A Reminder How It All Began…
Client, Robin, and her custom doll
I have many chidhood memories of quiet moments in my room. As a timid child with 2 slightly more rambunctious brothers in the household, I flew under the radar sometimes as the well-behaved sibling. This allowed me opportunities to tuck myself away into a room and read a book…
or cut up my clothes.
Anyone who’s ever asked about how I got into fashion has likely heard a rendition of this tale: “I didn’t get into, fashion got into me.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I grew up slicing into my shirts & skirts — no matter how new or old they were, no matter how much my parents said not to. They were transformed into doll clothes: Barbies, Cabbage Patch Kids, and my ‘Addy’ American Girl doll. Sometimes they also turned into style adaptations for my own wear — my first taste of fashion as self-expression.
But the dolls had more wardrobe revisions. They were the perfect models: still & open-minded. I had many variations of Barbies from the run-of-the-mill to My Size Barbie (IYKYK). I would style their outfits and hair… cutting their hair off like many young children who didn’t seem to understand it didn’t grow back. I lost the little shoes swapping things around. But little did I know, I was developing a love that would last me deep into my lifetime.
There was another factor that also made its way into this story yet it took me many more years to understand: representation.
My mother committed a lot of extra time makes sure I had dolls that looked like me. I developed a collection of limited edition holiday Barbies and I remember scouring store shelves to find the Black Barbies. This was back in the 90s and there was no Amazon to place a convenient order. Additionally, the production numbers weren’t the same. I remember times where some stores had no Black versions of a doll and others maybe only 1.
Although 1 or 2 may have gotten a haircut, some part of my youthful spirit knew better than to open them all. (Maybe my mom got that much through my head in order to redirect my imagination.) Majority are still tucked away in the closet of my childhood home. I think of them from time to time but their future is undecided. Their sentiment is currently their highest value.
Fast forward and I’ve built a career and burgeoning legacy around creating outfits for new set of muses: my wonderful clients. They’re all Black Barbies to me. I celebrate their unique taste and individuality, just as Barbie has grown to represent so many varying types of women.
This connection came rushing back when my recent client, Robin, sent photos of herself from her Court crowning event. One included a doll that her sister, Angie, had created in her likeness. Angie was at every appointment alongside Robin so she was able to have the perfect view of the custom gown we were building. She used that info to have the doll’s gown designed similarly.
Somewhere within appointments, I had shared the clothes-cutting of my youth so Robin knew she had to include that photo for me. Touched is an understatement. I told her I had to tell my mom but I haven’t shared yet. I’ll be sending her the link to this article and she’ll find out that way,
Love you, Mom.
Those childhood habits never stopped but they grew stronger and more skilled through your support. Neither of us understood then… but we understand now.
Yours truly,
Syreeta C.
p.s. Believe in children. A little empowerment goes a long way.
Interested in a more in depth take on my journey from dolls to a design career? Check out my interview with fellow Cuse alum, Cecily!
