Check Out T 8’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to T 8.

Hi T, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve loved fashion since I was a little girl, but joining the military is what pushed me to actually pursue that dream. Being in an environment where everyone was expected to look the same made me realize how much I valued individuality and self-expression. That’s what inspired me to create T8 and start sharing my personal style online.

What started as a creative outlet grew into an audience and made me realize that fashion was something I wanted to take seriously. Now, being in school for fashion design is giving me the opportunity to develop that passion, learn the industry, and turn what started with T8 into something bigger.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There was a point where I lost a lot of my connection to fashion and creating. Being in an environment where I couldn’t always dress or present myself the way I wanted made me rethink what that meant to me. Ironically, it forced me to find ways to express myself again.

I was also told, “You can’t make it into fashion school with just drawings.” Instead of seeing that as a reason to stop, it made me want to explore what else I could do. Drawing was one way I expressed my creativity, but it was never the limit of what I knew I was capable of. I started experimenting with styling, designing, and developing T8 as another outlet for that creativity.

I think that’s still a big part of how I approach fashion now. I don’t want to be defined by one skill or one way of creating. I’d rather keep finding ways to show what I can do.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a creative, I’m probably best known for my outfits and my Afro. They’ve become a recognizable part of my image and the way I present my style. I work in fashion design and styling. As an artist, I create edgy fashion pieces, especially my metal tie and other statement pieces.
I’ve always been told I have a good eye, so I figured, why not use it? I’m proud of being able to take an idea from a drawing or concept and turn it into something tangible that can actually be worn. What sets me apart is that I don’t approach fashion from just one angle. I move between styling, design, illustration, and content. Each one influences the other while still allowing me to keep my own point of view.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
What honestly played a big role was people putting me into a box and creating rules around a title that was placed on me. It made me want to break those rules and change the title for myself. The same people who praised me for having a good eye didn’t always like how far that “eye” could take me.

From not allowing depression to keep me from styling, to not allowing a tiny dorm room to keep me from designing, I’ve always found a way to create with what I had.

So, I want to give credit to the people who saw my potential, even if they still wanted me to remain small. In a way, that became part of the reason I kept pushing beyond what they thought I could do.

Pricing:

• Custom fashion/design pieces — Pricing varies by project
• Personal styling — Pricing varies by project
• Custom accessories /design commissions— Pricing varies by design
• Creative director— Pricing varies by project
• Editorial/campaign styling – Pricing varies by project

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@t.8ate?_r=1&_t=ZT-99v83ZzmB4w
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.8ate/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/t8ate