In celebration of his 18th year anniversary in the fashion industry, Lorain and international clothing designer Jevon Terance is back with his Bridge the Gap series.
And this time, Terance was there to tell an old tale with a new twist.
On June 8, Terance used his 2025 spring/summer collection with Bridge the Gap II to take audience members through a revolutionary tale of a Black traveler, grazing the scene of Italy’s streets.
By weaving together past and present with musical selections featuring songs such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Blacker the Berry” and Nina Simone’s rendition of “Strange Fruit,” a controversial depiction of the disparities of African Americans in the U.S. emerged.
Terance said the purpose of the songs were to compel audiences to reflect not just on the show taking place in front of them, but gives way to the journey he is embarking on as a maturing artist.
“This collection is deeper than any other collection,” he said. “I want people to pay attention to the music as well as the design aspects, and the Black experience.
“It’s my story I’m trying to tell through clothing.”
In his pursuit to bridge the gap, Terance used every stitch tells a story: one that defies societal norms by merging Black and Italian culture.
“I’m really excited about this collection because we do have some cool things people have never seen as far as accessories,” he said.
Terance works alongside Lorain’s Javier Candelario, owner and founder of Stacked Layer Studios, and the Lorain Public Library System, to create and produce his 3D and laser printed designs, as seen on the brown leather jacket worn by Naz Bohannon, a 2017 graduate of Lorain High School, who played college basketball at Youngstown State and Clemson before signing with Phoenix Hagen of the German ProA league in July 2023.
Collaborations also featured accessories by designer Tiarra Smallwood, founder of Max + min, and Lorenzo’s, a local family-owned pizzeria.
“I wanted to do that collaboration especially with the Italian inspo (inspiration),” Terance said. “I was like we gotta do a Lorenzo’s collab.”
“The collaboration features eight elevated pieces resembling a designer look. One of those pieces can be seen worn by (Lorain) Mayor Jack Bradley.”
This year, Terance said he focused on getting pieces in his business, Jevon Terance Fashion Designer Boutique, 625 Broadway in downtown Lorain, that people actually can buy.
“So, I brought it down a notch, from red carpet pieces to more everyday pieces, but still style it in an Italian way that makes it look luxury,” Terance said.
Guests at the fashion show also expressed their excitement.
“That’s what I love about Jevon’s work,” said Mary Teitelbaum, who was in attendance. “It’s a combination of some very classy pieces that you can wear to a wedding, but then you can have pieces that are comfortable, too.”
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley also was impressed with what he wore in the fashion show.
“It’s just unbelievable that people can feel comfortable wearing Jevon’s clothing,” he said. “We have NBA players to people on the red carpet wearing his fashion, too.”
Community members said they feel that Terance and his wife, Mia Arredondo, play a huge role in progressing downtown Lorain, such as serving on the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors to everyday interactions in collaboration with Main Street Lorain, which seeks to create a thriving and inviting atmosphere alongside the waterfront community.
Praises from the community not only spoke of Terance’s fashion, but also of his character.
“What Jevon has done for our community, county and Northeast Ohio is amazing,” said Brittany Lovett, who attended the event. “I never been to a fashion show where the community is the backdrop.”
Arredondo said she was excited to have an internship program with Kent State University, which was a big part of the production of the fashion show.
“Like Jevon said knowing that the community supports you and what you do here, a lot of people don’t recognize the good,” she said. “They expect that only if you’re outside of the city you’re from, is there something special.
“But, I think our community definitely has showed up for Jevon and respects him as a designer and business owner to having sponsors see the purpose and point of what you’re doing is very humbling.”
