We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shonika “Sky” Stovall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shonika “Sky” below.
Alright, Shonika “Sky” thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My name is Shonika Stovall, best known as Sky. I was born and raised in the small town of Monroe, GA. I am an Accountant/Business Analyst and upcoming Fashion Designer striving to make an impact in the fashion industry. I am a strong advocate for exploring your gifts and passions. I enjoy being in the field of Finance and Accounting. I can talk numbers all day. I love it. I’m genuinely passionate about my career as an Accountant. I always knew that I wanted to start my own business and felt strongly about knowing first hand how to manage the cash-flow. I’ve been in this field for 10 years and have accomplished a lot. After going through some hard times and feeling incomplete. I decided it was time to explore my other talents.
I was always known for being “best dressed”. I love expressing myself through my fashion. My personal style is very complex & usually based on my mood. Usually, I go for edgy & chic when I want to keep it simple but make a statement. When I’m feeling fierce & unstoppable I go for sophisticated & sexy”. Our bodies are a canvas and our send of style is our art. I wanted to create a brand to allow others to express themselves through their fashion.
Sky La’Couture is a luxury and affordable clothing brand with a collection of edgy and elegant designs. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a vibe. I specialize in custom-made designs to provide exclusive looks. I create looks for urban wear and elegant attire. I enjoy bringing a client’s vision to life. I am mostly proud of helping my clients look and feel good, combining passion with purpose.
Building this brand has not been a smooth road. It takes money to make money. At times I have felt that I spent more than I made. I have invested a lot of time and resources. However, the results don’t always meet expectations. One of my biggest challenges has been underestimating the time-frame for how long it will take to complete a project. In the past, I’ve committed to too many projects at once, making myself extremely overwhelmed and exhausted. However, I know this is going to require hard work that will eventually pay off. Oftentimes, I stab myself with needles, so I do suffer a few injuries lol. Another huge challenge is trying to balance my 9-5 and my business. They both require late nights.
I want to be the next Vera Wang, CoCo Chanel, Victoria Beckham, Milan Harris (Milano Di Rouge), and Donatella Versace. Those are some of my idols. The list goes on. I want to see my brand, my designs in stores and on billboards. I want to be worn on crosswalks, sidewalks, red carpets, stages, and other special event/occasions. My mission is to leave my mark in the fashion industry by becoming one of the top Black fashion house brands, inspire others and to leave a legacy.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’ve always loved coordinating colors, patterns, and prints since I was a little girl. Playing dress up with my dolls was one of my favorite activities. My mom dressed me very stylish head to toe, and when I got older she allowed me the freedom to have my own style. I never wanted to fit in. I remember the first time I wore heels was in the 7th grade. Gosh I remember the outfit so vividly. Both of my parents were into fashion back in their day. My mom would share stories with me about how she used to make her own clothes in high school. She’s my inspiration. As a teen, I used to sketch and fantasize about having a clothing line called F.S.O (Fly Shit Only). Whenever I was asked or had to write a paper about what I wanted to be when I grow up, one of the things would always be a Fashion Designer. I mean I had a list of things so back then I was just a little girl with dreams. Fast forward, I graduated from Benedict College with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and embarked on my Accounting career back in 2012. After devoting so many years in Corporate America, as I still do, I thought it was time to explore my gifts and passions. Back in 2017 I had a vision that I could create a robe line because It’s not common. I only knew how to sew by hand because my mom taught me but I did not know how to sew by machine. One of my friends was helping me create my samples. I did the sketches and she would sew. However, that was very time consuming for her due to the fact she had her own business to run. She agreed to teach me. After one sewing lesson, I thought “wow I can take my passion to a whole ‘nother” level. So I begin sketching and making my own outfits to perfect my craft. My spirit was ignited. I had discovered one of my gifts. It took me back to all of those papers I wrote, which I did go back and read lol. In 2018, I created my brand Sky La’ Couture.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My vision for Sky La’Couture came during my lowest times. I had just gone through a painful breakup, moved back to GA from SC, was living back with my parents, and had no job due to my abrupt move. Money and motivation was at an all time low. I was battling depression. I was out of work for almost 1 year. I utilized that time to explore other things outside of Accounting. I tapped into my passions and I learned how to sew discovering my gift. I finally got back in corporate America, regained my confidence and invested in myself.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
One of the most rewarding aspects to being creative is seeing your vision come to life. Another rewarding aspect is seeing how I am able to make an impact on others through fashion and style.
Contact Info:
- Website: skylacouture.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sky_lacouture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082818040502