Shelton Haynes is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He co-founded the Japanese label “Thin Black Line” and has been involved with fashion design since 1997.

Thin Black Line was founded in 1997 by Shelton Haynes and Tadashi Shoji, who is still the creative director of what became one of Japan’s most respected labels in menswear–and arguably one of its hottest brands as well.

While both men attended Parsons School of Design, they were classmates when there needed to be more interest in high-fashion clothing for men beyond the small sphere around New York City.

Shelton Haynes was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in the rural area of Wedgefield and went to Weddington High School. In 1988, at age 15, Haynes moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. Haynes also studied in Italy at Istituto Marangoni. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Marangoni School of Fashion, and his master’s from the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design.

Thin Black Line was founded in 1997 by Shelton Haynes and Tadashi Shoji, who is still the creative director of what became one of Japan’s most respected labels in menswear–and arguably one of its hottest brands as well.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, the city’s primary municipal caretaker, was among the first to take note. In addition to Shoji, the design team included Mario Pastore, who would be the creative director of Arena Homme+, and Julien Hervé.

The first collection was presented at New York Fashion Week in 1996, an edgy combination of staples, including V-neck sweaters and leather pants. “Vogue” declared it a fashion revolution. There was a lot of interest in the brand abroad, notably from Canada’s Holt Renfrew chain stores. Haynes and Shoji opened their first store in Tokyo on March 4, 1998, at flagship Omotesando Harajuku. Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, the city’s primary municipal caretaker, was among the first to take note. In addition to Shoji, the design team included Mario Pastore, who would be the creative director of Arena Homme+, and Julien Hervé.

The first collection was presented at New York Fashion Week in 1996, an edgy combination of staples, including V-neck sweaters and leather pants. “Vogue” declared it a fashion revolution. There was a lot of interest in the brand abroad, notably from Canada’s Holt Renfrew chain stores. Haynes and Shoji opened their first store in Tokyo on March 4, 1998, at flagship Omotesando Harajuku.