Meet Simone of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone.

Hi Simone, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story dates all the way back to 2017 and my origins in Charleston, South Carolina where I was born and raised. I had the privilege and opportunity to attend a high school that was half academics half arts. My art major was fashion design, where I’d sew 90 minutes a day. This was a great foundational step in my journey in preparing for higher education at Savannah College of Art & Design on the Atlanta campus. I recently graduated from SCAD in June of 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design with a minor in Fashion Journalism. There I was able to really break into my identity as a designer, forging a designer DNA rooted in Black culture and a love for spotlighting the divine feminine. Through networking and connecting with many different people, brands, and corporations, I used that to my advantage to build relationships that gave industry knowledge I needed for real world experiences.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. No it hasn’t been the smoothest road because anytime you analyze or focus on what you don’t have, it makes you feel like you’re at a disadvantage even though that’s completely subjective depending on what perspective you choose to take. I was raised by a single mother who was young and inexperienced at the time, but did the best she could do with one income and one set of resources. But God is so gracious, he makes sure that when you need a village, you have one. My grandparents, aunts, uncle, and cousins have always been there for my mom, my brother, and I. This is where I say Yes, it has been a smooth ride in comparison to hardships that others have faced in their adolescence or growing up. My hardship was the emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual weight I had to carry from deep abandonment wounds. It affected my ability to view myself as “enough”. Oftentimes we make the severity of hardships physically unseen, a lesser seriousness in one’s life even though it carries the same weight. Through the growth of my work as a designer and creative, being able to travel and participate in fashion shows all over the country, meeting people who connect with my work greatly, and love the message behind it, showed me that I don’t have to stay bound by lack. I showed myself that I had the power and the ability to make exemplary garments from scratch and story-tell while doing it. I proved to myself that it didn’t matter whether someone chose to be a part of my life or not. I wasn’t going to continue to allow my biological father’s absence in my life to spawn anymore insecurities about my identity or my value which are two things at the forefront of my process as a designer.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The first label I ever chose to add to my name was designer. I was pulled towards womenswear, primarily dresses. As my aesthetic began to grow and mature, I placed myself in the category of contemporary evening wear and special occasion wear. Over the years I realized that my value went beyond just being a designer. As of right now, I’ve grown to embrace styling as well. I have a unique eye for pairing unlikely prints, bold colors, and textures together for a maximalist aesthetic. Some people may perceive it as busy, loud, or simply too much. The beautiful thing about having a maximalist aesthetic is that I naturally standout from the crowd and create my own lane. I guarantee you that no matter where I go or who I see, I’ll never have to worry about another person looking like me. I always knew my approach to style was different but now I’ve begun to trust that instinct more.

Post grad I also became fixated on my love for thrifting which turned into a new business venture. For almost as long as I’ve been designing, I’ve also become a thrifting fanatic. It’s like you’re a child walking into a candy store. All different colors, shapes, textures, and prints at your disposal and at a price that is almost disrespectful considering how low the price is. But I began to think, why don’t others see the beauty in thrifting the way I do? Everyone is so consumed with the latest trends, and which celebrities wear what brands, and how to make themselves look like they have more than the next person. So I got the idea to advertise thrifted wardrobes for real women with real lives. It’s sustainable, affordable, and your wardrobe still remains timeless which is what everyone should strive for. The ones who think this is “unsanitary” or “too low” below their means, are the ones still searching for validation from people who are pretending to have it all figured out. I work with women who are ready to confront themselves and ask the hard questions. Am I showing up as my highest self? Does my wardrobe align with who I am? Can I see my identity in the things I choose to adorn myself in? Fashion is not a game when you live it so deeply. It becomes a way to communicate, a form of storytelling, and a way of life.

Nevertheless whether it’s designing or styling, my DNA, point of view, and aesthetic doesn’t change. As briefly stated before, my DNA as a creative focuses on the hard discussions surrounding the existence of the black woman. Her mysteriousness, bravery, courage, strength, uniqueness, and divine power. Oftentimes black women are placed at the center of scrutiny and economic and social isolation, but we’re also the ones that are at the center of the most groundbreaking advancements in history. I shed light on the importance of the value and the rarity of the black woman.

As of right now, I am most proud of all the experience I’ve been able to accumulate at my age. I’m 23 years young and I’ve been able to showcase my collections at fashion shows in Los Angeles, Charleston, Atlanta, and Huntsville so far. I’ve had internships with Abercrombie and Finch as well as Swarovski. Swarovski even sponsored crystals and beads for my senior thesis collection. I’ve been able to make many meaningful connections. I’ve put myself out into the world in hopes of connecting with people more specifically Black women who see the vision and feel understood. This is what I am most proud of so far.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to see beyond the surface. As my craft and creative process has matured and developed over the years, I’m now fully aware of the spiritual part of the process and how it’s just as important as the physical process itself. It takes true power and a creative authority to conjure up an idea and transform it from 2-D to 3-D. Also to have the taste and instinct to naturally and consistently curate, visually appealing and wearable garments is not an easy task. Nevertheless, I choose to take on that task time and time again because it doesn’t feel like a job to me. It feels like something that I’m being called to do while I’m here on earth.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
For the longest period of time, I didn’t feel comfortable sharing my work on social media. I felt like I needed to keep it to myself and the people around me, as a way to almost protect the nature of my creative work. Over time I realized that holding back my work wasn’t actually helping me, it was hurting me. I conditioned myself to hide my creative vision out of fear that it wouldn’t be accepted or sought after. I say this as I receive my 2nd formal publication for my fashion brand and work. Sometimes things should be held closely to you as a form of protection. But sometimes it flourishes better and grows stronger when you have the courage and confidence to share it with the world. From the beginning, choose to accept that your work will not satisfy everyone because it isn’t supposed to be for everybody. And from that point on, you’ll relieve all the pressure of external validation about something you’ve chosen to cultivate, create, and breathe life into.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steezy.byshanae
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simone-shanae

Image Credits
Nick Harris (@avnixr on Instagram)
Azalea Cox (@zelly.jelly12 on Instagram)