Meet Qaysean Williams

We recently connected with Qaysean Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Qaysean, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience stems from being born with Erb’s Palsy, a birth injury that affected the use of my arm. Growing up, I had to navigate life using just one hand, adapting to a world that wasn’t designed for someone like me. There were no instruction manuals, no role models, and no representation of anyone sharing my experience. Yet despite my physical disability, I was determined to live life fully, just like any other kid.

I taught myself to ride a bicycle, play video games, and even participate in sports like football—all on my own terms. It wasn’t until I became a fashion designer and began excelling in my field that I truly recognized the power of my resilience. Here I was, thriving in an industry that isn’t traditionally set up for someone like me. The ‘will to try’ that I developed as a child now drives me through every challenge I face as a designer—whether it’s sewing a 70-inch train on a gown, carrying fabric through New York City, developing ways to make fashion more accessible for people with disabilities, or appearing on international television to advance my career. Each experience, whether triumphant or challenging, has strengthened my resilience and continues to propel me forward.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a fashion and costume designer affectionally known as ‘The One Hand Sewing Man,’ earning this title for my ability to create exquisite fashion using just one hand. My fashion house, Manikin, embodies what I call “fantasy fashion”—a distinctive aesthetic that blends glamorous elements like sequins, faux furs, and feathers with contemporary streetwear influences. At the heart of the brand lies Manikin Atelier, our bespoke division that creates one-of-a-kind couture garments for clients worldwide. Each piece is meticulously crafted to individual measurements, ensuring a perfect fit and personalized experience.

Manikin’s mission centers on three core principles: building confidence through innovative design, creating sustainable, high-quality garments that stand the test of time, and championing inclusion through adaptive fashion elements. This commitment to accessibility ensures that everyone can experience the magic of Manikin.Our work has gained international recognition, with features in prestigious publications including British Vogue (2023). After a brief hiatus, Manikin will return to the runway in 2025 with an exciting new collection that showcases our latest adaptive fashion innovations.

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?

The three most impactful qualities that shaped my journey to success were:

1. Unwavering Self-Faith: I learned early that success in the fashion industry begins with believing in yourself. Before anyone else could see my vision or trust in my abilities as a fashion business owner, I had to cultivate that trust within myself. This self-belief became the foundation for everything that followed.

2. Industry Expertise: Understanding that knowledge is power, I immersed myself completely in the fashion world. This meant earning my formal education, but also gaining hands-on experience by designing for local clients and showcasing my work across the United States. I studied fashion history, design principles, and business management. Social media became my platform to build industry presence, while real-world experience taught me lessons no textbook could provide.

3. Strategic Networking: Perhaps most crucially, I learned that success in fashion isn’t a solo journey. I actively sought connections with established stylists and designers, never hesitating to ask questions or seek guidance. By positioning myself at industry events and opportunities to showcase my work, I built authentic relationships with key figures. I offered my assistance freely, creating genuine, reciprocal relationships that proved invaluable as my career progressed.

These three elements—self-belief, expertise, and networking—didn’t just contribute to my success; they transformed my dream into reality.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

My vision for collaboration spans across the beauty, fashion, and health/wellness sectors, targeting forward-thinking brands like Fenty Beauty, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour, Nike, Reebok, and MAC Cosmetics. These companies have demonstrated a genuine commitment to inclusivity and diversity, particularly in supporting the disability community. However, to truly fulfill this mission, these brands need authentic voices and perspectives from within these communities—voices like mine—in their campaigns, advertisements, design collaborations, and product development processes.

As Manikin continues to grow, I also seek mentorship and collaborative opportunities with prestigious fashion houses such as Tom Ford, LaQuan Smith, Alexander Wang, and Marc Jacobs. These partnerships would provide invaluable insights into scaling operations, developing Ready-to-Wear (RTW) collections, and successfully expanding into retail chains. Such collaborations would not only enhance my business acumen but also bring fresh perspectives to these established brands through my unique approach to adaptive fashion design.

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