Conversations with Saniyah Elyse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saniyah Elyse.

Hi Saniyah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a self-taught creative/designer from South Central LA, CA. I started off with clothing & expressing my creativity through that. My safety pin top really kicked it off for me. I wanted to expand my craft as far as designing. I then started making dresses, tops, etc. I eventually taught myself how to handmake jewelry as well & using my daughter Ava as my muse. The hustle, support, & results motivate me to push my craft out there more & take pride in my individuality & my own marathon. What good is an idea that’s not executed! My first release showed me all the tumultuous obstacles that come with being a black small business owner. I love fashion, I love art. Everything in life is art. Taking my time perfecting my craft and enjoy all feedback I receive from people that supported me; resilience & God in which led me here. Designs by Elyse is all about being yourself, expressing yourself & being unapologetically you. I’m living proof of you don’t have to look like what you’ve been through. It’s in you.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, will never be. Learned that very very early on. In 2020, I lost my dad to suicide, and won’t go into detail but that side of my family really turned on me, lost my grandma, grandpa & uncle as well in between times. I didn’t really have support looking back but my mother & select few cousins. Still in college studying to become a lawyer and did lose motivation from that with it being one thing after another… I fell into a deep depression and hard life tribulations but I never lost sight of who I am and my vision. Back against the wall, pure resilience and just staying afloat with hustling! I then had a beautiful baby Ava & she became even more of a reason to go hard & hustle harder with the cards I was dealt even after that and I thank God every day for not allowing me to give up. “If people knew half the pressure, they’d know it’s hard to be her”.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a fashion designer/ creative & new jewelist. Currently employed with the la clippers in the Department of Community Relations gns. in college, studying/preparing for law. Also an aspiring actress & model. I’m mostly known for my safety pins & finding infinite creativity in that. I’m most proud of how far I came, having the same bulletproof soul that’s open to learning everything, & resilience in the journey that isn’t so easy. What sets me apart from others is my mindset, how delusional and dreamy I can get when I want my life to be a certain way & not letting a soul alter that. My ambition & my story.

How do you define success?
I define my success by having an everlasting sense of direction & integrity. Taking pride in your story and not looking like what you’ve been through but knowing you have faith & drive to get to your destination. Success to me is when I can say I broke generational curses that I was forced to see at a young age and catching on & making the ones that really love & care for me proud. Making them feel secure in knowing that they didn’t go through what they went through for nothing. Success to me is when I know I can influence, inspire & impact others, whether that’s creativity, politically, spiritually & so forth.

Contact Info:

• Website: byelysee.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saniyahelysee?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
migguillen wildlytamedhair designsbyelysee sanielysejewelry