Today we’d like to introduce you to Timmithea Leeds.
Timmithea, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
About three years ago I decided to launch my own brand. I was a teacher and manager of a Montessori school at the time. I learned to sew at a young age and have always sewn my own dresses for work and special occasions.
It seemed like every new school year, I’d have a mom or two of the students in my class ask me where I bought my clothes. When they discovered that I made them, they inquired if I could make something for them, too. I did, of course! Later, while browsing through the help wanted ads, I stumbled upon an opportunity to make several dresses for a local designer who had a fashion show coming up and needed help. After producing two dresses from sketches the designer gave me, I realized I had the skillset to do what I loved. I decided I had to find a way to do this for a career- and the brand Timmithea was born.
Fast forward several years, I received invitations to show my work at fashion shows in Paris, New York, Canada, Los Angeles, and London. However, it was during my first two shows at Fashion Week San Diego that I developed my style – the CAL MOD look. I love to use vibrant colors and create elegant, classic designs. My goal was and is to create looks that women would love and wear for as many seasons as possible. The marriage of classic designs with a modern twist and fabulous fabrics achieves this.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create a small collection of dresses twice a year. I have always been a girly girl. I Iove dresses and the process of designing, picking the fabric and making a wearable design is very exciting to me. I also rather design and make something than buy it. My inspiration comes from traveling, studying other cultures, history, and art. What I find truly exciting is to see someone buy my dress and make it their own – how one accessorizes my dresses is the most rewarding!
Also, I believe it is important to be eco-conscious. I am not part of the fast fashion movement and see its dire effects on our environment. I don’t create overstock and waste that could eventually end up in landfills. Rather, I believe there are ways to develop and manufacture clothing that has minimal impact on the environment. First, I create smart designs that use as much as the fabric as possible and the least amount of fabric scraps. Second, I employ local independent female contractors to make the garments when ordered. With each collection, I am determined to find ways to create high-quality garments that are eco-friendly, and that women will love to wear season after season.
My aesthetic will probably evolve over time, but I hope to develop a distinct look that people will identify as by “Timmithea.”
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
There are several big challenges facing artists in the fashion industry. Only 14 percent of major fashion brands are run by female CEO’s. It’s been a male-dominated world, and I hope to change that. The other challenge is getting funding for my brand and manufacturers taking me seriously. I have had to get creative and build a team of people who support me. I am lucky to have that so far with my women supporting women approach. However, manufacturers want larger orders, so the fast fashion design houses are more lucrative. Consumers need to be educated about how major designers destroy overproduction of their product that doesn’t sell, as Burberry did recently, to keep their prices inflated. I find it ironic that many people are interested in the farm to table movement. They want to be healthy and buy organic and are willing to pay for it, yet they buy fast fashion which has disastrous results for our environment and the smaller designers! If consumers would do a little research, they may be delighted to find smaller designers who pay attention to things like where they get their materials, smart design and minimal waste fabric scraps- all of which have a major impact on our environment. If we paid attention to the design and supply chain of clothing, I think there would be a diverse group of people designing clothes instead of big brands dictating the choices on the market today!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my eco-fashion designs and/or purchase them through my website @timmithea.com. I also post my work on Instagram @timmithea_atelier/. I enjoy sharing the process of how I create my dresses and different things that inspire me. Be a part of the Eco-Glamorous movement and support independent, local designers who care about design, the environment and women!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.timmithea.com/
- Phone: 17608892071
- Email: info@timmithea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timmithea_atelier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timmitheaAtelier/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/timmithea
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/timmithea/
Image Credit:
Megan Gilbert photographer of Higher Vision Branding
Models: Anna Vallefuoco, Julieanne Ha, Abi and Beth Wright, Kim and Maddie Rouse,
Fashion Designer: Timmithea Leeds
Hair: Waatani Norris
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
