Making the Cut

Since as far back as I can remember I have always liked things that were exclusive. The years that I lived in the California I found myself constantly at the airbrush shop. My mind was always finding a new idea that told a story. However, most of those designs were merely airbrushed on T-shirts or the back of button up shirts but I never did any actual crafting. I would go to the artist and express whatever my thoughts were and he did an amazing job of bringing those ideas to life. But as great as those shirts were, I knew that I wanted to do more and ultimately needed to do more. Now it took me quite a few years after I left California before I ever got the courage to pursue those ventures.

See, I left California in 2008 after I had appendicitis. For a year I was recovering in my hometown of Peoria Illinois. While I was there I began pursuing a degree in psychology. A year into that pursuit, I found myself deployed to Iraq. When I returned from Iraq, I got distracted by working as a government contractor. So while I had a financial means, I hadn’t found anyone I trusted enough with my ideas, nor the drive to put any irons in the fire.

It wouldn’t be until 2018 that I finally started to look for someone to help me create the custom designs that I had saw in my mind. I reached out to a particular individual that I knew from the Bay area but they informed me that they were too busy developing their own brand. I completely respected that but knew that I would not and could not quiet my spirit until I began to create my vision. Being very impatient, I thought if I couldn’t get who I wanted to help me, I would just do it myself. By this point, I was living in Augusta, GA.

So I made my way to Walmart looking at sewing machines. I really didn’t know what it was that I was looking for and I purchased the simplest one that I could find. It was a heavy duty Singer sewing machine. From there I went to what would become my second home, Joann’s Fabric, and I bought a pattern, thread, self healing cut board, chalk and the like. My scissors and cutting wheel were of course Fiskers, as the signature orange grips were what I remembered of my childhood watching my mom sew.

I am what you might consider bougie or lavish or eccentric so the fabric that I ordered took a while to get to my house. I ordered metallic gold lamb skin from New York, black brocade fabric from China and crocodile black velvet from New Jersey. In the meantime, I had turned the second bedroom of my townhouse into a sewing room.

Once the fabric arrived I began to cut the pattern. Seeing as I had never sewn I went to YouTube University for my education. I learned how to properly lay out the pattern over the fabric and then cut the fabric. Needless to say there was a lot of wasted time and effort. But I eventually got the hang of it and got my jacket sewn together. I cannot tell you how proud I felt when I saw my creation manifested.

Since that day I have sewn several different pieces for various individuals. I am currently in the process of looking for a manufacturer that can take my pieces and produce them in bulk in order to share with the masses. More than just luxury attire, I feel like the story behind the brand is one of persevering. There are no obstacles that you cannot overcome. And ultimately never let anyone try to fabricate the material that you’re cut from. Just like my pieces, you are one of a kind and made from the finest by the Most High.