We were lucky to catch up with Patty Myasia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Patty , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

How I received my first client, was actually through social media. For a very long time in my creative career, I would just create things for me. In the beginning stages of designing, I didn’t think I was skilled enough to create for the masses. So, I simply made things for me. I received a DM one day on Instagram “you need to start creating for all of us, stop being selfish lol” and—I remember feeling like wow, here I am thinking I’m not qualified and people are waiting on me! It caused me to lift that doubt off myself. Lauryn Hill custom jacket, was my first creative creation for a client, and it boomed from there.

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 am a woman of many hats: designer, stylist, model + perfumer, my favorite hate to wear is designer. I’ve had a love for fashion since I was very young, I developed a love for creating in my teen years, when I entered into adulthood, I combined the two and Piece by PMR, was born. I create wearable art, each piece is hand painted and hand crafted by me. For black men/women only, my brand is solely for the culture.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what helped build my reputation is my mission statement, my dedication to the culture. I don’t think there’s many brands that create solely for black people, my brand is very much a “for us, by us” type of brand. A lot of people felt seen and represented, with the things I create. I get told all the time, and I feel so proud because that’s all I wanted. To create a brand that was unapologetically black, and well received by the culture. So, it’s been mission accomplished!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Sure! I’ve actually never shared this, I was contacted by a large corporation to collaborate on creating an animation for an upcoming cartoon. When I entered the meeting I was told in the most indirect way “we like you, but lose the woke black stuff and you can come aboard”—it wasn’t said verbatim, but that was the tone in the message. I remember being so disappointed because I knew this opportunity would’ve changed my life forever, but morals mean more than currency. Self respect and integrity, means more than popularity. I remember feeling so down about it, but I kept telling myself greater was coming. I didn’t conform, I didn’t change myself and my message, for a collaboration.

A couple months later I am selected by the brand team for a TV show called “The Chi”—my blackness, was more than accepted and applauded. It’s important to stay true to self. What’s meant for you will come, and you won’t have to water down yourself or your message, to receive it.

Contact Info:

• Website: PiecebyPMR.co
• Instagram: itstherealpmr
• Facebook: Patty Myasia