Today we’d like to introduce you to MJ Sykes.
MJ, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in L.A. and bred in the Southern Capital of Atlanta, I grew to love fashion at a very young age. My mother was always very fashionable and appreciated the importance of finding a “good” shoe or dress. She taught me to value luxe materials and strong construction. While in elementary and high school, I began deconstructing my everyday pieces and my mother’s vintage wears into creative looks, this began developing my love of clothes. I attended magnet schools for high achieving academics, math, science and technology and grew to love the sciences very much. My love for science and animals led my parents to believe I would be a natural as a Veterinarian. I attended Savannah State and Clayton State Universities to achieve my Bachelor of Science degree which solidified, I was no Vet. My love of animals and science was real however, a career in medicine was not for me.
I knew nothing about a career in fashion, I just knew I always loved clothes. I loved to shop (even just to browse), read VOGUE and learn about designers and models. I began organically emerging as a designer with the impulse purchase of a used sewing machine from eBay, fabric from Joann’s and store-bought VOGUE patterns. I taught myself to sew and begin to learn what “fashion” was. It was a business, it was more than just clothes, I had to learn more. I applied to SCAD for their MFA program and was denied. This was very discouraging however, I remembered I had these colorful course catalogs I had received over the years, luckily I kept them, they were from the Academy of Art and they had a Fashion MFA program. I applied and I got in. I was elated! My time in the program was exhilarating. I learned about fashion history, construction, marketing, merchandising and best of all attended New York fashion week each season. During this time, I became very active in fashion, designing for my collections, starting a blog (Check the Runway), becoming active in the Atlanta fashion scene and participating in fashion shows, competitions and joined Fashion Group International. This opened up so much for me and lead to me create coralONE in 2014, dedicated to my love of all things fashion.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a designer has this been a smooth road? Well… No! This has not been a smooth road but the bumpier the road, sometimes the more exciting. I feel like the bumps have taught me the most. You go out there with your aspirations and dreams packed up and ready to go and things never quite go like you expect them to. I am sure most entrepreneurs talk about difficulties with getting funding, getting people to invest in their brands, you know financial difficulties. That is a difficult part of entrepreneurship however, other things were bigger that I struggled with. I have given a lot of my art away expecting to get the exposure to take me to the next level. I eventually had to realize I am not a polaroid photo, I didn’t need exposure, I needed experiences and opportunities. One of the biggest struggles has been finding the right opportunities and the most authentic people to guide me on this journey. I pulled back and concentrated on individual clients to learn more about my strengths which have prepared me to enter the consumer landscape. I have also struggled with staying inspired and connected to my muse. I got burned out steadily creating, it is so important to take time for yourself, that whole “self-care” schtick is very real. I had to be ok with regrouping when necessary to keep things fresh. Being a part of an association like Fashion Group International has helped because it is important to connect with like-minded, successful and emerging fashion professionals that understand the challenges I’m facing. I got a mentor and wasn’t afraid to slow down, ask questions and make changes, to be constantly evolving.
Please tell us more about your business.
My business is coralONE, coral because my name means coral in Swahili and One because I am 1:1. coralONE is all about passionate fashion, more than just clothes. I fabricate exciting physical manifestations of my internal design creativity through blogging and designing womenswear, in a nutshell. My blog is Check the Runway where I discuss fashion news, red carpet and runway fashion, it’s a lot of fun and stimulating, and keeps me connected to the fashion world. I divide my design creativity into two brands, The EmJha Collection that has an “Urban Classic” vibe that personifies fresh, high fashion looks that are wearable, ready-to-wear and fun. Then there is prendre-tout atelier, which inspires through luxe fabrics, a strong high fashion aesthetic and multi-dimensional stylings, more grown up.
The Young Fashion Designer’s Association (YFDA) is my budding non-profit association whose membership will consist of emerging young fashion designers who are striving to learn about fashion and to become relevant in fashion. The word “Young” meaning developing their craft and emerging into the fashion world. I am excited to assist emerging designers in finding out where they belong in the fashion landscape. I want to give back in any way I can, to teach others what I know also to help them grow from what I have experienced.
There is still so much I want to do in design and each day brings on a new level of creativity. I have a great stock of private clients that keep me working and honing my skills, I’m proud of that. I am also proud of my drive and spirit that I attribute to my faith. My company is on the upswing and I am learning to grow a little each day. I finally have my finger on what I should do differently here and what I should keep the same there. Steady upward growth, I am very proud of that.
Each day I work towards becoming a well respected sought after womenswear designer with respect in the industry. I feel that is a part of what sets me apart from others. I know a lot of people design to make money and I want that too, however, I want my Art to be seen, worn and coveted, passed down and cherished. I want to be a piece of the fashion industry puzzle, an important piece that it can’t be complete without and I am working hard to achieve this.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as achieving whatever goal(s) I set out for myself and working independently for myself. I know, making money is most people’s definition of success however, I don’t believe just accumulating financial wealth is success. If you are working hard and continuously pushing yourself forward with full force, the money will come, but will that feeling of fulfillment come? Just because you have money? Not necessarily. I feel successful as long as I am consistent and doing something I love every day. I have worked a job where I was making a lot of money however I was working so much, I couldn’t design, there were just not enough hours in the day. I felt so drained and uninspired and I didn’t feel successful. Success for me is designing and creating garments that wow my clients, that inspire me to take risks. Success is me being happy and fulfilled, innovating and working for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.coralONE.us
- Phone: 404-720-8294
- Email: info@coralONE.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coralone
Image Credit:
coralONE
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