Rising Stars: Meet Shonika “Sky” Stovall

As a teen, I used to sketch and fantasize about having a clothing line called F.S.O (Fly Shit Only). Whenever I was asked or had to write a paper about what I wanted to be when I grow up, one of the things would always be a Fashion Designer. I mean I had a list of things so back then I was just a little girl with dreams. Fast forward, I graduated from Benedict College with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and embarked on my professional career back in 2012. I am a strong advocate for exploring your gifts and passions. I enjoy being in the field of Finance and Accounting. I can talk numbers all day. I love it. I’ve devoted 10 years to corporate America and have accomplished a lot. I’m genuinely passionate about my career as an Accountant. I always knew that I wanted to start my own business and felt strongly about knowing first hand how to manage the cash-flow. After going through depression and feeling incomplete. I decided it was time to explore my other talents. Back in 2017 I had a vision that I could create a robe line because It’s not common. I only knew how to sew by hand because my mom taught me, but I did not know how to sew by machine. One of my friends was helping me create my samples. I did the sketches and she would sew. However, that was very time consuming for her due to the fact she had her own business to run. She agreed to teach me. After one sewing lesson, I thought “wow I can take this to a whole ‘nother level”. So I begin sketching and making my own outfits to perfect my craft. My spirit was ignited. I had discovered one of my gifts. It took me back to all of those papers I wrote, which I did go back and read lol. In 2018, I created my brand Sky La’ Couture.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building this brand has not been a smooth road. It takes money to make money. At times I have felt that I spent more than I made. I have invested a lot of time and resources. However, the results don’t always meet expectations. One of my biggest challenges has been underestimating the time-frame for how long it will take to complete a project. In the past, I’ve committed to too many projects at once, making myself extremely overwhelmed and exhausted. So it’s been  a lot of trial and error. However, I know this is going to require hard work that will eventually pay off. Oftentimes, I stab myself with needles, so I do suffer a few injuries lol. Another huge challenge is trying to balance my 9-5 and my business. They both require late nights.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I was always known for being “best dressed”. I love expressing myself through my fashion. My personal style is very complex & usually based on my mood. Usually, I go for edgy & chic when I want to keep it simple but make a statement. When I’m feeling fierce & unstoppable I go for sophisticated & sexy”. Our bodies are a canvas and our sense of style is our art. I wanted to create a brand to allow others to express themselves through their fashion.

Sky La’Couture is a luxury and affordable clothing brand with a collection of edgy and elegant designs.I specialize in custom-made designs to provide exclusive looks for urban wear and elegant attire. I enjoy bringing a client’s vision to life. There are so many online boutiques and upcoming brands so I like to design looks that are exclusive, not trending, but still fashionably relevant. I am known for not following trends. I am mostly proud of helping my clients look and feel good, combining passion with purpose. It makes my heart smile when they’re satisfied.

Currently, my line mostly caters to women, but I get a lot of male inquiries so I’m looking to expand my clientele. I want to be the next Vera Wang, CoCo Chanel, Victoria Beckham, Milan Harris (Milano Di Rouge). Those are some of my idols. I want to see my brand name in stores and on billboards. I want to be worn on crosswalks, sidewalks, red carpets, performing stages, and other special occasions. I aspire to leave a legacy and a mark in the fashion industry. I want to be an inspiration for others to tap into their gifts and passion, and to realize it’s never too late.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Atlanta is that it’s filled with so much talent, so much art, so much culture, so many creators, the music, and the food. You’re constantly surrounded by inspiration. It’s the black mecca. There are so many ways and places to network. The opportunities are limitless. What I like least is not the traffic lol.

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