Savant Studios | Michael Graham, the designer and proprietor of the apparel store Savant Studios, claims that he “brings the world back to Brooklyn and I take Brooklyn to the world.”

For 41-year-old Michael, who was born and raised in the Bed-Stuy/Bushwick neighborhood and has traveled the world for artistic endeavors, including living in South Africa while producing his own feature film, Colombia for work as a National Geographic documentary producer, and Europe as a motivational youth speaker, it’s a fitting point of view.

He opened an elegant Bed-Stuy boutique in 2019 and has been concentrating on his Savant clothing line for the past few years. He occasionally travels to the Mexican state of Yucatán to work with leather artisans to create the handcrafted tote bags, wallets, and bucket hats that are on display among the store’s graphic tees and hoodies, tunics, varsity jackets, work vests, and other stylish items.

Regarding Savant Studio’s placement on a non-gentrified section of Fulton Street, Michael remarks, “Some people think this shop doesn’t belong here.” “People used to say, ‘Oh, this feels like SoHo,’ when I opened up. And you’re like, “No, that’s exactly how it feels.” It has the vibe of Fulton Street. I adore it, even if it feels like Bed-Stuy. This is Brooklyn’s and, I would say, New York’s pulse. For example, where else would you like to be?