We recently had the chance to connect with Tracey Sykes Ambrose and have shared our conversation below.
Tracey , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Lately, I’ve found myself more in a season of wandering than walking a clear path. I’ve been measuring my movement by progress and outcomes, and when things don’t align or grow as planned, it’s easy to label it as failure. I’d love to believe that maybe wandering isn’t failure at all — maybe it’s the in-between space where something new is trying to find its form.
Wandering can look uncertain from the outside as well as be an internal war of imposter syndrome, anxiety, and professional/personal embarrassment; but within it, there’s quiet becoming — a shedding, a re-centering, a soft unfolding of direction that hasn’t yet taken shape. I’m learning that it’s okay to pause in the unknown, to breathe there, to trust that even when the path disappears, my steps still matter and are ordered by God. However, honestly this is very unfamiliar territory for me and it’s extremely uncomfortable as I feel my character and integrity is becoming questionable.
“Wandering until it had definition of walking with directions “
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tracey Sykes Ambrose, Owner & Head Designer of Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. ..hand crocheted accessories and wearable fashions; “Where Crochet Meets Classy and Chic”… not your grandmother’s crochet. More than a brand, Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. is a movement redefining slow fashion through artistry, culture, and intention. Each hand-crocheted accessory and wearable piece is crafted with care, blending timeless techniques with modern elegance. What sets Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. apart is its dedication to individuality — no two creations are ever exactly the same, just like the people who wear them.
Classy Chic Crochet by Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. is crochet elevated — a fusion of texture, craftsmanship, and confidence that turns everyday fashion into a personal statement. Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. invites you to wrap yourself in style that tells a story — one loop, one stitch, one legacy at a time.
I am a visionary Black crochet designer redefining what handmade fashion looks like. Through my brand, Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P., I transform yarn into statement pieces of culture, confidence, and creativity. Each design carries my signature blend of classy and chic, merging tradition with a modern edge. My work celebrates individuality and honors the artistry of crochet as both fashion and self-expression.
To celebrate remarkable Black Crochet Designers, I am embarking on an exciting new project — a podcast. This platform will weave together stories of creativity, culture, and craftsmanship, highlighting voices that shape the world of crochet and beyond. Through inspiring conversations and personal insights, I aim to elevate the art form while celebrating its deep roots in Black creativity and empowerment. This podcast isn’t just about fashion — it’s about legacy, identity, and the threads that connect us all.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
It was the one who looked past the quiet, the uncertainty, and the days when I questioned if my work — or my worth — was enough. That person is Krishna Spates. She saw the artist in me long before I claimed her. She owned a local boutique named “Darla’s Closet” and asked me to be one of the brand designers in her retail store! Krishna Spates saw the woman with hands that create stories from yarn,
turning soft threads into strength, and fashion into faith. This honor aligned with the acronym W.R.A.P. with revelation and purpose; for which became the basis for future retail relationships.
It was a voice from my roots — my mother’s love, my ancestors’s whisper, and that younger version of me,
the dreamer who believed before life got heavy. As life got heavy, it became louder than “the dreamer” who dared to be. However, “the dreamer”, my mother’s love, and my ancestors’ whisper have always remained to be baseline ingredients to Classy Chic Crochet by Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P.
Before I ever knew my power, they did. Now , I’m finally learning to see myself the way they saw me — clearly.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
To be transparent and honest, I’m currently in a season of giving up. When the hours of hand-crocheting, the love poured into every stitch, felt like it didn’t matter because a black owned retail store (who I had been in contract with for three years) suddenly didn’t pay me what my brand earned or was slow in paying me what my brand earned—something deeper began to rise.
It wasn’t just about the money; it was about respect, value, and integrity. The kind every artist deserves but isn’t always given. I almost laid my hook down, almost let disappointment quiet my craft — but instead, I chose to rebuild, to reclaim my worth, and to keep creating Classy Chic Crochet.
That moment didn’t break me — it refined me. But the sudden pattern of having to chase down the owner for monthly owed payouts jeopardized my finances and financial obligations (aka bills) both personally and professionally. A year later, it has been a slow redirection to encouraging myself from the disrespect of not paying me on time per contractual agreement.
It reminded me that Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P. isn’t just a brand; it’s resilience stitched into fashion,
proof that purpose can’t be bought, borrowed, or denied.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
As a Black crochet designer, the value I protect at all costs is creative integrity; the freedom to create from my soul without compromise. Every loop, every stitch, carries a piece of my story, my culture, and the women who came before me. Crochet, for me, isn’t just fashion; it’s a language of resilience, beauty, and truth.
I protect the right to keep that language pure; to design with intention, to honor my roots, and to ensure that what I create reflects who I am. My hands don’t just make; they preserve. And through my work, I remind the world that Black creativity is not a trend; it’s a legacy.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light I’ve been dimming is my full creative confidence and unapologetic self-expression. I’ve poured myself into my craft, my brand, and my artistry, yet moments of doubt, delays, or setbacks; like the time a store didn’t honor my work by paying me in a timely manner; may have caused me to shrink, hold back, and question my worth. That light is the one that shines most brightly when I create boldly, claim my value, and let my voice, vision, and heritage shine through every stitch and every word.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Shoptraceyambrosewrap.com
- Instagram: @Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P.
- Facebook: @Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P.
- Other: TikTok @shoptraceyambrosewrap
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
