Tapping into the true extent of your God-given gifts with Phillipa Nyasha
“the one thing you definitely have that they won’t is you- your unique mind, ideas and flavour. Sprinkle it all”.
Reaching a point in life where we realise and tap into the gifts God has given us is truly a blessing. Phillipa Nyasha has found her calling in Fashion Design and is embarking on her journey to discovering the true extent and depth of her skills. With a family lineage of creative visionaries, experiencing and observing first hand their talents has influenced Phillipa to wholeheartedly pursue and unravel the creative spirit in her. The technical skills and detail to design are truly impressive!. Elements such as pattern cutting and sewing which have taken individuals years to learn are almost an innate, deeply ingrained skill for this promising designer. She is definitely one to look out for!
Tell us about your talent and how you came to discover it?
I am currently exploring my new found creative disposition within fashion design. I realise a connection between nature and nurture is how I got here today as a creative. Growing up I was exposed to family members who are innovative and gifted with their hands. I believe the inspiration of family alongside life experiences in school and society stimulated my abilities and have played a role in my journey of discovering what I am capable of. In the past, I have dabbled in art, photography and more recently hairdressing. Upon reflection, I realize my passion as a creative has been longstanding as I become enlightened and active in the gift God has given me. Like many of us, I have been a fashion enthusiast especially in women’s going-out-wear and have recently decided to embark on a journey of creating and designing fashion pieces mainly focused on womenswear. I aim to create luxury fashion pieces that compliment any woman. I am only just getting started and look forward to the rest of this journey of dressmaking and freedom in creativity.
Describe your aesthetic?
I believe every woman has the right to feel luxurious so I would say my aesthetic definitely aims to encompass/cater to this. I am inspired by the woman I am becoming, who aims to embody elegance, whose stepping out bold and confident in the pieces she’s wearing. I look for inspiration in various places from artwork to runway pieces, designer, high fashion and current trends. I aim to explore femininity through various silhouettes, shapes and compositions & textures of fabric.
What makes you stand out?
I would say the fact that I am currently making clothes myself, opens up opportunities for me to get very experimental, taking my time to perfect whatever it is I create, making each piece different. I desire to keep this element of my work going in any future endeavours. I believe there is great power in how God created me. I’ve come across a statement that read “the one thing you definitely have that they won’t is you- your unique mind, ideas and flavour. Sprinkle it all”. So, I believe what God will use to make me stand out is me.
Do you feel that the industry is lacking black creatives?
I feel as though we are still very much a minority within the industry. I acknowledge that there has been a rise in independent black-owned fashion brands and other black creatives over the years, which I think has been very refreshing and a great move towards change. I also think social media has created a great platform for black creatives to be seen on a larger scale and be noticed, however, I believe that there is still room for more black creatives to take up household name status and to be recognised and appreciated for their work, rather than be used by larger brands as inspiration.
What are your feelings towards the natural hair movement?
I think it is a personal choice on how you treat your hair and you should do what feels most comfortable and empowering to you. I think our hair forms a part of our identity as women, and I appreciate the beauty in the natural hair movement, it’s allowing us to be proud of who we are and what we were given. I think it’s great that people are increasingly appreciating their hair, whether this is through conformity or genuine appreciation it brings about a community of sisterhood, confidence, familiarity and representation for those who participate.
What are your plans for the future?
I aim to build a platform where I can use my creativity to impact women on how they look and feel & would love to someday own a luxury womenswear brand. I would love to create pieces that are very explorative in their artistic vision whilst maintaining retail accessibility. I aim to not limit myself but maximize my potential in everything I do, to create unique pieces that I hope will be loved by many.
Follow Phillipa on her Instagram to experience her exciting journey @phillipanyasha