Dedrick Thomas’ Maison Hideoki
The designer brings savoir-faire and societal giving to Atlanta. By LAUREN FINNEY HARDEN
Growing up in Pickens, Mississippi, Dedrick Hideoki Hagiwara Thomas didn’t have much exposure to high fashion. “There was no traffic light,” he says. But the women in his life had always emphasized dressing the part was a key to success, and that stuck with him as he moved up the corporate ladder. After graduating from Mississippi State University with a degree in industrial engineering, he moved to Atlanta in 1998 to work for a small supply chain IT consulting company.
Hideoki Hagiwara is his middle name, and Hideoki means “to deal” in Japanese, fitting for Thomas’ personality. (His mother saw the name in one of her course books while attending Mississippi State University.) The consummate entrepreneur—he’s owned a grocery store, semi-pro basketball team and other businesses—had done business with luxury retail companies like Armani, Ferragamo and Gucci on the supply chain side and felt confident enough to start his suiting business in 2006 based on a void he saw in fashion. “I had no formal training and was selling out of the trunk of my car,” he says.
From there, Hideoki grew, opening its first studio in Buckhead in 2011, moving several times before settling into its current home on Peachtree in 2017. Over 8,000 square feet, including 3,000 square feet of patio space, Thomas offers more than just his original custom shirts, sportscoats and trousers. “We’ve evolved,” he says. “We have ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, hoodies. But the true essence of our business is bespoke custom.”
Besides whole-closet offerings to his clients, which include bold names like Derek Blanks, Mayor Andre Dickens, and Mimi Faust, Thomas has a steady stream of collaborators including friends of the brand like T.I. and Rick Ross, both of which are coming this year. A current collaboration with golf brand PING brings Thomas’ signature style to items like brogue-style sneakers and patterned putter bags. “We have everything from streetwear to the boardroom to the gala and everything in between,” he says. “We’re for the person who loves fashion or who aspires to become more fashionable. Someone who recognizes the importance of looking the part. We serve people from private equity firms to NFL players to stars like Samuel L. Jackson.”
Speaking of galas, Thomas is a dedicated philanthropist and believes in giving back to his community. While he gives to many organizations, two of the most important to him in Atlanta are the Nsoro Foundation and the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). “Nsoro provides scholarships for kids who are about to age out of foster care. We want to give these kids an opportunity to succeed,” he explains. The brand has worked with Nsoro for years, including sponsoring 2023’s Starfish Ball.
National Black Arts Festival’s mission is to expose, educate, engage and entertain through the presentation of and support of art and artists of African descent in disciplines like music, dance, film, literary arts and more. Thomas has given his time and talent in the Fine Art + Fashion student design competition, offered over his space for events and attended events. Additionally, one of his major initiatives is giving back to HBCUs. “Through the PING X HIDEOKI collaboration, we provide support to their golf programs, as well as to the schools in general through internships and scholarship opportunities,” he says, about schools like Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University among others.
Lauren Finney Harden is a veteran magazine editor and writer who focuses on lifestyle verticals like fashion, beauty, parenting, travel and food. Since graduating from the University of Georgia, she’s held positions at Cosmopolitan, Lonely Planet, Modern Luxury and more. Now, she writes for brands and publications such as Southern Living, Garden & Gun, InStyle, Today’s Parent, and Atlanta magazine with a focus on commerce and trends. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.
