We were lucky to catch up with Tamara Mckinney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tamara, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I started off hand sewing as a kid learning to use a machine in high school. I’m a self taught seamstress and a 2024 Fashion Design graduate. YouTube university has helped and helped me with understanding somethings, but I tell people all the time read a book. There are a lot of books that go in depth within the fashion design & sewing. I wish I would’ve focused more on books before jumping in to visuals learning. It took me a bit longer when my main focus was on the visual video’s. Thinking small will hinder yo as a creative, always think outside of the box. Explore the world around you and find new mediums to broaden your creative mind.

Tamara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a self taught cut and sew seamstress/designer. I’ve been sewing for over 10 years and I’m a recent 2024 B.A. Fashion Design grad. I’m also an educator, I teach people about fashion along with sewing lessons. I have a strong love for fashion and it’s something I love to share with others around me. The thing I enjoy most is the fact that fashion is a revolving industry and I will always have creative freedom. I primarily make women’s clothing but I have dabbled in youth & men’s wear. North Carolina native I’ve done over 25+ fashion shows and wont my first fashion design competition in 2023 for best fashion designer. That award really lit a fire under me share and show people my talents and garments.My business Skinflints Closet have been operation since 2017 and Is still holding steady today. As I keep growing and learning I know that my business will always prosper.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a creator, the thing that I find most rewarding is my creative freedom. I may work for a corporation or a small business or myself. I have the right to choose, and I love all of the different things that I am able to create and make I also like the fact that I learn new things every time I create something new. I think something I do find top-tier about being a seamstress/fashion designer is that when I see my clients in their outfits even when they have words or doubts for any reason, even if it’s just their own insecurity by the end, they are very happy with the final product and how it looks on them and that is the most rewarding thing ever because I realize how much Clothing really affects a person and to make that change or be their source of happiness for someone brings me my own joy and comfort.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I have a few different goals and called them my alphabet plan. I am currently/fashion designer on my own, but in the future, I want to do more. I would love to own my own fabric shop to sell fabrics and have my own own franchises all over the world. I would also love to have my own manufacturing business for small business owners who want to create their own fashion lines without having to break the bank too much. I would my shop when I’m an old age and being happy in a small town with my little shop, still sewing still selling clothes still making people happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://skinflintsdcloset.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/Skinflintscloset
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/Skinflintscloset
• Twitter: https://x.com/Skinflintscloset

Image Credits

Susansuggphotography
Ishotwithpanda