ABOUT ME
My parents were very hardworking people. They lived in their clothes. They wore their clothing until they weren’t wearable anymore. They both had a unique sense of style, and in turn, I took to clothing and fashion as a young girl. I recognized early how what someone wears can change a persons whole mood overall changing the energy they give off to the world. I never saw clothing as these wearable sculptures. I recognized the importance of ready to wear clothing. As a designer, my goal is to make clothes that make women feel beautiful and powerful. Growing up in a home that valued art and creativity, I was exposed to lots of art, specifically street art and fine art. My father made transitions from a graffiti writer to an animator to a fine artist. Growing up around him I was exposed to streetwear. As I grew older, I had come to appreciate white collar women’s workwear.
That inspiration comes out in my design process, the way I see and put fabrication and color together. I believe that real life should be driving the garment, made for real women with real lives.
As an African American woman who was raised and brought up by African American people, I have always sought to see the history and perspective of black people in America because I didn’t see it in history class, or on TV or in the news really. I pursued a minor in black world studies because that part of history is so intense and relative to the person I am today. I wanted to pursue a formal education in African American studies order to express some of that education through my art. My interest in black history and art is shown in my work through different tropes such as over-sexualization, visibility, and displacement.