Mouammar Dalvany Charlot has always been in tune with fashion. Even as a dedicated soccer player in his birth country of Haiti, he found time to imagine designs, sew patches onto clothes, and cherish the Air Jordan sneakers his mother brought him. Now, as a business management major and one of the first-prize winners of the Koppelman Entrepreneurship Competition, he has his sights set on building his streetwear fashion brand, Charvany. In 2023, the Charvany brand (pronounced Shar-von-ee) met the Koppelman Entrepreneurship Competition. The competition, funded by Don Buchwald ’59, consists of three rounds (the Ideas Challenge, the Pitch Competition, and the Plan Competition) where students present their business ideas to a panel of judges. Guided by expert faculty, students tap into their entrepreneurial spirit to fine-tune their concepts. “I just kept practicing at my pitch to try and win, win, win,” says Charlot, who got first place in the Plan Competition, after presenting Charvany’s marketing strategy, target audience, and business plan. His goal in the long run, though, isn’t about winning competitions or even finding fame, but rather blending his faith with luxury fabrics. “I connected with God around the time I started the brand. I want to include the wisdom that helped me get to where I am now in my designs,” he said. “I embroider Bible verses or quotes in the graphics—like on shirts, sweatpants, jackets, and anything else—that I believe could benefit people. Recently, I used a verse that helped me in the past, John 14.6.” Associate Professor Veronica Manlow, a faculty mentor for the competition, admires Charlot’s ambition and eagerness to improve. “He progressed well through the series of entrepreneurship competitions,” she says. “He learned from what the judges said he needed to do to bring his business to the next level. He’s a talented, motivated, and engaged student who will go far in life.” Charlot says his endeavor is currently funded out-of-pocket and his designs will be sold online in the future. Each day, he draws inspiration from his surroundings, like in the color combination of row houses on Bedford Avenue. Going forward, he aims to use his business skills and talent to expand the brand by creating unisex clothing and delving into new types of attire, such as bridal or formal wear. “I want everyone to be able to wear Charvany,” he says. When Charlot is not in class, on the soccer field, or stitching streetwear, he spends his time learning graphic design, website development, videography, marketing, research, and how to leverage social media to grow his business. A true entrepreneur, he is devoted to skill-stacking. Looking ahead, he dreams of Charvany becoming a powerhouse. “I want people to say Charvany when they say Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada.”
