Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Robinson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Crystal. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m from Detroit. It’s a hustle mindset type of area filled with niche markets. About seven years ago, I was going to school for psychology and I just wasn’t filling fulfilled. I knew my passion lied in working with garments, but I didn’t know where to begin with it or if that was even a feasible market to tap into.
Yet, I knew when I was good at the time and that was tailoring. I was so small so I always had to know how to tailor. Then it all snowballed I was getting commissions and requests to sew this that and the third. I just kept adding on skills and honing in on my work until it became what it is today. I was able to attend NYFW in 2018 for the winter. And was recently asked to go again. I’m currently working with nationally recognized manufacturers to assist me with moving forward and it couldn’t have been done without the mistakes that I’ve made and accomplishments I’ve achieved.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a pothole stricken road in all honesty. I started from no knowledge of the business and just maxing out my credit card on a whim I just had an idea. Being that I knew no one in the industry I just did what I thought was right or cool but that was proving to not always be the right thing. Self-taught in this industry proves a lot of challenges especially with quality control. I had to trial and error learn how to accomplish what people who have years of training on me did, and that resulted in a lot of failures, missed opportunities, and a few upset clients. But I never let it get in my way. I let it humble me and make my next road easier. In a weird way, I’m happy it happened because I was able to train myself on what to do on more scenarios that I could possibly come across and now I’m more ready for what’s to come than I ever have been.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
CM/CR is seven years in the making and tbh hasn’t been fully released yet but now is my time to get the word out there. I specialize in womenswear specifically Designer Label ready time wear. I love to work with silks ans very eclectic textiles.
I’m most proud of my show I did in NYFW, I look back at that show like wow there is so much I can improve, but in the same breath my work was liked my many. I made orders fresh off the runway. I was asked by someone who never met me but was inspired by my work to give me the opportunity to showcase my work to many.
What sets me apart from others is my duality of aesthetics. That’s where CM/CR comes into it. The name is a play on my initials going into how there’s two sides to me. A very soft side that plays into my silks and delicate attire then a more colorful edgy side that uses more textiles. This duality I feel will give my customers more choices and allow for more people to resonate with my brand.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta, I feel is a Mecca of black-owned businesses. So I definitely feel as though my business has to have a part here.
Even though Atlanta can feel a bit crowded and congested at times, I think it’s still a great place to get your foot in the door because someone is usually there to help.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Devil_inachiffondress
Image Credit:
Jarod Lew
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