Conversations with Unique West

Today we’d like to introduce you to Unique West.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My name is Unique, and I am a multi-faceted seamstress and fashion designer. I was born in Denver, Colorado. Growing up in foster care, I faced numerous challenges that motivated me to leap into fashion. At the age of 8 growing up I developed a passion for fashion design as a means to alleviate my worry about wearing hand-me-downs from the orphanages I was placed in. I learned how to hand sew at 9 and began upcycling my own wardrobe making one of a kind pieces from my closet. Encouraged by the amazing feedback I received; I knew at a very young age that fashion was the skill I’d pursue.

After emancipating from foster care at 18, I found myself searching for my new life outside of the one I was brought up in. This is when I discovered “The Secret” and the law of attraction. A book and movie every entrepreneur should indulge in. I was reading a book that led me to the library to search for a biography on someone in history. “My Story” by Marilyn Monroe was the book that stuck out to me. While reading her book, I was easily inspired by the life story of Marilyn Monroe, who also overcame her own childhood struggles of being an orphan and losing both parents. After reading her biography and seeing how she navigated through life with similar challenges, I was inspired by how she still was able to make a name for herself and make her acting dreams come true. I realized that I too had a passion for something and was so motivated to make my fashion dreams come true. When I turned 21, I taught myself how to sew, I then began sketching and creating designs for women in my hometown; Colorado, I started a clothing brand called; Monroe Threadz (Inspired by Marilyn Monroe) and began to organize photo shoots and fashion shows. As my reputation grew, I transitioned from sewing basic pieces to offering a custom designing service. This allowed me to establish my clothing line even more and take a leap to Los Angeles, where I knew I could pursue my dreams on a larger scale.

Over the years living in California, I’ve dedicated myself to honing my craft and building trust-based relationships with individuals requesting multiple different styles of clothes. As a result, I have become a skilled seamstress and designer. Over time my business and I evolved so much. I eventually let go of the attachment to Marilyn Monroe and foster care, so we are now operating under a new brand name, “Unique Kouture.” Which is so fitting to our clientele and the designs we push out. Unique Kouture Specializes sewing red carpet, bridal and special occasion apparel for women. I love bringing women’s apparel visions to life and I love being a part of my client’s special occasions.

In addition to Unique Kouture, I also founded “Monroe Seamz,” a company that offers cut-and-sew manufacturing services for other brands. I am proud to own a factory in Woodland Hills and have a team of dedicated employees who assist me in bringing our designer clients visions to life for their own individual brands. We have helped 100’s of designers evolve their brands. We are proud to be a light in the manufacturing industry offering designers a chance to build collections and designs they love with no high minimum requirements or start up fees. We believe we will change the cut and sew dynamic and give more creatives a chance to find great jobs by hiring seamstresses, pattern makers and content creators to work for our company and do something they actually are inspired by. As well as giving designers a chance to bring their dreams to life without having to break the bank and travel abroad.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

My journey from foster care to becoming a respected seamstress and fashion entrepreneur has been both challenging and rewarding. I am grateful for my path and how hard it was because when I typically tell my story, people are inspired because they understand a little bit of how far I’ve come.

From a very young age, my life has been marked by immense challenges and hardships. I grew up without the presence of parents or any immediate family members to rely on for support. It was just my little sister and me against the world and I felt a deep sense of responsibility to watch over and protect her from since I was the tender age of 6. The weight of this responsibility meant that I never truly experienced a carefree childhood. I was blessed but I don’t remember much joy.

Navigating through adolescence and into adulthood without the guidance and stability of parents proved to be a crazy journey. I had to learn to be self-reliant and resilient, Despite the absence of a nurturing family environment or financial support I was determined to overcome the odds stacked against me and create a better future. Learning about manifesting and the law of attraction along with Marilyn Monroe’s inspiration I was able to always have faith that my vision was bigger that my current circumstances.

The challenging experiences have shaped me into a strong and independent individual. I have developed a deep sense of empathy and understanding for others who face similar struggles. Through my own journey I have learned so much about life and have a huge urge to eventually open up a sewing/ fashion school as well as an adoption agency in the future to help kids like me get a head start on life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

My work is FUN! I love what I do with a passion and feel lucky to be a part of women’s special memories and beautiful moments. With an unwavering love for the craft, I have built a successful custom design brand called Unique Kouture, that caters to women seeking unique and personalized garments. I take clients’ visions and bring them to life with a blink of an eye.  Additionally, I have taken on the incredible challenge of starting and growing my own women-ran cut and sew manufacturing company, which has the potential to become a billion-dollar brand from taking designers’ ideas and helping them in every production phase to build their own collection to sell as their own. Instead of designers having to outsource to China to start their own clothing brands, they can now work with a local manufacturer who is reasonable and dedicated to turning their apparel dreams into their reality.

Bringing other people’s apparel visions to life is one of my greatest strengths and accomplishments. I take pride in my ability to understand and interpret the creative ideas of others and transform them into tangible pieces. It brings me immense joy to see individuals wearing clothing that I have meticulously crafted to reflect their vision and personality.

What sets you apart from another seamstress?

One of the aspects that sets me apart is my self-taught journey in sewing. Despite facing numerous obstacles and setbacks throughout the years, my ambition has never wavered. I have consistently pushed myself to learn and improve my skills, continuously honing my craft to achieve the highest level of excellence. With no college or fashion training I am proof that dreams come true. All you need is a vision! I not only design, but I sew. I not only make one of one pieces, but I also mass produce designs for other brands. I’m completely different from any other seamstress out there. My parents may have never got the chance to raise me, but they did enough just by naming me Unique, they knew exactly what they were doing!

What advice do you have for creatives that are struggling with starting their journey because they either don’t know where to start or don’t have the confidence to start?

 My advice is to ALWAYS shoot for the stars. Read self-help books, Meditate, write your goals on paper (not in your phone) and find faith outside yourself. God is REAL. If you can see it in your mind- you can most certainly see it in physical form. It’s all about starting and staying consistent. While taking it day by day, it’s important to always be positive about where you’re at and where you’re going. It’s a mindset thing because a lot of people are less talented and creative than you but just never give up and stay consistent. You have to be your own cheerleader- You have to know like you know, like you know you’re going to make it. You have to do the work by writing goals, making vision boards and praying over your journey, skills and dreams. One thing that always helped me was practicing visualization and taking the time to paint a picture of how I wanted my life to look along with having faith that God didn’t give me my dreams for no reason. My favorite quote is “Ask, Believe, Receive

Watch “The Secret” and it will change your life and way of thinking about your journey!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

I’ve always desired to have a mentor, especially given my experience of not having parents throughout my life. Having a mentor would’ve been incredibly valuable in providing guidance, support, and wisdom as I navigated my personal and professional journey. I never got to experience having a mentor but hopefully, in the near future, I will find that with a fashion or business mentor.

My advice for networking – even though I’m an introvert, lol.
1. Reach out to professionals: Take the initiative to approach professionals in your field and express your admiration for their work. Some individuals may be open to mentoring or guiding aspiring individuals.
2. Utilize online platforms and never be afraid to offer your services
3. Offer a helping hand to a professional in your industry. Great way to get your feet wet as well as build experience and circle of like minded people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.monroeseamz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seamstressbae/
• Other: www.uniquekouture.com