Her Fabric Scraps

As a fashion designer, the quality of my tools is the foundation for the success of my projects. I’ve always valued a sharp pair of scissors and the fearlessness to make the first cut. Just like anything in life, you will never experience the beauty of the outcome if you don’t take the steps to turn a vision into reality. When I reflect upon my craft, I owe much of my creative style and prowess to my mother. My mom was deeply into fashion and would drag me to the mall with her every weekend. She would buy beautiful dresses and have a different vision for them. She would cut pieces off the dresses, so she could customize them for herself. Those scraps of fabric would end up in my room, wrapped elegantly around my Barbie bodies. I didn't know those little scraps of fabric were planting seeds for my future. That fashion design was where my heart explodes. She also made it a point to travel me around the world to allow me to see how other cultures dressed. I was blessed to travel to Africa when I was 14, which introduced me to the stunning quality and richness of African fabrics. I later studied fashion and graduated with a B.A fashion degree from university. That was the beginning of my forever thirst to create art.

Until this day, I am passionate about up-cycled fashion. To know that fast fashion has polluted the Earth and has caused so many disadvantages for people globally makes me want to do better. Spirit led me to combine my love for sewing and tribal prints, to paint pictures with the scraps of fabric that would have been otherwise trashed. When I completed my first vest, I knew I was on to something. Not only am I creating something completely unique and valuable, it is resourceful, stylish and thoughtful. I even encourage clients to give me their old jean jackets that they want to bring new life to. I reach into my colorful bag of African fabric scraps, and start painting with fabric. I’ll use my scissors to trim any awkward pieces, so I can fit the fabric together like a puzzle. Overlaying and intertwining scraps of fabric that seemingly don’t belong together. I love being inspired by colors, patterns, and aesthetics. It’s extremely liberating to cut through fabric, and tossed out garments, and making something new and fresh. I make it a special point to use every scrap of fabric I cut to create motifs and wearable art. Turning an old jean jacket into someone’s proverbial fashion cape has been one of my most recent specialties. Fashion allows me to scream who I am, without saying a word. I take pride in hand making every piece with love, quality, and honor for Mother Earth. Much like I honor our planet, I must honor my mother for planting those seeds of creativity and vision. My creative expression is directly linked to my mother, her imagination, and her scissors. She was never afraid to take scissors to a $300 dress, because she knew what she wanted. She had the confidence to manifest something suited her desires. That fearlessness was contagious. At nearly 70 years old, she still cuts her clothes to customize them for herself. You see her face light up with excitement when she completes a new project. Much like mine does when I make a design vision come to life. The gratification of completing wearable art is immeasurable. Within this past month, I helped my mom pick out her first sewing machine. I set it up for her and finished some of her projects that she wanted help with. Prior to last month, she used to sew everything by hand. That was a level of determination that I understood very well. Our art and creations are the fruit of our life that we will leave behind for others to discover. I want to live my fullest life, and part of that is using my natural gifts to express myself through fashion. Our clothing tells a story. I chose the story of love and high vibrations. I will not take the tools that my mother instilled in me for granted. My mother’s style and legacy will continue to be expressed through my hands, my scraps of fabric, and my scissors.