Inspiring Conversations with Michaelle Faison of MAP’D Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaelle Faison.

Hi Michaelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved everything about clothes and styling. Even as a kid, playing with Barbie’s & Bratz dolls, that’s all I did was style the dolls and change up their looks. Other kids would want the Barbie dream house, me I wanted Barbie’s Retail store so I could pretend I had a fashion boutique.

When it was time to decide what I would do after I graduated high school I decided to go to Design school in Tampa, Florida and learn everything I could about being a designer.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When you’re walking the path of your purpose the enemy will throw everything at you to knock you off your path in hopes you never live in your purpose, so it has not been smooth for me, but looking back thank God it wasn’t because I have learned and kept so many great skills, wisdom and bettered my character because of it.

To start, my interest in design always had to be further explored on my own because even though I had a family history of my grandmother and mother sewing, no one taught me or fueled my interest. I didn’t have a close relationship with my grandmother for her to teach me and my mother was always too busy to teach me. I would see my mother trying to make clothes for my younger sister or make curtains and placemats but never asked me or volunteer to show me. The first time I actually touched a sewing machine and learned was my 10th grade year of high school when I took sewing class.

Then at 17, 3 months before my high school graduation I was hiding a pregnancy. When I had to tell my parents at five months, I was told I wouldn’t be able to have a good life and more importantly I wouldn’t be able to attend college that I already enrolled in. But as soon as my daughter turned 6 weeks, I started school. I’ll never forget the date, it was January 6, 2008. It was the first time I didn’t let all the doubts from others determine what direction I take. I proved them wrong.

Being a mother, working full time & trying to build my own business and brand has always been difficult. For so long, it was put out there that the mother gives up on her dreams and puts everything into the child and the child’s future, but me, I created my own motto; especially after being inspired by Beyonce when she had Blue Ivy. The industry looks down on a woman having a child and a family if you have a career or your own brand. The industry would make it seem like once you have a child your career is over but Beyonce flipped it and said I can not only have my career and my child but I can also have me and be even more sexy and beautiful than ever. So my motto has been, Having a child doesn’t mean I have to stop my dreams, it means I’m taking them along with me. And that’s exactly what I do…. 4 kids later…. My children have been my muse, my assistants, my teachers by showing me and keeping me up to date with trends and my students because they have their own creative interests that are similar to mine.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MAP’D is a clothing brand that represents your journey and looking good while following your path.

I mainly specialize in women’s & children clothing ( even dogs, because dogs are people’s children too). I also do customized clothing for any occasion or project. I also have a service to do technical design if a client wanted to design their own clothing and wanted to mass produce.

My brand represents me, bold, resilient and polarizing. I love to use statement prints and patterns. I love to stand out and feel confident so the things I design always represent that. Just like when people like to count you out because you have children, I want that mother and child to walk into an event with all eyes on them because not only does the clothes represent you but also your legacy and what you stand for.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My integrity and resilience.

My character is always my number one thing I want to judged on but my brand is also me so I always want my brand to be trusted and depended on no matter what the situation. Resilience is me, so when there is change, curveballs, set backs, I want this brand to always be resilient in those times.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Mapddesigns.com
• Instagram: @Mapd_designs

Image Credits
@fashionmodelpriscilla
@photosbytitus
Titus Moye Photography
Paris Faison
Aubrie Faison
Michaelle Faison