Where Are They Now? - David H Ross
Where Are They Now?
By SUSAN FIELD
Former PSU guard hasn’t gone out of style
In the early ’90s, The Daily Collegian described Michael Wesetly Jennings, a guard on Penn State’s men’s basketball team, as a “flashy player with dazzling ball handling.” More than a decade later, he’s still impressing people with his style, but this time as an emerging player in the fashion industry. Jennings’ clothing line, Michael Wesetly Luxury — designer clothes men can wear in and out of the workplace — launched in Europe three years ago and recently made its domestic debut to rave reviews at Olympus Fashion Week in New York. “We’re just starting to get the publicity we want and we’re having a great time,” the ’94 grad says of his company. “We have an excellent product and I know we can really do something special with the market.” So far, Jennings and company vice president Monroe Brown, another former PSU hoops star, are scoring major points. Michael Wesetly Luxury has appeared in top fashion shows all over the globe, including Russian Fashion Week, Czech Fashion Week, and shows in Asia and South America. By the end of March, 60 high-end to mid-range stores around the country will feature the Wesetly brand. Celebrities who have worn Wesetly clothing include actor Chad Coleman from the HBO series The Wire, and stars from The Sopranos. The brand has also appeared in Esquire and Essence magazines. With so much early success, it seems logical that Jennings and his company would be
Michael Wesetly Jennings in the early 1990s and now.
stationed in a fashion-forward city like New York or Los Angeles — no one would ever guess Altoona. “People laugh like mad when they find out we’re based in Altoona!” Jennings says. “There aren’t any fashion labels in Pennsylvania, and especially not in Altoona!” Jennings’ wife is from Altoona, and he lives there with her and their three daughters, Morgan, 10, Harlem, 6, and Blayse, 7 months. His own clothing line was always a dream but the idea really developed while he played pro basketball overseas for seven years after graduation. He was exposed to a variety of people, cultures, and styles, inspiring him artistically and giving him a strong sense of the international fashion market. He says it’s taken a lot of hard work to get where he is now. “I definitely wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Penn State,” Jennings says. “My classes and experience on the basketball team really prepared me for life after graduation. I am a hardcore Penn State fan!” n
72 - Town&Gown November 2006
By SUSAN FIELD
Former PSU guard hasn’t gone out of style
In the early ’90s, The Daily Collegian described Michael Wesetly Jennings, a guard on Penn State’s men’s basketball team, as a “flashy player with dazzling ball handling.” More than a decade later, he’s still impressing people with his style, but this time as an emerging player in the fashion industry. Jennings’ clothing line, Michael Wesetly Luxury — designer clothes men can wear in and out of the workplace — launched in Europe three years ago and recently made its domestic debut to rave reviews at Olympus Fashion Week in New York. “We’re just starting to get the publicity we want and we’re having a great time,” the ’94 grad says of his company. “We have an excellent product and I know we can really do something special with the market.” So far, Jennings and company vice president Monroe Brown, another former PSU hoops star, are scoring major points. Michael Wesetly Luxury has appeared in top fashion shows all over the globe, including Russian Fashion Week, Czech Fashion Week, and shows in Asia and South America. By the end of March, 60 high-end to mid-range stores around the country will feature the Wesetly brand. Celebrities who have worn Wesetly clothing include actor Chad Coleman from the HBO series The Wire, and stars from The Sopranos. The brand has also appeared in Esquire and Essence magazines. With so much early success, it seems logical that Jennings and his company would be
Michael Wesetly Jennings in the early 1990s and now.
stationed in a fashion-forward city like New York or Los Angeles — no one would ever guess Altoona. “People laugh like mad when they find out we’re based in Altoona!” Jennings says. “There aren’t any fashion labels in Pennsylvania, and especially not in Altoona!” Jennings’ wife is from Altoona, and he lives there with her and their three daughters, Morgan, 10, Harlem, 6, and Blayse, 7 months. His own clothing line was always a dream but the idea really developed while he played pro basketball overseas for seven years after graduation. He was exposed to a variety of people, cultures, and styles, inspiring him artistically and giving him a strong sense of the international fashion market. He says it’s taken a lot of hard work to get where he is now. “I definitely wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Penn State,” Jennings says. “My classes and experience on the basketball team really prepared me for life after graduation. I am a hardcore Penn State fan!” n
72 - Town&Gown November 2006
