Story & Lesson Highlights with Sheree Swann of Sandy Springs

We recently had the chance to connect with Sheree Swann and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Sheree, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I can recall feeling true joy was a month ago. It was a stressful and demanding time: I was on assignment, essentially working a 9-5, Monday – Friday. When I logged off for the day, I was either driving many miles to conduct interviews for a documentary, or many miles to build a garden site. I was also preparing for a fashion show, In the midst of juggling all of that, I set out to experiment with different dyeing techniques so that I could create a piece and incorporate it in the show, All was going well: the model call went out public. I called on friends and family and they either got the word out, agreed to model or assist with the vending. I dyed the material and had to construct this garment. So, everything was going well until it wasn’t! Two days before the show people started dropping out as models… The day before the show, I was getting all of the pieces ready and trying to sew the ruffle onto this uniquely dyed dress and because my dress form was already loaded on the truck for the event, I was chasing my tail trying to get it right… and I still had to do inventory and pack everything else up for the event. I was up all night… I didn’t close my eyes one bit. I did call for help but no one was able to show up. I was devastated and had to keep going until I realized that I needed to surrender. The dress just wasn’t going to make it down the runway and I needed to do inventory, pack, get dressed and load the car in 3 hours. When I arrived, I was exhausted and overwhelmed by EVERYTHING that transpired up until then. I was greeted, I cried, we hugged and I carried on with my duties for the event. The day progressed and showtime came; and all of a sudden, so did the storm!!!! Mind you, this was an outdoors event! The attendees scattered either to their vehicles or under a vendor’s tent The DJ stopped playing the music… the models just finished getting dressed and were ready to go walk the runway…. We had to wait it out and that we did. I was anticipating the models making a decision to leave: It was wet, thundering, lightning… Although, we were in an enclosed tent, some were standing in the mud and some ran the risk of their hair getting wet, ruining their fresh heat press… Upon checking in with everyone to see if they were on board to wait it out some more, they were all chill… patient, and still ready to walk the show. Some of them were already in swimwear so that was good… and, they all agreed to go barefoot. The rain eased up to a drizzle. From the other side of the tent, we heard the percussionists playing and that was our queue to begin. As I sent the models out, I watched them take their time and be present, one by one, as the rain fell and the rhythmic energy of the drums permeated the air. There was a divine presence and it was beautiful! All was certainly well! The attendees were clustered under multiple tents, applauding and cheering as each one walked down the runway. Again, I met half of the models for the first time at this event. Nobody owed me anything, for real, and they all chose to stay! What they expressed to me as they were leaving was that they didn’t know they needed this experience and that it’s something they’ll always remember. They were connected to nature, literally standing in mud, getting rained on, and it was EVERYTHING! It was spiritual. Being a part of that experience and hearing that they received more than ever expected in a divine way, definitely made me feel true joy!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sheree R. Swann—artist, storyteller, and founder of Wild Seed Butik, a creative space where culture, sustainability, and self-expression meet. My journey began long before my brand took shape, through the lens of my camera. From 2002 to 2016, I worked under the name Lens of Life Photography, capturing stories of people, families, and communities with a deep respect for memory, heritage, and beauty in the everyday. That body of work shaped the way I see the world—through details, textures, and the connections that make us whole.

Today, with Wild Seed Butik, I’m working to continue that storytelling in a different medium: textiles and apparel. In addition to having Afrocentric inspired prints on apparel, I’m expanding in natural fiber dyeing and creating one-of-a-kind garments that honor tradition while celebrating individuality. Each piece is both wearable art and cultural preservation—rooted in African diasporic heritage, guided by sustainability, and inspired by the stories that live in color, cloth, and craft.

What makes my brand unique is not just the products themselves, but the philosophy behind them. Wild Seed Butik is about planting seeds—seeds of creativity, culture, and community—through fashion and education. I look forward to teaching youth textile printing and dyeing, passing down knowledge that connects them to history while encouraging their own innovation.

Right now, I’m working on expanding this vision—building Wild Seed Butik into a platform that not only produces sustainable apparel but also fosters cultural exchange and creative collaborations. At its core, my work is about honoring the past, celebrating the present, and inspiring the future—through images, textiles, and the stories they hold.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that my voice didn’t matter. It was hard to have a voice in our household. Growing up, what my mother said what all that mattered even if she didn’t have a full understanding of a situation. If I felt the need to speak as to offer up clarity or defend myself, that was shut down immediately. I’m aware of how the impact of that has shown up in other areas of my life, especially as an adult. I no longer subscribe to that and am currently working to free myself of that limiting belief.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“ReRee, my love, always know that you are enough!”

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Regarding relationships, I used to think that love was enough to make it through. I’ve experienced and learned that love is not enough. It takes will, desire… It takes work. You may love someone and find that you’re no longer willing. Also, it may have run it’s course and it may have been for just a reason or a season, not a lifetime; and still, no love love lost.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light to be seen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shopwildseed.com
• Instagram: wildseedbutik
• Other: https://www.cultrcliq.com

Image Credits
Sheree R. Swann, Will Feagins, Khalifa Lee, Marcus Carter