Check Out Big Chan’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Big Chan.

Hi Big, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was discovered by Eazy E freestyling for the rapper in his trailer on set of his video shoot. My journey with hip hop started with Ruthless Records but would be short-lived after the passing of Eric “Eazy E” Wright, but a Long Beach rapper by the name of Snoop Dogg had become a fan of those same freestyles Eazy once heard and the rest would become history. I released my first project on Snoop Dogg’s label in a group called Doggy’s Angels. A trio from Los Angeles that released their first single “Baby if your ready ” feat. Latoya Williams in 2000, which spent multiple weeks at number 1 on the Billboard independent charts, appearing on Soul Train, Ricki Lake, Jenny Jones, TRL MTv, Mad Tv, BET Rap City the basement and toured with Snoop on his Puff Puff Pass tour, sadly the group disbanded a year later. I became homeless and had to reinvent myself not knowing that a sewing machine that was sitting in an attic would change my entire life. I spent months teaching myself how to sew and this became the start of a new career as I provided something this entertainment industry needed and that was tailoring as an on call seamstress. For 20 years I have been a designing and tailoring.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The challenges were many as I started to become a go-to in the fashion industry, I believe if your good at anything substantial people would start to gatekeep and try to keep you limited. As we moved into a digital space things started to shift because now an audience can visually see your works, and this is important for any tailor/designer, where your works should be tagged and properly credited and that wasn’t happening for me, lets just say I made alot of people’s job look good at the expense of my labor and hard works. I’ve learned that if nothing changes, nothing changes. Having a skill set is one thing but learning the business and how to do it was one of my most valuable lessons and the way that I do it is very different now..

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Im a rapper turned designer. I’ve been designing clothes for entertainers, red carpets, proms, award shows and even the girl next door. Im self taught, my gift has been a blessing that helped me out of a hardship. My life changed when I got the call to do some custom wardrobes for Prince, he was embarking on his “Welcome to america” tour.. He absolutely loved the looks i created for him and one in particular went viral. That was a moment I was super proud of because before my Mom passed she got to attend the Prince concert with me and that was a beautiful moment to share with her as we watched him in the outfit that I made for him as he sang on stage. I know it made her very proud to know my journey and get to see what I’ve done for myself. The thing that sets me apart is being able to create another career for myself after facing adversity and unlike some designers I actually cut, sketch and sew. Huge difference.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned my value and i know my worth,putting God at the forefront was the biggest pivot for me and being comfortable with saying NO. Every job is not for you and that’s OK because you save yourself from alot of disappointments. Most times people don’t know what they want and everyone can’t be pleased so you have to know how to navigate that and move accordingly because you will end up wasting your time, and that was a valuable lesson I learned because everytime I said no to a project that i knew would trigger my nervous system God would bless me with a bigger project. Also, being consistent with my work ethic and delivering the goods in a timely manner and making sure the client is satisfied, has sustained and given me the longevity in the entertainment industry that has set me apart from the rest. Im blessed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @houseofcyndarella

Image Credits
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Prince