Jamal English views fashion, not as a noun, but as a verb.
To Jamal English, the symbol 有 stands for “be, have, and exist.”
Donning flowing earth-toned garments that emphasize comfort and movement, Jamal English, instructor in the English Department, grounds his outfits in adaptability. His clothes reflect what he calls a “timeless, classic, and functional” approach to dressing, an aesthetic that he sees as both a form of self-expression and an act of resilience.
Over time, English’s style has evolved with age and circumstance. While his aesthetic has remained rooted in a sense of timelessness, the pieces he chooses now are more practical, selected with comfort and care in mind.
“I had a different kind of aesthetic when I was younger, because I didn’t have to consider some realistic things like an aging body. The changing seasons of life have evolved how I expressed a timeless aesthetic. An example of that is that I don’t wear wing tip dress shoes that make a loud noise on purpose. Instead, I wear Rockports or clogs because they’re softer and gentler on my joints because I’m older, but the underlying aesthetic has not changed,” said English.
Adaptability, English explained, is at the heart of his fashion style. He views clothing as more than just a way to cover the body; an outfit is a performance in itself.
“My style expresses the competency of adaptation. I mean, I’m a Black man in America. The essence of that consciousness is beyond complexion, because I don’t think it has anything to do with my complexion. But the essence of that consciousness of being a Black man in America is adaptability. When I’m dressing, I’m dancing, and there’s a dance style called Capoeira, it’s a martial arts dance that is essentially practicing Tai Chi adaptation. When I’m dressing, I’m performing adaptability [and] competence,” said English.
Most of English’s wardrobe comes from secondhand racks or from Goodwill. He often repeats outfits several times a week, a choice that is less about convenience and more about a sense of resilience, memory, and gratitude for what he has.
“Sometimes I remind [myself of] where I came from. Most of [the] clothes I get [are] from Goodwill or secondhand or clearance for a lot of reasons. I know there are people around the world making clothes, so when I can, I try to contribute to re-use. I grew up food insecure and everything else insecure, and sometimes it just reminds me of where I come from. I might wear the same thing three or four times a week because there was a time when that wasn’t a choice. That was what I had, and I don’t consider that a deficit. I consider that a competency in resiliency. So every now and then, I embarrass myself by wearing the same thing three or four times so that I can show that I’m not really embarrassing myself, but strengthening myself,” said English.
English also connects his clothing to community, recalling the spaces where fashion served as one of the few safe outlets for expression.
“I think about who I am and where I’m from, as I’m becoming who I’m gonna be next, and I know that environment influences that. I think about the limited spaces in American society where someone who is received or rejected like me can express himself authentically. I think about the Black church, I think about the barbershop, where Black men and women would go to get their hair cut, where they could experience affinity. I think about the limited spaces where you could express yourself without apology and consequence. In the community that [you] come from, the way you dress yourself is one of those ways that you can express yourself with minimal consequence. It’s all a celebration,” said English.
A dancer at heart, English often turns to baggy, loose-fitting clothing that lets him move freely. House music, which he describes as life-saving, has shaped his love for outfits that give space to the body and soul.
“I’m a dancer at heart. I love house music because loud house music with bass that I could dance to saved my life. It’s actually medicinal. The best way for me to be prepared to dance to house music, which is all the time, is to wear baggy, loose-fitting clothes, so that my big hips and my big bones can move freely. So I would say that [my favorite outfit is] any outfit that allows me to remain free and not constricted. There’s no outfit I’m wearing that is like a chastity belt. I’m not wearing a corset that I’m tightening up that constrains me. My dear outfit leaves my body and my soul free to breathe,” said English.
To English, fashion is not a fixed identity, but an active process. He describes it as a verb, a way to create and recreate the self each day.
“Fashion is important to my lifestyle. Fashion, as I understand it, is a verb more than it is a noun. Having the freedom to fashion who I am and who I am becoming is really important to me. While I fashion myself with clothing, I’m actually embracing the noun. It’s an activity. It’s a verb. It’s important to me to be able to fashion who I am and who I’m always in the process of becoming,” said English.
