Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanette Lebron. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Shanette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Becoming a fashion designer has always been my dream. I remember being a little girl, obsessed with Bratz dolls and how stylish they were. I would look at my closet and envision what it could look like if I designed my own clothes the way I wanted to. In 2013, my grandmother bought me my very own sewing machine, a Brother CE1100PRW, and I couldn’t be happier. At first, I started off with testing all 100 stitches, then I played around with patchwork, and eventually I started to put together my own cosplay and do alterations on my own clothes. The passion for fashion was always deeply rooted into everything I did. I went to college to study fashion, but it wasn’t until May of this year that I decided to take the leap and turn my dream into a reality. I was in my living room, working on turning a second-hand dress into a reimagined evening slip-dress that was adorned in strings of pearls. That project gave me a vision of me in a room filled with materials like fabrics, threads, dress forms, machines, and patterns. From there, the idea of Nova’s Touch Atelier was born. My next step was to bring her to fruition. I created the instagram page for my brand and started to post videos of me sewing and showing the process of creating the slip dress. As the dress neared completion, I worked on my brand logo, my philosophy, and started brainstorming my first collection. A couple of things that I had to take into account was the cost of materials, my target audience, and the amount of time I would have to dedicate to it all. I also needed a website, somewhere my customers could read up on me and my mission, while also being able to inquire about custom orders. The one thing about fashion is that it is an endless pursuit of knowledge. I would say 60% of my work is me diving face first into researching and learning new things or having a deeper understanding of what I’m trying to create or emit from a piece. While I was trying to figure out what I had to do next, more customers were starting to inquire about garments and looks that they wanted to see come to life, and I was the designer they wished to work with. Of course, this meant the pressure was on and I had to kick it into fifth gear. While tackling all the custom orders, I started to design my website, choosing font styles, layouts, and colors that fit the brand and how I pictured it all. That lead to the launch of www.novastouchatelier.com. I am currently working on custom pieces for a loyal cluster of Nova Babes. Also in the works of breathing life into old sketches to create my first collection, and the rest is yet to be written.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve loved fashion for as long as I could remember. There’s just something so freeing about being able to express yourself through the style of your clothes and how you dress. Constantly inspired by contestants on Project Runway, I’ve always strived to be just as remarkable as the next designer in my own unique way. I provide custom garments for my clients at a reasonable price, making couture accessible to everyone. If you need a piece of clothing transformed into a statement piece that screams your story to the world, I’m your designer. I help those with adventurous souls achieve the looks they’ve always dreamed of wearing. Everything is tailored to you and your personal style. I think my mission to make couture more inclusive is what sets me apart from other designers. Most people can only dream of being able to buy a couture piece; but I’m the designer that turns that dream into a reality, working within your budget while still providing you with all the details you wish to stand out in a crowd of people. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in the clothes they wear. Everyone deserves to bare their souls to the world in their own style. I’m the one dedicated to making this happen. I’ll always put you and your needs first, while ensuring that sketch we created together becomes a real tangible object that you’ll have in your closet for years to come. I pride myself in providing a truly intimate and personal experience all the way from the consultation, to the final fitting. Whether it’s a piece of second-hand clothing you want to be reborn like a phoenix or something made completely from scratch, I’ll be sure to make it all happen.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Being a fashion designer was always a dream of mine but I never thought it would be possible to pursue it as a career. Because of this thought, I turned to other passions, like beauty and skincare. While I loved doing what I did and pursuing a career in the beauty industry, it just didn’t give me as much satisfaction as creating clothes did. As the years went on, my satisfaction started to wear thin of creating beauty products and I knew I had to change things up. I’ve always had a sketchbook filled with ideas of clothing pieces I’d love to make one day and this year, after almost three years of not knowing which direction to go with my career, I finally decided to follow my heart, and go down the path of fashion design. I enrolled in college, began studying, and once all was said and done, started my brand. While I was terrified the whole time I was making this switch, I never regretted it. So don’t ever be afraid to change up your path, especially if something else is calling to you. Your heart will guide you in the right direction.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn, especially when in fashion school, was that fashion follows a set of rules and nothing else. This is absolutely not true. Fashion is a form of art and expression, and it’s up to you to make it whatever you want. Of course there are fashion critics out there who will tell you otherwise, but the reality is, you’re the one creating the clothes, not them. It’s your art, not theirs. Create what your heart desires. After all, Alexander McQueen and John Galliano never let anyone get in the way of the art they chose to create. Be uniquely you and do it resolutely. I used to feel like I had to follow trends and only make what every other designer was making, but really that’s just conformity. I didn’t become a designer to blend in with all the rest. I became a designer to stamp my signature in the industry in my own fashion. Fashion school tried to get me to conform to their rules, but I never could stay on the bandwagon and that’s okay. You shouldn’t have to either. Dare to design and dress differently and don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.novastouchatelier.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/novastouchatelier?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr