Sheila's passion for creating unique designs goes back to her senior year of high school. She, along with a classmate, designed unique hoodies that turned into one of the most popular pieces of clothing worn in their school.
"We started painting hoodies, cutting out the back of them and painting shirts,” she recalls. “The brand got a lot of attention and we gained clientele with just little stuff we did. We put bleach on color hoodies and it was really unique stuff. We did that for a year or two before we went our separate ways. We were done with the hoodies; it was a phase."
Sheila came at a crossroad when it was time to decide what college to go to and which career to pursue: journalism at Hampton University or fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago.
"It was last minute,” she comments. “At first, I was going to go to Hampton for a summer program, but I decided to go to Columbia College for fashion. That's what sparked it. I changed my mind and decided to go to school for fashion and that's when I decided to stick with it.”
When money issues stopped her from staying past the second semester, she bought an affordable sewing machine and taught herself the basics of fashion design. The designer also earned a six-month internship with a well-known Hispanic designer in Chicago to learn the business side of the industry.
"My style comes from within,” explains the the 22-year-old. “I never looked at magazines or anything like that. I just thought of my own ideas and took from that, which is what makes my clothing unique.”.
She moved to New York City a few months ago to take her design skills and creativity up a notch.
"New York has definitely influenced me more than Chicago as far as fashion,” comments Sheila. “I came here for new inspiration and it has challenged me to go a step further and a step higher."
Living in New York City has certainly exposed Sheila to people like model Keenyah Hill, who contacted her via Twitter.
Sheila doesn't plan to stop there. She has various models lined up from singer Cheri Dennis to underground models who will be representing her line, which she describes as "elegant, endogenous and chic."
Shelia says if she could have anyone model her line, her ideal person would be singer Rihanna.
"Her stylist puts her in some really dope stuff,” she adds. “She wears a lot of great things. I think she would look great in my brand. It's really 'her.' I put a lot of detail in my work, so the seam detail and the geometric shape I put into harem pants to make them stand out. People want them. I don't just make bland harem pants. It's really different. It's like my favorite thing to make."
While Sheila loves to make chic clothes for women, her alter ego, Amera, would be a little more ‘girly.’
"Amera is actually my middle name,” she says. The personality would be very, very feminine with crazy heels. But the heels would be red bottoms [Christian Louboutins] or Jeffrey Campbell. I would totally be a diva.”
Sheila says throughout her journey the best advice she has received so far and will give to other up and coming designers is to never give up.
"Keep on going,” she says If this is what you love to do, don't stop doing it, no matter what. Even if someone tells you no, there is someone that will say yes."
- Visit www.sheilarashid.com
- Follow Sheila on Twitter: @iMakeClothes
- Facebook Shelia at: www.facebook.com/sheila.rashid
