"See a Need, Meet a Need"

“See a need, meet a need.”

This phrase was repeated me to throughout my childhood and it is something that I live by as a thirty- something mom of two. During childhood and adolescence, this was applied to tasks as simple as seeing something on the floor and picking it up without having to be told to do so and helping when you see someone in need of assistance. As I grew older, I noticed that the importance of this phrase never expired and applied to all areas of my life. Whether its careers, friendships, education, and parenthood, there is always a need for something and ample room for me to meet it.

I found the need that I was meant to meet through my hobby of sewing. As a child I was taught by my maternal grandmother to sew quilts, clothing and other household objects by hand from all types of materials that were no longer in use around the home. She would cut patches from old clothes to repair newer garments and could turn that lace tablecloth that was ruined by a tomato-based sauce into valence curtains for the kitchen. To my grandmother, where there were scissors, there was a way. She taught me to always see things as they could be and not just as they were. While inspiring, it made leaving me to my own creativity with scissors a risky thing to do if fabric of any sort was around. That floral pillowcase could become a doll bed, blanket, and dress in a matter of minutes. After a few of these occurrences, I was gifted a box filled with scrap fabric to keep all other fabric in the home safe. This has also come in handy with my crafting daughter. I had to learn the hard way with her as well.

Nearly everything in my grandmother’s home and on the bodies of her children and my grandfather were one of a kind because she made everything herself. On the rare occasions that she did buy off the shelf or rack, by the time she was done adding her touch, it was uniquely hers. She did not go shopping for a garment or drape she needed and would say, “I do not need anyone designing for me, all I need is needle, thread and a little time. She saw a need in her home and met that need with her own two hands. I was in awe.

I took this thought process into adulthood and began to do the same with my sense of style. I could never find anything that suited my style. I was loud yet quiet, bold yet extremely shy, vibrant yet muted and very inspired by my Gullah heritage and traditions. Just as perplexed as you may be by the contradicting words that you just read, I was equally disappointed by the clothing and accessories available for purchase at that time. I was left with no choice but to tap into those sewing skills.

Years later, during my first pregnancy I was faced with the dilemma of dressing my growing and changing body. As if it is not already hard enough to dress a pregnant belly on a size two frame. There was NOTHING on the market to suit my style. I was already forfeiting my waistline; I was not about to let go of my style. So, my scissors and I got to work creating the looks and accessories that I would need on this motherhood journey. I began making simple dresses and tops that gave me room to breathe and grow. As I wore these items around town, I encountered other moms-to-be that were interested in having items made as well. By doing this I was able to create a small business that allowed myself and other women to still be as stylish as they had always been while embarking on another stage in their lives.

After giving birth to my daughter, I was faced with another style dilemma and saw yet another need, baby and breastfeeding accessories. As I stood in the baby sections of various department stores and major retailers, I was unimpressed and bored with the dull grays, pale yellows, pinks, greens, and blues. As exciting as it is to welcome a baby into the world, why is that not reflected in the baby sections of retailers? I picked up my scissors and sought out fabrics with textures and patterns that I would wear and got to work creating patterns for baby and breastfeeding accessories that I would not only buy, but use. With countless experimental patterns and the use of yards of fabrics, I have been able to create a motherhood collection that reflects myself and other moms who wish to carry over their style into motherhood.

I am forever grateful for the countless days I spent at my grandmother’s side as she passed on this family tradition to me. It was those moments that prepared me to recognize this need and meet it in the only way that I know how and that is with passion, love, and a sense of pride. And you know what, I would not have it any other way.

Thank you, Grandma.