We love Charles! This multi-tasking supertalent not only runs our Customer Service department but also styles and photographs nearly everything and everyone featured on this website. He’s our razor sharp IT Guy as well and can fix a technical problem with his eyes closed. Though he probably wouldn’t say so, we also think he’s a terrific graphic designer. You ask Charles to make a quick to-do list for the department and it’s the most visually creative, most genius, most hilarious list you ever saw. Each day we have the great pleasure of working together it seems we learn of some other hidden talent, interesting job or amazing adventure Charles has packed into his exciting young life. The dude is only 22 years old!

You’re one of the few boys that work here. Advantages/disadvantages?
One advantage about being one of the few guys at fred is that when any customer mentions they were helped by a nice gentleman… it was obviously me! I really try and give awesome customer service and it’s great to be acknowledged. I guess one disadvantage I feel is when I have customers inquiring about women’s sizing. I always feel inadequate as a guy recommending a size to the ladies. I sorta have to be careful about that one…

What do you when you’re not working?
I recently moved from a tiny Hell’s Kitchen apartment in Manhattan to a Williamsburg warehouse and am trying to create a fun working space for my music & photography projects. Turns out it’s a lot of work living in a “live/work” space! But right now my favorite activities around the house are roller skating on the cement floor, 6 o’clock dance parties (when I get home from work) and celebrating 4:20 watch wristband pride with my Vermont posse & my neighbor Chris!

How long have you been here and what brought you to NYC in the first place?
I moved to New York in the winter of 2004. Photography is what really brought me to NYC. I participated in a residency program hosted by the School of Visual Arts where I was able to work on a photo series and receive feedback from some of my fave photographers like Penelope Umbrico, Eric Weeks, Sally Gall, Jenny Gage and Elinor Carucci, to mention only a few. Now I continue to study photography, work as the photographer for fred and am building my own photo studio in my warehouse in Brooklyn.

We hear you’re quite the adventurer. Did you always enjoy traveling?
Traveling is the BEST! However, New York City has been quite the distraction. There’s so much to do around here! But some of my favorite trips are camping in Baja California in Mexico, island hopping in Greece and visiting my family in the Philippines. This fall I plan on traveling to the Netherlands to visit my sister Margaret and her husband Vaughn and I’d also like to make it out to India this coming winter to visit Preti, a photographer friend in New Delhi. I’d love to work with her on a new photo series. I’m also known for driving cross-country frequently! If you haven’t… you should. I’ve driven from California to Maine many times! Sadly my Pokey horse, a.k.a. VW Passat, is up in Vermont for safe keeping while I do my thing in the busy city.

You must really like to drive… What’s the craziest site you’ve seen on a road trip?
Utah is really special to me because I went to Brigham Young University for three years… So, if you’re ever driving through, make sure you stop and observe two very strange sites: the Spiral Jetty and the Tree of Utah.

We love when you play DJ at the office. What’s hot in your ‘pod this week?
Right now DJ Chas has two albums on heavy rotation: Madlib’s “Shades of Blue” and Wilco’s “Ghost is Born.” The first one is comprised of Blue Note jazz recordings that Madlib remixed and re-interpreted by invitation of Blue Note records. My fave track is “Steppin’ into Tomorrow” originally recorded by Donald Byrd… One reason I heart Wilco, rock experimentalists of Chicago, is their positive outlook towards the music world of internet file-sharing! Wilco brews experimental sounds with rock, bluegrass and folk in the likeness of Neil Young and Bob Dylan.

You really like music. Do you make any music?
When I studied music it was mostly vocal and composition. I took songwriting courses in Provo, Utah which lead to a few personal studio recordings and two live performances in concerts halls with my cellist bud Emily. I also play a mean keyboard and can jam on a saxophone.

So, where’s Sunday brunch?
Cubana Café at 110 Thompson between Prince and Spring. Even though my fave food is sushi, my Sunday mornings are reserved for Cuban cuisine. Many morning mojitos, sangria & flan, oh my! The Cubana Café staff is the best ever (including super-fred-model Phoebe!!)

Any shout-outs to our customers?
Yes! Please email me at info@fredflare.com! I’d LOVE to hear from you! Do you have any feedback about how we could improve our customer service? I’d really like to know… Hey, I almost forgot! I’m also fred’s amateur modeling agent so please contact me if you live in the New York area and would like to strike a pose for us. We’ll offer you a fredflare.com gift certificate in exchange. Have a great summer, everybody!

04/2005






DIARY ARCHIVES: fred friends Estelle, Lights, One Night Only, Rye Rye, next BIG thing! 2008, Jesse McCartney, Jonas Brothers, Top Model's Sarah Vonderhaar, Jack Mackenroth, Think Pink writer Lisa Clark, Kit Pistol, Au Revoir Simone, Supayana, What the Buck, Peter Bjorn and John, Ratatat, next BIG thing! 2007, shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell, Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone, heartist Chris Uphues, Alison Kelly of Dahl, Stephanie Deleau of Noisette, Marilyn Patrizio of M.Partizio, Liam Sullivan of Kelly "Shoes", Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, next BIG thing! 2006, Jill Bliss, next BIG thing! 2005, Loop NYC's China Young, Sukie, The Donnas, Vinnie's Tampon Case, Leah Tinari, Peach Berzerk, The Sperber twins, Jennifer Worick, Cody, Patch NYC 2, Chip Wass, Angela Adams, Venue, Jack and Lulu 2, All Girl Summer Fun Band, 31 Corn Lane, Charlotte Ronson, Three by Three Seattle, Princess Tina, Imperial Teen, Built by Wendy 2, Dana Carlson, Sweden, Jack and Lulu 1, Bob's Your Uncle, Mary Ping & Jonathan Adler, E-Z Living, Built by Wendy 1, Endicott Five, Patch NYC 1, media blitz Mod*Mom, Aya Kanai from Nylon, Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, Samantha Moeller of Missbehave, Marie Kare of The Sampler, Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas, Martha Stewart Kids' Jodi Levine, BUST's Debbie Stoller, YM's Elizabeth Kiester, Cargo's Ariel Foxman, teeter on tour back to brooklyn, she's so rad, double handsome, wild pony, enchanted treehouse, beanz-n- rice, wide open road, crush Teeter Sperber, Kelis, Jennifer Garner, Kylie Minogue, Charlie Brown, Scarlett Johansson, employee of the month Julie, Jen, Sammy Joe & Joe Sammy, Amy, Vanessa, Tim, Anne, Chanel, Josh, Lauren, Diane, Charles, Lillian, nancy drew review the haunted bridge, the whispering statue, the mystery of the ivory charm, the message in the hollow oak, the clue of the broken locket, password to larkspur lane, the sign of the twisted candles, nancy's mysterious letter, the clue in the diary, the secret of red gate farm, the secret of shadow ranch, the mystery at lilac inn, the bungalow mystery, the hidden staircase, the secret of the old clock, lulu in the city lulu luvs, extra! extra! read all about it!, pink Christmas, thanks, new york!, single in the city, spooky lulu, roller girl, jersey girl, no lights, big city, it was a "red hot" summer!, miss independence, billyburg shopping guide, lulu and the kitty, in like a lion, out like a lamb, my best friend joe, hotpants!, the queen of brooklyn, summer in the city, the anniversary party, garbage & neighbors & mice...oh my!, lulu in the city, cheap & cheerful give thanks, hula hoops, a piece of pi, cupcakes, fred fleur, tommy: mini mode happy summer days, it's a mod, mod world, good night, sweet dreams, my girl, keep on marching, one fine day, supermodels Dana's Lucky magazine shoot, hi-fi holiday honeys, supermodel Hillary's Warhol, fallfabulous, supermodel challenge, covergirls, fred on tour Paris Dispatch: Eiffel Awesomeness, Paris Dispatch: Just Strollin', Paris Dispatch: From Colette w/ Love, Paris Dispatch: Marie & The Moulin, Paris Dispatch: Bonjour, Peeps!, behind the music, San Fredcisco, LA Flare, chartoppers: the 80's 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, chartoppers: madonna Hard Candy, Confessions on a Dance Floor, reinvention tour recap, reinvention contest winners, Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, top 50 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, window shopping 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, sales and events Store Cute Grand Opening, Fall Sample Sale 2008, Carnival of Cute: Holiday 2006, Fall Sample Sale 2006, Pool Party 2006, Holiday Sale 2003, let's skate, Holiday Sale 2002, Holiday Sale 2001, Holiday Sale 2000, Spring Sale 2000