow baby. Anybody can glow like no other. Anybody can be a trendsetter of tomorrow. And it could be through fashion, it could be through anything. What people see us doing today, they're getting inspired and want to do that tomorrow. That's pretty much how the world goes around:  inspiration. People are gonna get inspired, and some people are gonna be like, hey, hey, hey, Imma try to get up, and Imma put my own little spin on it, and Imma do that tomorrow. Imma rest on it, Imma lay on it, and Imma get to work on it. People just getting inspired by others. It's each one teach one, and that's something that I genuinely hold dear to my heart. Q: I love it. You're inspiring me! I hear your excitement, and it's contagious. What’s new in your line? Mekahel: I got a lot of stuff about to come out, actually. I'm working on dropping sneakers that I've been working on for about 4 years now. My latest line is GB4L. It means Glo-Babies For Life.  It means: We don't die, we just multiply. It says, open your eyes and trust your glow. Last year my best friend passed away in a tragic car accident. His name was Jack, so I made a collection for him.   Q: So much loss. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your other friend. You are being featured as one of several young designers in an upcoming Passion And Paradise Fashion Show that's a fundraiser for YourPassion1st on Saturday May 16th.  What does it mean to you to be a featured creative at this event? Mekahel: I don't join stuff if it’s not meaningful to me. But anything that Chris got going on has a meaning behind it. YP1st itself is just so inspirational. Of course, I'm always looking to do more collaborations with Chris. I worked for him last year during the summer, helping out with the Young Ambassadors Program at the Oak Park Library. It was real fun, and very much needed for me as well, due to the fact with me losing my best friend. And, the fashion show is fashion with a purpose and glowing up with creatives, showcasing me and several other young fashion designers. I’m excited to collaborate with them. I've always had a voice for the youth, and always advocated for the youth. That fits with my Glo-Babies brand. And, finally, man, I'm just happy that Chris, he back and got the ball back rolling. He has had a lot of personal stuff going on, and I’m happy that he’s alive and well, and… he inspires me: To keep my passion first, regardless of what's going on around me and what's going on in my life. Want to check out Glo-Babies fashion?

• Get tickets to the Passion And Paradise Fashion Show here.
• Check out: https://globabiesworldwide.com

Mekahel demonstrates amazing reliance and creativity. Growing up on the West Side isn't always easy. Mentors and adults like Chris Thomas are working hard every day to give youth like Mekahel safe landing places. Help YP1st do our important, life-changing work by attending the Passion And Paradise Fashion Show Fundraiser, or donating here.