Meet Alessandro Sasha Conte

We were lucky to catch up with Alessandro Sasha Conte recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alessandro Sasha , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

I developed my ability to take risks by building YEMAT from the ground up. Leaving a stable path to follow a vision rooted in sustainability wasn’t easy, but I knew it was what God placed on my heart. Every risk from ethical sourcing to turning down quick wins felt like a step of faith. I trusted that this wasn’t just my idea, but His vision for me. That belief gave me the courage to keep going, even when the outcome was uncertain.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At YEMAT™, we’re redefining what luxury looks and feels like by fusing sustainability with streetwear and elevated design. As the founder and creative director, I’m deeply focused on creating pieces that carry meaning not just trend. Every collection is rooted in storytelling, inspired by faith, culture, and conscious living.

What makes YEMAT™ special is that we don’t just produce clothing we build purpose into every thread. We prioritize ethical sourcing, slow production, and designs that resonate on a deeper level. I believe style can be bold and intentional.

Right now, we’re working on a new drop that explores identity, risk, and divine alignment a reflection of my own journey. I’m also expanding into new creative collaborations and continuing to build a platform that uplifts underrepresented voices in fashion.

YEMAT™ isn’t just a brand it’s a movement, and I’m honored to be leading it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three things that moved the needle most in my journey with YEMAT™ were:

1. Vision with Taste Having a clear point of view and high taste level isn’t optional it’s survival. The culture moves fast, and if you don’t know what you stand for visually and creatively, you’ll blend into the noise. Train your eye. Study not just fashion, but design, music, architecture, typography. Inspiration isn’t stealing it’s studying with intent and evolving it with your own DNA.

2. Relentless Execution Ideas are worthless without action. Everyone talks about “building” something, but most people stop at the moodboard. Consistency in doing the boring stuff sampling, budgeting, fulfillment, marketing is what separates the real from the wannabes. Show up daily. Learn the backend, not just the aesthetics.

3. People Skills & Storytelling – You’re not just selling clothes; you’re selling a feeling, a perspective, a tribe. Learn to tell your story in a way that others want to carry it. Build real relationships not fake networking. Collaborate without ego. Lift others up, because you’ll draw inspiration from those who move with authenticity too.

Advice for the early ones:
Don’t chase trends. Build your taste. Execute with discipline. And never fake the funk authenticity will always be the most expensive flex.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I went all in. No plan B. Because when God gives you a vision, it’s not a suggestion it’s an assignment.

God spoke to me while I was working in a hospital, exhausted, split between shifts and dreams. He put His hands on me and said, “You’ve got it. I’m giving it to you. Now go build it.” That’s when I knew this wasn’t just about clothes. It was about freedom. About creating something that reflects who I am and why I’m here.

I didn’t sit around trying to fix every weakness. I studied day and night. I watched, I learned, I obsessed over every detail design, branding, culture, every inch of it. Why? Because He gave me the blueprint, but it was my job to build it.

I worked hospital shifts in the morning, and then came home and poured everything into my brand YEMAT™. Not just time. Everything. My energy. My money. My belief. I sacrificed years for this. I still struggle, but I love what I do. I live for it. This isn’t a hobby it’s my purpose.

So no, I don’t believe in trying to be “well-rounded.” That’s fear talking. You want to win? Choose your strength. Lock in. Go tunnel vision. God didn’t call you to be decent at everything He called you to be excellent at what He put in you.

That’s what I’m doing. Every damn day.

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Image Credits

Juliette Herrera

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