Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Youngs
Hi Cassandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 14 yrs old, I became captivated by my grandmothers sewing room. I began spending a lot of time with her on the weekends learning the base skills of sewing. It was such an exciting thought to imagine that I could one day make my own clothes. It really started out as a hobby, and later became the spark that ignited the fire within me to move away from my small town in Henderson NY to pursue a career in Fashion Design.
I had always loved art and design, I was gifted with an imagination and a pair of two hands that could create so many beautiful things. The high school I attended allowed me to grow in that particular area. My teachers were incredibly supportive of hall passing to the art room, which allowed me
to further develop my artistic abilities.
By the time I graduated high school, I thought I wanted to be an art teacher so I attended SUNY Potsdam to pursue my career. Mid year, one of the clubs I was in threw a fundraising event, and it just happened to be a fashion show.
The entire production was so inspiring that it made my heart sing. After I finished my freshman year in the frozen tundra I decided to research schools in warmer climates that offered a fashion program.
After some quick research, I stumbled across AIU, later recognized as Miami international University of art and design. After the summer of my freshman year, I packed all of my personal belongings up in my car and drove from upstate New York to Miami.
I have spent a good 20 years in the city pursuing my love for this career. I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I could go back to the beginning and I’m beyond grateful For the journey traveled, and everything that lay ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If I could tell you all the struggles, I have endured you would be surprised at how much I have actually pushed through. Some of it’s far beyond shocking and some of it sad, But I’ve also learned to focus on the positive things and just take steps forward all while keeping my goals close in sight.
If there’s any advice I could tell anyone about partnering in business with others, it’s to have a clear outline and operating agreement prior to engaging in any work. In 2021, I designed and developed a winning product that is currently on the market selling, yes it’s selling! The individual I worked with had been a client of mine for 5 years prior, the relationship morphed into what I thought would have been a long lasting friendship. When she asked me to partner 50-50, I trusted her word, but at the end of the day my idea and design was stolen out from underneath my feet.
It took me a good year of grieving to get over it and just move on, but I learned so much. Contracts, and operating agreements! I told myself moving forward…..to Just look forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in couture fashion. It’s just another form of artistic expression for me! Everything I have created this far has been one of its kind. It’s a grand selling point for my brand because my clients don’t like to arrive at an event wearing the same dress bought off a rack at a store. Most times I am bringing the clients vision to life, And in my free time, I am expanding on new techniques and creating pieces from the heart to feed my soul.
I think most designers today always contract the Sewing. I may be one of the only designers that I know of whom still does everything from start to finish from concept to actual cutting, Sewing and finalizing a finished garment. I take pride in that and thoroughly enjoy the process. For anyone wanting to know what I am most proud of, it’s being a single mother of my two sweet girls, Indie and Leah, they inspire me to become better every day.
What makes you happy?
Happiness for me is always found within a rainbow. I am absolutely exhilarated by color. It moves me. I can spend hours shopping in a fabric store finding oodles of inspiration from the wide variety of color.
Pricing:
- Custom garments start at $3,000
- Manufactured items start at $389
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.cassandrayoungs.com
- Instagram: Cassandra_youngs_
Image Credits
Tomas Lowey
Simi Visuals
