Today we’d like to introduce you to Tre’Iana (Pearl) Tyler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always knew I wanted more for myself and my family to come but I didn’t always know how I would get there. For most of my life, I recall trauma. My family and I are victims of Hurricane Katrina, we constantly moved, which prompted us to start over, and my mom really had to work hard day and night to supply for all of us. One of the biggest triggers for me was when my oldest sister passed away at the early age of 19. All of which I experienced before the age of 10. I knew it was only right that I continued the work that she had started. I wasn’t exactly sure of her entire plan, but I knew the end goal she wanted. It was my turn to pull my weight. That didn’t always include fashion. I tried cosmetology, side hustles, I started working early, anything I could do to make life easier for me and my family. I got so distracted in trying to get by that I completely ignored the fact I had a passion for fashion.
Once discovering I had put my dreams on hold, at the age 19, I decided to start my brand, Diamond & Pearl Identity & Co. The name originates from my older sister Diamond, also known as Kyla Freeman, who passed away and Pearl which is an alias I go by. I named it this because my brand represents the identity we both wanted. I learned how to sew when I was 12 but began to sharpen my skills. I changed schools and my major to focus on Fashion Design. Shortly after enrollment, I began working out of a storage unit where I did alterations, projects, and small custom designs. In 2021,I knew I wanted my brand to be official and to sell pieces that were my own personal style. I worked the entire year so that I could save, build my website, develop business cards, samples, tech packs, logos, my llc, photoshoots, commercials, just everything I needed to be professional. In May of 2022, I graduated from Alabama A&M with a B.S. in Family & Consumer Science with a concentration in Fashion Design. A day after graduation, I was set and released my first Spring collection “Bare Obsessions”. My brand is personal and every day I’m working hard to get better and gain more exposure as a fashion designer and creative.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth at all. Breaking generational curses is hard especially when you have no knowledge of how to go into it. A big struggle I faced was self-doubt. I didn’t believe I was capable of being an entrepreneur. But I had to realize if you don’t believe in yourself nobody else will. Marketing was also and is still also hard. Society has been trained to go with the majority or to base themselves off trends. Starting a new designer brand is not easy when you’re fighting for a spot next to other amazing designer brands who have already been established. Learning SEO tactics and how to get traffic to your brand from social media marketing is difficult when you have no blueprint. Another struggle I faced was the fact it takes money to make money. I have went broke for my business, I’ve worked jobs I didn’t want to work, even considered loans but that’s the beauty of having a passion that God set aside just for you. You don’t mind working hard for what you want because the end goal is so worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance fashion designer and creative. I specialize in alterations, custom designs, photography, and creative direction. I am known for being a custom designer which includes designs from scratch and revamps. I am the CEO of D&P Identity & Co where our goal is to make men and women feel comfort, vintage, and luxury while sporting our designs. My goal is to bring back seasonal fashion that is long-lasting. Fast fashion is damaging our environment and I don’t want to add to that. I am most proud of the fact that I’m still going and that I haven’t let my past define where I am going or how fast I can get there. What sets me apart from others is that I don’t just do one thing. I am a jack of all trades. I’m always willing to learn new things so that I can continue to grow my brand until I am able to form an entire team. No opportunity is too small and no challenge is too big.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is defined as reaching a goal you wanted to achieve. Everyone’s success is different and what you want for you, I might not want for me. Success is knowing what you are going for and taking the necessary steps to get there. It is seen in multiple points of your life not just once. Any milestone that you have reached can be defined as success. With hard work, focus, prayer, and meditation, anyone can reach success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dpidentity.co
- Instagram: @dpidentityco @pearlenvogue
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dpidentityco
Image Credits
Luicd_Kam Kai.Lituation
