Today we’d like to introduce you to Daisha Curtis.
Hi Daisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in the art of fashion came at a very young age. Like, a lot of children I wanted to dress myself every day as early as kindergarten. One day I asked my grandmother how to sew while she was making curtains and she showed me how to sew a doll’s dress. In one night, I fell in love with the sewing machine, and I wanted one for myself– I wanted to make more. I couldn’t wait until the day when I had creative control of my wardrobe. I waited about two years to ask for a sewing machine. As I got older, I tried other hobbies so I hadn’t put all of my eggs in one basket. I took guitar lessons for six months, I tried out for the volleyball team, I was even the captain of a dance team (LOL). I couldn’t quite keep my interests in those avenues and always found myself back at fashion. The era of fashion DIY’ing quickly became a trend and by this time, I knew I needed a sewing machine. The year that I turned 12 years old, my grandmother gifted me her sewing machine for Christmas.
In middle school, I began distressing clothes, making hair bows and headbands for my peers. This is where it began– and soon, in high school, I began to take fashion design seriously. I soon decided what I wanted to spend my life doing. During the last two years of high school, I began searching for colleges that had a fashion design or fashion-related degree close to home. I found myself quite close to home at Florida State University studying Retail Entrepreneurship and Fashion Merchandising. In my four years of college, I released two handmade bikini collections and took several custom design commissions from my peers. Last year, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Retail Entrepreneurship.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. Just as I began taking custom orders and alterations from my peers, I lost everything. In 2018, I went home for the summer to work a summer job as it was my first “real” summer of college since I started the Summer prior. In late July, as Summer was coming to an end, I received an email– yes, an email, that my student apartment had been mistakenly emptied and all of my belongings were thrown out. Items included but were not limited to a brand new unboxed sewing and embroidery machine, my entire closet of clothes, luxury bags my grandmother passed down to me, and all of my first year of college memories were gone down the drain. This caused a major halt in my progress as it took me about a year to recover everything that I had lost. Although this situation may have caused many people distress and disdain, God gave me peace through it all. This situation could’ve ended in several ways, which I am grateful that it ended the way it did and it’s now in the past.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Over the past couple of years, I stepped out of my comfort zone to create an actual line of products that could be available to purchase to the public. I will say the pandemic also gave me more confidence in my brand as I released my first collection in July of 2020 which featured four different swimwear designs in seven different patterns. Looking back, this was a lot for me to do as it was my first collection and everything was going to be handmade. The following year, in June of 2021 I released my second bikini collection which was much more cohesive and easier to handle. I am typically known as a bikini brand, which I hope to expand to apparel very soon.
I specialize in a wide range of custom orders, this includes formal wear, nighttime attire, and swimwear. I am most proud of my swimwear release last year as I exceeded my goals and in that process, I was also preparing to move post-graduation. It was a lot to handle at the time, but Wasted Attire prevailed.
Wasted Attire is a brand in development and what sets us apart is never saying “No”, to a challenge. I receive custom orders on several occasions and it doesn’t matter if I have ever tackled the project or not, it will get done.
Any big plans?
The future changes every day for me. As a young adult, my future plans change as I learn and grow. As far as Wasted Attire goes, I plan to become a Ready-to-Wear Contemporary Apparel and Loungewear brand. Early next year, I am expecting to work on our first apparel release consisting of a few pieces. This is still in the works!
Contact Info:
- Email: waistedattire@gmail.com
- Website: www.wastedattire.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wastedattire
- Facebook: facebook.com/wastedattire
Image Credits:
Photos by @JGDirected
