Life & Work with Deandria Collins of Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deandria Collins.

Hi Deandria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Deandria Collins, and I started designing in 2023, 3 years ago. I graduated
from university, hoping to land my dream job, only to realize things were going to be difficult. I left university on my last term, struggling to land a fashion internship in the Chicago metropolitan area. I didn’t know how to sew or even string a machine at the time; I had no knowledge of fashion design. I majored in fashion merchandise when I was attending university, hoping to get some skills and knowledge, but I did not receive that there. I searched for internships for months and was constantly getting rejected for 5 months straight. I started to get angry and feel hopeless. Finally, one day, with the help of a friend, I was recommended to a place downtown Chicago called the Fashion Bar. I reached out to the manager and asked if he was in need of interns, and he said yes, fashion week was also right around the corner as well. He took me in immediately, and I worked the runaway showroom, assisted the models, helped with the garments, and immediately fell in love with the experience I was having there. The internship was an experience that I will never forget; I was finally able to see what the fashion industry was all about. My manager, Tony Long, taught me a lot about the industry. I decided to ask him how I can showcase my designs for one of your shows in the future, and he gave me amazing advice. My internship eventually ended, and I was back to reality again. I then decided to attend a fashion studio downtown called Anastasia. I went for a tour with my mom and immediately loved it there. I got home and signed up for classes as soon as possible. I started my first day of fashion class, sewing basics, and was very overwhelmed sitting at my sewing machine, not knowing how to maneuver anything at the time. Anastasia taught us how to use the machine with fabric textiles. My very first sewn project was a tank top; I was so excited to finally create my own art piece. I took some of my teacher’s knowledge, bought a sewing machine, and began to practice every day with sewing garments and figuring out which fabrics go together. I started making weekly sewing projects for myself so that I could get a better understanding of designing and also advance my skills in fashion. I sacrificed sleep and stayed up for hours learning how to do different sewing techniques until it was done right. Four years later, I went back to my manager at the fashion bar to visit him and showed him all the garments I created, and he said, “you should showcase your collection with us.” I was so excited, I had no words. My manager immediately helped me design a game plan of what to do before the Chicago October annual fashion show. I let my manager know that I would be in New York for school, but we were still able to work our way around those obstacles. My manager was able to provide a lot of helpful advice via zoom calls before the show. October finally came, I had all my garments packed up, and I caught my flight to Chicago, still in disbelief that my collection would be on the runway. The day of my show had finally come, and I presented my collection; it was a moment that I will never forget. I had so much support from my family, manager, and my fashion teachers, it was spectacular! My parents are hard-working immigrants from Jamaica who have always instilled the values of success, pride, respect, and perseverance; my parents always taught me that when one door closes, another one will open, and someone will see your potential.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles I had along the way were due to financial issues. The cost of living and the materials I had to buy to make the garments were expensive at times. I also had to use a foot cutter to make my garments when I was first starting out because I didn’t have a serger machine yet. I was staying up from morning until the next day to complete the garments. I was also having doubts at times due to other people’s negative perspectives and society’s interpretation when it comes to the field of fashion design. Some people have said that being a fashion designer is not a real job or profession, but I’m here to prove them wrong and show the world my amazing master pieces by being the best fashion designer I can possibly be.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Fashion designer, and I specialize womenswear in making garments like couture, and streetwear, also wigs and purses and jewelry. I’m most proud of still pushing myself even when I had doubts at times about what I was doing.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Nope.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deandriacollins.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deandriacollins
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HHjxxMZ6L/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deandria-collins-60a7a438a
• Other: https://ddluxuryshop.etsy.com

Image Credits
bourne.foto
Edmund Liu