We’re looking forward to introducing you to Syreeta C. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Syreeta, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity.
This is the only of the 3 that should be unconditional and never fluctuate due to change of context. Intelligence can be relative based on subject matter and who you are engaging with. Energy can change based on level of passion and/or exhaustion. Integrity should be reliable regardless of who or what you’re around and the topic at hand. It’s also a more healthy link to your own self-esteem.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Syreeta C and I run the eponymous brand, Syreeta C | Fashion. I am most known for my specialization in custom garment design in the DMV area, however over the years, I have evolved to understand that I am many things. A designer & tailor, surely — but I am also an arts educator, a community engaged creative, a mentor, and a champion of authenticity & empowerment.
My days in the SCF studio consist of commission-based womenswear builds and a mix of tailoring projects of vast variety. Client meetings hold space not only for fine-tuning designs, but also sharing narratives. I’ve grown to love what happens there that’s tangible and not; the bonds hold just as much value, if not more than the garments being created. SCF is equally service-oriented and a safe space.
Outside of the studio, I can be found doing anything from initiating community programs to teaching arts ed to simply being a supporter of arts & humanities. I change hats from leader to collaborator to fangirl pretty frequently and I’ve found that the roles all aid each other. In the end, anything I can do to spark and sustain dialogue or actions that help people feel closer to their best selves is what I aim to do!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
The same damn person.
Because the world told me I had to be someone else.
Society claims that if you follow a specific flowchart [school, more school, government/doctor/lawyer/’good’ job, marriage, house, children…] that it will equal success. First and foremost, it leaves out the idea that success looks different for each individual. Secondly, even if that is your equation, the journey is not always linear and smooth. Current news headlines are constant reminders of that.
As a child, I was observant, studious, and adventurous. It was an interesting combo that I’ve never been able to shake — for better or worse. Lol. My long-term friends tout me as being consistent and it’s become a source of pride. Not in a way that pigeon-holes me into other’s expectations or entitlement, but in a way that reminds me that I’m rooted. Most of us benefit from making the child in us proud. It keeps you close to your “why.” The child Syreeta would be proud of me now. We’re on a good track.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Resilience.
And that it’s not linear… or unique… or something as taboo as people make it out to be.
Suffering is linked to vulnerability, which can be scary but also powerful. Sharing stories discerningly allows opportunities for beautiful bonds and alignment. “Your silence will not protect you.” is one of my favorite quotes by Audre Lorde. It reminds me that ignoring my hardships (inwardly or outwardly) doesn’t benefit me.
When you’ve met yourself deeply, the world can, too. And when you’ve hit bottom, you know which way up is. That doesn’t mean you get too comfortable with oversharing or finding bottom, but it does mean you can be in tune with your power and empathy. And that can be a major aspect of [re]affirming your purpose.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yuuppppp! lol. I think my clients will agree with this. My friends would agree with this. My professional peers would agree with this. My clients and peers turned friends would agree with this. I’ve also credited this lack of switch up to be what drove me to entrepreneurship. I didn’t want to have to put on airs or play games. SCF was born out of a deep need to be my true self and encourage others to do the same.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Some will think it was about the clothes and it’s not. I love the clothes and I love making the clothes, but they’re simply a medium. Fashion and personal style are tools. They are vehicles on the journey to empowerment when you wear them. They are resources for self-efficacy and creative problem-solving when you learn how to make them. They are indicators of identity when you see them on others.
Clothes are accessible and necessary. They are both function and form. We use them every single day and I love that they can hold so much value or none at all… but even when it’s none, there’s still a reason.
Clothing is a reflection of humanity and that’s what I find significant. It helps me engage with others and vice versa. It’s those encounters that I’m after.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://syreetacfashion.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/syreetacfashion
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/syreetacfashion
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/syreetacfashion
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@syreetacfashion
Image Credits
Myron Fields, Maleshia Jones
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
