Meet Christine Seremba

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine “Saka” Seremba.

Hi Christine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Of course! I am such a fashion lover; I have always been fascinated with clothes ever since I could remember. I was a shy, quiet kid from a multi-ethnic home who didn’t know how to fit in or stand out. So, growing up, I was heavily involved in performing arts such as dance, theatre, and choir and I feel that being a part of those communities brought me closer to expressing myself creatively. I knew I felt most connected and the most like myself doing something creative or hands on. I was a part of a modeling agency early in high school, which began my interest in runway fashion and everything that goes into it. The clothes, the makeup, and just the overall ambience, I was completely enthralled with it all! I remember, like most black girls do, going onto Stardoll at a young age, and spending hours dressing up celebrities as well as trying to sketch the clothing items they had onto stick figures. I had no idea what I was doing but I loved it. Watching my mother and aunts take pride in how they looked also shaped me to always look my best. Accessorizing and the use of color were important things my mother always told me to keep in mind regarding my appearance. My love for thrifting also started early in high school, and I began to shop there every other weekend with my friends, completely obsessed. My mother would take me and my sister to the thrift store when we were kids/pre-teens, and I couldn’t get into it until I saw the value in it later. It taught me that I could mimic the style I see in the magazines, music videos, and/or movies for so cheap, and then I started to alter my own clothes. I began to explore a little more with my style, incorporating different prints, textures and silhouettes to help me discover more of what I was interested in. I was a reserved student, but I took pride in what my style once was back then, it was the beginning of a journey that I did not know of yet.

Fast forward to 2019 in college, Columbus State University, I paid way more attention to my sense of style. I initially was feeling depressed and sad every day at one point in my sophomore year. I felt so down about a lot of things that I struggled to get ready for class sometimes, barely wanting to get up out of bed. I told myself in order to get better and be more at peace, I wanted to level up, elevate more. I thought that I needed a complete transformation. So, I cut my hair, thinking that that was also baggage, began watching LOTS of runway shows and took fashion more seriously. I was captivated by designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Prada, Mcqueen, Stella Mccartney, R13, and many more that are included as my favorite designers now. I wore things that made me feel like Christine to the 10th power essentially, and it completely turned my confidence around. Putting on pieces that were definitely not seen on campus, especially in small towns such as Columbus, GA, made me feel like I stood out; That I was seen as a complete individual. It was the first time in my life that I felt genuinely happy and comfortable, COMPLETELY, in my own skin. I tried to start a fashion blog, but I wasn’t as committed as I should’ve been. However, after hearing from some friends and other associates that I should “do something” with fashion, I decided to try fashion styling. So, I started looking into the idea of helping people clean their closets and decided that this was something that I wanted to continue to pursue and discover. Summer of 2018, I volunteered as an Image consultant at Dress for Success in Sandy Springs. It is a nonprofit organization that helps women get back on their feet and assists with professional attire for future employment. I was so touched by the experience and the reactions from the women of their new wardrobe, it made me feel like that was my purpose, instantly. Watching the women get emotional over how they looked and felt after trying on the clothes resonated with me because I felt the same way my sophomore year. In 2019, after doing a few small personal styling and closet assessment projects for friends, I decided to start my brand formerly known as “Upyourcoset”, IYKYK. In late 2020, I decided to rebrand, changing my brand name to Nasakademoda, then again changing it to Sakademoda in 2021. I am still growing and still learning as I go, but I am forever grateful for how I got to where I am today and where I am headed.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not, lol. The biggest struggles that I face are myself and anxiety. With trying to get social media attention and produce content, it can be hard to stay committed and stay dedicated, it’s easy to lose motivation. Between not enough engagement on an Instagram post or trying to get hired for more photoshoots, you still have to remain perseverant, which is NOT super easy although important to maintain in this industry. Having a small following and being a hidden gem is special in a way though. Reminding myself of the valuable assets I possess and what I am capable of helps me stay motivated as well as hearing words of affirmation. Super important to have a strong support system and faith in yourself. Staying rooted in faith is always a priority and a main way of combating that obstacle, I just call out on God. At the end of the day, I may feel alone in doing everything, but I know that God is there with me and guiding me, and that the storm is temporary. He has brought me out of a lot, so I feel more at peace when He gives me an unexpected blessing that reassures me that I am exactly where I need to be.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a fashion stylist, sustainable at that. I really enjoy DIY projects and upcycling pieces as well. I love doing mainly editorial work, bringing the utmost maximalist and crazy but beautiful stories to life using timeless styling techniques. Emphasis on timeless and maximal. I offer current fashion trends and style tip advice to men and women on how to achieve your desired style through consultation services. For virtual styling, I do it on the side via Instagram for fun mainly, but upon client request, I can help accomplish a look that suits their taste and style. Closet clean outs are also one of my services, if you’re looking to rid any unwanted and/or unneeded clothes. I work with both women and men also. I will be introducing personal shopping and alteration services coming very soon. My goal is to primarily do runway/editorial styling style, work with high-profile individuals and/or celebrities, and to start my own clothing brand! Most people who know me know that I absolutely love thrifting and incorporate that into the work that I do. Although I do love designers and tell clients that it is important to invest in your wardrobe, I also try to encourage more thrift/consignment shopping just because it is a special way to discover more of your desired style and it’s super affordable! I am certainly proud of the work I have put in thus far, to see it pay off, and to see people so pleased. I don’t have an extensive fashion background but to look back at what I have conquered whether that be fear or doubt, I am proud that I have improved my mindset overall. I feel as though my brand name, Sakademoda, and the meaning behind it stands out for sure. I wanted to include my heritage and pay homage to my parents, dad being from Uganda and mom being from Cuba, especially since as a child I was not super confident in that. Nasaka is a tribe in Uganda as well as my middle name. When I build generational wealth, I would love for Sakademoda to be a household name. I wanted to reintroduce “saka”, as a new and to stand out from other stylists Christine, I had felt like that came along when I fell in love with fashion and to stand out from other stylists. It was a new identity! I don’t often meet too many black girls with an ethnic background like myself, so it made me want to come up with something that stuck with people, a new ring. My late great aunt used to call me that when I was younger, as her namesake. It stuck with me and has given me a new sense of self, one that I can confidently and creatively express through. I also just like the sound of it. “De moda” is Spanish for fashionable/stylish and I just thought the too just worked super well together. I believe the energy and creativity I bring to anything I do is inviting and uplifting.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Faith first, absolutely. Without God, I would be nowhere but having patience I would say is pretty key. Putting so much time and energy into a shoot can be exhausting, but as long as you’re doing what you love, humbly, and pacing yourself through it, you will always be successful and rewarded.

Contact Info:

• Email: sakathestylist@gmail.com
• Instagram: sakademoda 
• Website: TBA

Image Credits:
Shout out to the clothing brand, @a.typica.l and @yofisher