Today we’d like to introduce you to La’Tricia Armstead-Reynolds.
Hi La’Tricia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Every since I was a young child I have loved Art and I wanted to be an Artist when I grew up, because I could look at people or objects and draw portraits. But I never knew that it would lead me to be a Fashion Designer.
I have been sewing for over 20+ years. My mother First showed me and my sister how to sew by hand mending socks and sewing on buttons when I was a child. My love for sewing continued to grow in Middle School while I was in Home Economics sewing pillows, aprons and shorts…
While attending High School my uncle saw my love for sewing and he brought me my first sewing machine that I still have and cherish to this day.
My Junior and Senior year of high school I attended Manuel Tech a Vocational Technical school that was called Vo-Tech. Where I took Fashion Design as a trade and I received my Certificate when I finished my 2yr’s. This is where I first got introduced to Alterations and making costumes… I also made my prom dress in this class.
After Graduating from High School I attended Penn Valley Community College majoring in Graphic Design. While attending School there for a month or two I decided to change my major because I wasn’t truly happy with being a Graphic Designer for my future. Yes I wanted to be an artist but I didn’t know what type of artist I wanted to be but I knew that I loved art, fashion and sewing so I realize if I combined all three then it would be a Fashion Designer so I decided to change my major to Fashion Design. I attended Penn Valley CC for 2yrs then I transferred because I didn’t want to just settle for an Associates Degree and I wanted more education so I went on the search but it was more like a hunt for an Art Institute that had fashion design because the Kansas City Art Institute did not have fashion design at the time so I found The Illinois Art Institute-Chicago. It was a college that was not too far away from home. But it was everything that I wanted and needed for the education that I wanted to achieve. I attended The Illinois Art Institute-Chicago for 4 years and it was the best decision that I could have ever made because I learned so much.
After finishing up with School I move back home to Kansas City to take a paid internship making Drill Team Uniforms for teams like the Marching Cobras, White Tigers and the Falcons… During that time me and my fiancé who is now my husband, had gotten pregnant with our first daughter. Even though I was pregnant we went back to Chicago and walked across the stage and graduated because I worked too hard not to.
Through the year’s I have been blessed to work with many different entrepreneurs and Businesses like Ragz Designhouse, KC Artist Venue, Eleve’ Dancewear, Spa Mate Spa Covers, Davids Bridal and Arrows Fabricare Alterations Department all of these companies taught me how to be the amazing business woman that I am today, as well as an amazing seamstress.
De’LaTail Custom Creations was founded while I was in college and it was established in 2010 after I graduated College. De’LaTail is derived from the word detail, I separated the word de-tail and I put the (La) of my first name in the middle. I chose the word detail is because while I was attending The Illinois Art Institute-Chicago my teacher Mrs. Yoshi use to tell me when I would come up with sketches and designs and I started to construct my patterns and sew them I found out that they were much harder to make then what I thought in the beginning. Mrs. Yoshi would tell me to face it you’re just a detailed Designer. So that’s where my business name De’LaTail comes from.
When I design and construct my Garments in every piece that I make you will see some form of detail from the fabric choices to the design elements, it will be evident.
I Love being a Designer/Seamstress it is where my peace is, it makes me happy. When I see my Model’s walk out on the stage with my pieces on or when I see my clients dressed up in the finished pieces that I make that’s what makes me happy seeing the outcome of all of my hard work and time that I put into every stitch and every cut that I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A few struggles that I have faced along the way:
In my field of work, I have busy seasons and slow seasons
just like any other business. During my slow seasons I can always count on alterations to come through rather than custom garments to keep me busy.
Some things that I have struggled with is making a garment or altering a garment that a client is unhappy with. That has really taught me the true meaning of customer service.
I went through working with company’s and their businesses shutting down unexpectedly. However, through it all God still remained faithful that the company gave me supplies and clients of their’s for my business, that I could still maintain and flourish.
This road hasn’t been smooth, however through the ups and downs I have learned to stand the test of time. And to trust in God because he always makes away.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Seamstress/Fashion Designer, etc…that loves what I do.
Examples of what I specialize in;
Alteration: repairing/fixing clothing that are too big that needs to be taken in, too small that needs to be let out, Hem pants, dresses, shirts, and skirts etc…
Custom Alterations: taking a ball gown wedding dress and altering/transforming it into a beautiful high-low wedding gown.
Revamping: taking a garment from a second hand store like two velvet dresses and making slacks. Taking something old and making it into something Chic and fashionable.
Custom Garments: I have clients that contact me with ideas or different pictures that they would like to recreate custom garments that’s fit for them. So I pick out/order fabric and either I make a pattern from scratch or I purchase a pattern and reconstruct or customize a pattern to what the client wants.
Model Coaching: I have taught many different models men, women and children how to runway model for years. I have even taught my husband and my daughters how to model in runway shows.
Production/Producer:
I have experience in putting on Fashion Shows.
I am known for: being a great seamstress/designer/person that cares and puts love in everything that I do. I care for my clients, what I do it’s more than just getting paid. De’LaTail Custom Creations LLC. it’s an experience.
I am most proud of my growth, my experience and journey I have learned so much and I’m still learning and I don’t mind helping up incoming designers and seamstresses that’s how you can pass on mantles to our next generations. Sewing is a dying craft so it’s my duty to educate our younger generation.
De’LaTail Custom Creations set’s you apart from the rest,
because it embodies ones personal style. It’s different, detailed, sophisticated and classy
all wrapped in one garment.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me and why, is to allow God to use me at my up most capability. To dress this world with class and elegance and to let their creative juices flow.
I have received clients that have been told that certain things can’t be done/made but I love a challenge, Tell me what I can’t do and I’ll figure out a way that it can be done.
I’m like a Surgeon when it come’s to sewing , I love to take things apart and allow the garment to speak to me and tell a story on how it was made in order to put it all back together.
Pricing:
- Alterations range $15 & up
- Custom Alterations $80 & up
- Custom Garments $300 & up (Not including fabric)
- Prom/Wedding Dress $1000 & up (Not including fabric)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delatail_custom_creations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Crvf88xoL/
Image Credits
Eli Stack
Sharika Johnson
Demetria Endsley
La’Tricia Reynolds
