CLEVELAND, Ohio — From wedding aisles to boxing rings, Jasmine Rene Johnson has carved out an unconventional niche in the fashion world. The 36-year-old Cleveland designer’s creations are now making an impression on major networks like ESPN and Showtime during boxing matches.
“It’s pretty awesome to have your work on TV every couple months,” Johnson says of her designs.
Johnson’s entry into boxing fashion began in 2015 when a local boxer’s referral led to a stream of custom orders from fighters across Atlanta, Texas and Ohio. Her partnership with G&M Boxing expanded the business, with Johnson regularly outfitting three to four of their fighters.
Her elaborate boxing outfits feature materials ranging from crocodile vinyl to rhinestones, with one standout piece being a replica Michael Jackson military jacket, complete with authentic epaulettes and rope detailing, created for a Cleveland boxer.
Currently, Johnson creates custom trunks for the Mason brothers of Cleveland, including undefeated Abdullah Mason. Mason, who recently improved to 19-0 with a victory over Jeremia Nakathila in Norfolk, Virginia, is preparing for a WBO title fight on Nov. 22.
Johnson’s fashion journey began at Shaker Heights High School, where she discovered her passion in a sewing class. “I learned how to draw dresses on templates and started the clothing-creation process,” she recalls. “It sparked my creativity of how you can turn something that’s 2D into something 3D and make it into an actual real-life creation.”
This early passion led her to Kent State University’s fashion design program, where she studied fabrics, textiles, and fashion history. The experience was intense, with Johnson often working through the night.
“It felt like ‘Project Runway,’ because I was up all night,” she says. She even slept in the university’s sewing room to finish projects, hiding from security guards.
In 2010, Johnson’s education expanded internationally when she studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and visited fashion capitals including Paris, Madrid and Athens. In Paris, she attended Premiere Vision, one of the world’s largest trade shows, and at Milan’s Ratti Factory, she observed manufacturing processes for luxury brands like Coach, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.
After graduating in 2012, Johnson began her career unceremoniously at a U.S. Post Office near Grafton, sorting mail. “There were no windows in there and it felt like prison,” she says. Undeterred, she rented a 200-square-foot office in Shaker Heights for $250 monthly to establish her first fashion studio. She continued to work at the post office to help with funding her dream.
In her small Shaker Heights studio, Johnson began creating custom dresses, initially focusing on prom attire before expanding into bridal wear and eventually, boxing apparel. “Every dress I’ve worked on has been a learning experience in fine-tuning my skills,” Johnson says.
Her design process is methodical, beginning with detailed consultations followed by pencil sketches, pattern making, cutting, sewing, and finishing. She now employs a full-time staff member and brings on interns from high schools and Kent State during busy periods.
Her commitment to design was evident at her 2023 wedding to Bruce Johnson, where she created multiple outfits for both herself and her husband. “I actually changed three times at my wedding and so did my husband; we like to be extra,” Johnson says.
Looking ahead, Johnson aims to expand into international markets with custom bridal wear while continuing to create distinctive boxing attire. “I want to be able to leave a legacy or a story to my family and future children,” she says. “They can say, ‘My mom was a fashion designer who created beautiful gowns.’ Or, perhaps just as proudly: beautiful boxing outfits.
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