Manifest Monday : Designer Patty Myasia R.

Brooklyn designer, Patty Myasia uses her art to express social justice concerns and spread positive reinforcements throughout her community. With designs showcasing Colin Kapernick , BLACK GIRL MAGIC, and a reminder that Black men deserve to be vulnerable, it is now more than ever that we must support our own.

Noni: When did you start creating your own clothes? What were some of your inspirations and motivations? 

Patty: I started creating on my own clothes in, in highschool. I really used to draw on my jeans with different color sharpie markers. Sometimes, I would create hair accessories and draw on that as well. Janelle Monae + Teyana T, have always been two of my inspos and they always will be. I loved how their sense of style never looked like anybody else's, and they were confident in that.

Noni : How does your brand differ from other designers? 

Patty: When people think 'Piece by PMR' they think unapologetically black, that's what sets me apart. I'm authentically for us, positively for us, sometimes angrily for us, and I'll never apologize for my messages through my art or how passionate I am about black lives.

Noni: How long did take for your clothing line to start up? What did the research process look like? 

Patty: Been a very long time coming, took a solid 2 years for people to really start taking me serious. I started back in 2016, doors didn't start to open until 2018. Took 2 years for everybody to stop sleeping on me lol. I would research a lot of the unique artist, because my type of design is hand-painting on apparel. So I studied Basquiat, Keith Haring etc & it just fueled me to stay true to my craft.

Noni: Are there any other skills that you’ve acquired that helped you grow as an entrepreneur? 

Patty: Being an entrepreneur comes with a lot of talking/networking/communicating, so I've been forced to develop the skill of socializing lol. My attire is often very loud, my personality is very big, but overall I'm a very quiet person, I genuinely don't speak much. So taking on this path, I was forced to step out of that bubble, so people feel more welcomed. My stand-offish ways are often interpreted wrong, ya know? but I'm learning as I do. I speak more, now.

Noni: How long does it take you to create/design your work?

Patty: I wish I had a set time laughs*, sometimes a piece can be done in an hour, some pieces requires staying up + breaking day. Some pieces take weeks, so it really depends on what you want. I can finish a hat super easy, but if you want a huge canvas painting, pray for me + please give me some time lol

Noni: What inspired your brand name ? 

Patty: My brand name is 'piece by PMR' the inspiration behind it is strictly what I do + my name attached. "piece by" (because everything so make is a custom piece) & "PMR" my initials. I always create with a message, if people don't take nothing away from this interview, please take that. My art is bigger than just creating a cute eye-catching piece to go viral, I want my customs/art to make people feel something.

Noni: What is your favorite design ?And why? (include image)

Patty: My Kaepernick piece is by far my favorite; I don't think I'll ever create anything more amazing. The piece tells a story, the piece is so powerful. Quick backstory: I actually cried creating this, I had J Cole - Be Free playing on repeat until I was done. Every single time I heard that "all we want to do is break the chains off, all we want to do is be free" I would have to stop and soak it all on. I always get super emotional whenever I see/talk/hear about police brutality. For a long time it made me kinda numb, because it was like every day via social media there's a new hashtag, there's another black man bleeding out for us to see, desensitizing us. I was starting to develop a very hateful feeling towards any type of police enforcement, and I didn't like feeling like that, so I had to shift the pain to art.

I'll break it down but as you can see pictured, the first picture displays a message/the front of the shirt. I painted the words "take a stand by taking a knee" "speak up, speak out" "my black bled and filled this flag with red" "this is no land of the free, because of my skin they label me the enemy" and that's just how I feel being displayed through art. I painted the American Flag as dripping blood, because this is KILLMERICA-and instead of the stars covering the blue, I painted a police shield, and guns surrounding the shield like the stars.

The back of the shirt, I painted Kaep and names of Black Kings and Queens that departed way too soon, due to police brutality. My very first fashion show was 7/27, and for the finale I had my model wear this piece, to close with me. I wanted the audience to see what I'm really about. I'm about us, always. I'm about keeping the conversation going, calling out sick agendas, twisted ways + pushing for change, opening eyes through art. I love Kaep, I wish I could just give him a hug, he's forever respected/loved for taking a knee.

Noni: Are there any other goals that have come up throughout your process ? Do they converge or diverge with your plans for your clothing line ? 

Patty: Yes, definitely had goals + have new goals. The old goals: I wanted my art to expand, I crossed that off the list now. My customs have touched 27 US states & the UK, so I'm definitely expanding. The next, was to have my own fashion show, I crossed that off 7/27/9. Next, the new goals: have my own art show, paint a prom dress/suit, create a website, open up boutiques, I'll be crossing those goals off soon enough. All my goals definitely align with my passion. 

Noni: Do you have a support system ? If so, how have they helped you along the way? 

Patty: I have an amazing support system, for starters if it was not for my mom, piece by PMR wouldn't even exist. I remember leaving my first 9-5 after working a crazy shift and I sat down on the couch with my mom, all I said was "I really want to start taking fashion more seriously, this job doesn't satisfy me, I want to start painting more" and three days later I had paint, paint-brushes, sealants, canvases and everything else you can name. She has always believed in me and pushed me, I can't wait to give her the world. One of my best friends Lacey, we're similar in many ways and we bump heads the most because of it. I have my moments where I doubt my work or feel like I'm not going hard-enough, and she always helps me bounce back and go that much harder. I'll be like "I'm not doing this anymore" and she's right at me like "but, you are" lol, and then give me gems to help me stay focused. I appreciate her a lot. I have so many great women in my life who pour into me & inspire me - Soraya, Meesh, Tisha, Chloe, Unique, Petra, Shalice, Autty, and so many more. You can never lose when you have a powerhouse of genuine women, rooting for you.

Noni: Were there any role models that personally influenced your work ethic or lifestyle? 

Patty: My mom is my greatest influence, I genuinely credit my hard-working ways and hustler spirit, to her. It's engraved in my because of her, and I'm going to win because of her and make her so proud!

Noni: If there is one thing you can say to young black women who are looking to get into the fashion industry, what would it be?

Patty: Black girl, be YOU, authentically you, unapologetically you. Don't think you have to act, dress, talk OR wear your hair a certain way - to be received. All the ones meant to feel you, will. All the eyes meant to see you, will. Create as loud as you want. We are the blueprint!

Noni: What has been the best part of your journey as a entrepreneur in this field ?

Patty: I think the best part is seeing my art be received, the way I wanted it to be. Its beautiful knowing that my pieces make people feel empowered when they put it on, seeing people post pictures and proud to say "PMR made this" .. those moments are unforgettable. 

Noni: Describe one challenge and explain how you have overcame the challenges in your path? 

Patty: I think one of the biggest challenges as a young entrepreneur or a creative period, is the comparing game. Like in this world of social media, you'll unintentionally start to compare. Like wow people really like her, I'm still fighting to be see and my work is just as great etc, that was me in my beginning stages. Then I had to realize, tend to your own soil and watch the flowers bloom. I also had to remind myself not to compare nobody's chapter 10 to my chapter 1.

Noni: Where do you see yourself and your brand in 3 years?

Patty: In 3 years I'll be 27, yikes. Hm, I just better be a "Mrs." and married already. Aside from that, I see myself more fulfilled and wiser. I hope I'm not the same Patty at 26, that I am right now. So, I would say in 3 years I'll be growing, glowing, new and wiser. As far as my business, I want it to be worldwide known by then and I should at least have my work on shelves and in stores! The best is yet to come! 

Follow PMR on Instagram here.