Michael Wright’s New Drop Will Have You Feeling Like Family
Bushwick-based fashion label Michael Wright Collection just unveiled its latest drop, “Waiting to Be Discovered,” and trust us, it’s about to become a whole vibe in the neighborhood. This collection is all about finding those quiet moments of confidence where you’re coming into your own and your style just feels right. The “Waiting to Be Discovered” collection launched on December 7th, exclusively at MichaelWrightCollection.com. And who better to bring that feeling to life than the designer himself?
“When I say ‘Waiting to Be Discovered,’ it’s with quotations,” Michael Wright told Bushwick Daily. “It’s really saying, ‘Who is enough?’ The true answer is you. You know, once you discover yourself, the world is yours”.
The collection features four unique hoodies and the striking Dimitri Pants. Think modern streetwear with a vintage twist, like grandma’s cool, eclectic attic, but make it fashion. The Abid and Alec Hoodies are standouts, with vintage Italian upholstery trims on the sleeves and hood. You’ll notice details like floral patterns and Victorian-inspired touches that bring a whole new level of elegance to the classic hoodie.
And speaking of bringing the old and the new together, that’s a recurring theme in Michael Wright’s designs.
“The whole concept behind my brand is bringing your grandmother to the modern day,” Wright shared with Bushwick Daily. “So, you know, that’s why you have hand-stitched yarn around the hook and you have these, upholstery, and pottery, vintage kind of grandma like floral accents, trim. Because I really wanted to give balance with the old and the new”.
It’s like Wright took all the best parts of our grandparents’ style — their warmth, their lived-in coolness — and fused it with the energy of today’s streetwear scene. Each piece in the collection tells a story: the Dimitri Pants are a standout piece crafted from premium denim, adorned with floral trim running down the side seams. This blend of rugged denim and delicate floral detailing offers a fresh take on contemporary pants. The Jaxson Hoodie is accented with tribal-patterned trim around the hood and sleeves, bridging global inspiration with urban sophistication. And finally, the Michael Wright Signature Hoodie is a minimalist design featuring the iconic Michael Wright logo at the center front, embodying the brand’s ethos of refined simplicity.
Wright told Bushwick Daily that, for him, Bushwick is the perfect place to showcase this kind of fashion. “I actually think Bushwick is the new Soho, you know, less touristy. and more fashion and more people with their own identity and people taking risks. I make sure every time I walk through Bushwick, I’m seeing what’s going on, what’s the street fashion looks like, and and what I see is people really being them[selves], you know?”
That’s what we love about Bushwick; it’s a place where people can truly express themselves, and Michael Wright Collection’s new drop fits right in.
Alec and Mike sat down for an extended interview. Read on below for the best bits from our conversation.
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Mike Wright, a long-time Bushwick resident and former product developer for Calvin Klein, now runs his own fashion label. We spoke with Mike about his latest clothing drop, for which he served as the Creative Director, designer, and photographer. The project was executed in collaboration with the creative agency Dreams with Vision.
Bushwick Daily: Hey Mike, congratulations on the new drop! As someone who balances so many roles, what drives you, and what is the overarching mission of your leadership?
Michael Wright: My goal is to give back. Whenever I have the opportunity, I make it a point to put POCs in front of the camera or in positions of influence. For example, I met Dimitri Martin at SAA and was immediately captivated by his look—there’s a poetic softness to him, balanced by a toughness that I really admire. His tattoos and overall vibe felt like a perfect embodiment of my brand. I focus on individuals who make an impact without saying much—the quiet but unforgettable ones. My brand is all about creating conversation pieces; when you wear my designs, they’re meant to spark a story and invite dialogue.
Bushwick Daily: Who is the ideal Michael Wright wearer? Are there any specific names that come to mind?
Michael Wright: That’s a tough question because I love artists—any artist who can rock my products. Don’t kill me for this, but I could see someone like Diplo wearing my brand. I actually market toward the “Park Slope Kid”—the guy who’s introverted but waiting to be discovered. I look at someone like Diplo, who carved his own lane, and I think they have the kind of energy my brand represents.
Bushwick Daily: In a world of dropshipping and fast fashion, when anyone can make a t-shirt, how do you stand out? And what was it like losing your manufacturer right before this drop?
Michael Wright: I started my company in 2020, bootstrapping it with a severance check after being laid off. I found my first manufacturer during the pandemic—they were one of the few still operating. I’ve always been about quality, ensuring people feel they got more than what they paid for. But relationships can become complacent, and over time, the quality slipped. Losing them felt like starting over.
When I lost my manufacturer, I had to hustle. I hit the fashion district, floor by floor, meeting people and finding someone who could meet my standards. It was challenging, but it made me realize the importance of adaptability.
Bushwick Daily: What was the deciding factor in choosing your new manufacturer?
Michael Wright: They understood me and my brand. That’s invaluable. Today, I left the manufacturing floor feeling confident, knowing I made the right choice. Sometimes you have to be brave enough to let go of comfort and move on.
Bushwick Daily: Your “My Great” collection is known for its attention to detail. How do you transform a basic hoodie into something extraordinary?
Michael Wright: Imagination—pure and simple. That’s what my son would say. For this collection, I incorporated vintage Italian upholstery trims, sourced from a New York supplier. These trims bring a nostalgic yet modern touch to my pieces, blending old and new in a way that feels personal and unique.
Bushwick Daily: What inspired you to incorporate vintage materials into modern hoodies?
Michael Wright: The idea of blending the past with the present. My brand is about honoring the comfort and style of our grandparents while making it contemporary. Think of it as a comforting hug from your grandma, but in hoodie form.
Bushwick Daily: Tell me about your grandma.
Michael Wright: Betty Wright.
Bushwick Daily: Betty Wright.
Michael Wright: I get my personality from my grandmother. That’s why in some aspects, my brand is a tribute to her. to my grandmother. I get my style from my mom. I feel like the reason why I am who I am is because of the women in my life, my grandmother, my mother and my aunt, yeah. My grandmother, Betty Wright, was funny. She was a twin. She was a southern woman from Louisiana.
Bushwick Daily: But you grew up in Inglewood, how did your family go from Louisiana to Inglewood?
Michael Wright: Wow. That’s a good question. She stayed in Louisiana for a while. She stayed in Louisiana for awhile as a young woman, but her daughters, my mom and aunt, went to California. Actually, San Francisco first when they were old enough to move out. And her ex-husband as well. Well, they were still married, actually. They were just separated. They just never got divorced.
Michael Wright: My mother ended up going to Inglewood and my other aunt ended up going to Inglewood too, and then my other Aunt stayed in San Francisco. I used to spend my summers in San Francisco. My grandfather had a condo on the Fillmore and on top of the Fillmore District.
Bushwick Daily: You’ve worked extensively in product development in fashion. How have those experiences shaped your approach to designing for Michael Wright?
Michael Wright: I mean, I went to school for design and merchandizing in L.A., and the beauty about product development, you actually come out with all the skills of a designer and more. Product developers help designers bring their ideas to life. The designers design it, and it’s up to the product developers to actually have to get a manufacturer to source all the product. So it’s all the materials. Product developers are actually the ones behind the scenes who’s making the idea truly come to life.
Bushwick Daily: Do you consider yourself a designer?
Michael Wright: No. I consider myself a creative director. creative therapist.
Bushwick Daily: What do you think a designer is? And why aren’t you one?
Michael Wright: Well okay, I won’t say I’m not a designer. That’s a good question. Why I don’t consider myself truly a designer, even though ‘I know designer Michael Wright’ is my tagline [laughs]. The fact is that I think my scope is a lot wider than a designer. As far as thinking about the overall big picture, I do everything that designers do. But I define a designer as someone who is singularly focused on designing the product itself. I’m doing more. I’m trying to set the mood when I’m designing my product, I’m also designing the scene, the couch, the television, the lamp, the conversation that the wearers are about to have.
Bushwick Daily: So, like a film director.
Michael Wright: A creative director.
Bushwick Daily: What defines you as a visionary?
Michael Wright: The people around me.
Bushwick Daily: How do you usually begin designing a new piece? Does it start with a fabric concept or something else entirely?
Michael Wright: Like it starts when I go straight into mood fabrics and the fashion district, I see, I touch, I feel.
Bushwick Daily: As you start with material first. How do your collections come to life?
Michael Wright: I truly believe that my product is a voice and that voice starts to speak as soon as someone starts wearing the piece.
Bushwick Daily: Is music important to your design process? Who are you listening to right now?
Michael Wright: Absolutely. I love house and disco. I am really listening to James Patterson a lot right now. Jay Vic and Anthony Romano. Yeah. Those are like my New York staple deejays that I really like to vibe out to when I’m designing. It just sets the tone for me.
Bushwick Daily: While we’re talking media, what are your three favorite movies?
Michael Wright: One… Pulp Fiction. Oh, man, number two is “I am, Sam”. Yeah, “I am Sam.” I gotta get back to you on the third one.
Bushwick Daily: What’s the last hot party you went to?
Michael Wright: You know, believe it or not, I was back home in LA recently and what I missed about L.A. the most. It’s all the house parties. I love a house party. When it comes to New York parties, I really love going to The Basement and Brooklyn Mirage. Shout out to Brooklyn Mirage, and The Basement. Oh and for Halloween I went to the City of Gods party thrown by House of Yes.
Bushwick Daily: East Coast or West Coast—which one holds your heart?
Michael Wright: New York is the father I never had, but Los Angeles will always be home. I grew up in Inglewood, California, and it’s shaped who I am.
Bushwick Daily: The title of your drop, “Waiting to Be Discovered,” is intriguing. What’s the story behind it?
Michael Wright: It’s about self-discovery. The phrase is in quotes because it’s a question—“Who’s ready to be discovered?”—with the answer being you. Once you discover yourself, the world opens up.
Bushwick Daily: Your designs blend nostalgia with modern fashion. How do you strike that balance?
Michael Wright: I think about the wearer—their mood, their day. Are they going to the office or a Bushwick rave? Each piece reflects that consideration. I try not to overdo it, finding just the right balance.
Bushwick Daily: How do you see your collection standing out in Bushwick’s fashion-forward scene?
Michael Wright: Bushwick is like the new SoHo, but less touristy and more authentic. It’s full of people with their own style and a willingness to take risks. That’s what my brand is about—individuality and boldness.
Bushwick Daily: If you could see anyone, dead or alive, wearing your collection, who would it be?
Michael Wright: Tupac Shakur. He embodies the poetic softness and raw edge that my brand represents.
Bushwick Daily: Where do you see your brand in the future?
Michael Wright: I’d love to create a mobile store—a bus converted into a shop—and eventually open my own storefront. Beyond that, I want to expand into furniture design. It’s about creating an entire lifestyle.
Bushwick Daily: Lastly, what’s your hot NYC take?
Michael Wright: Always carry headphones. I’d turn back home to get mine if I forgot them.
Bushwick Daily: What’s a conspiracy theory that you believe would get you canceled if you were white?
Michael Wright: mr. wright laughing, “pass”
Bushwick Daily: What’s a conspiracy theory? You believe in?
Michael Wright: aliens.
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