Evening wear circa 1998

I designed both of my high school prom dresses as a teenager.  I would sketch them out and enlist my aunt to help me make my vision a reality.  I knew nothing about pattern making, neither did my aunt.  However, she did teach me how I can alter a pattern.  We would shop together for a pattern that matched my sketch the best.  I would then spend time at her house and together we would make my prom dress.  Below is a sketch of my second prom dress that I designed for my high school senior prom.

Senior Prom evening gown sketch

 I was very fond of what I called "Slash Fashion".  This is basically what I called garments that appeared to have pieces missing.  I designed the gown to have one shoulder strap with a keyhole int he front.


Back View of evening gown sketch

 In the back of the dress I intended for the shoulder strap to separate into two straps in order to anchor the dress on both the right and left bringing back symmetry to the gown.  Below is how the dress actually turned out....

Unfortunately, my aunt and I could not get the keyhole worked into this pattern...

 Still, the dress turned out beautifully....

We also had to alter the back of the dress to make it wearable once we started the project.  However, for a teenager without formal design education this is a great attempt at creating from a sketch using a pattern.

New Direction for SMH Designs

I recently moved back to Atlanta from Toronto.  During my year in Canada, I decided to put SMH Designs on hold.  I wanted to go in a new direction and breathe new life into this business of mine. 

Now that I am back in my hometown, it is time that I begin anew and re-vamp designs.  I have a lot of new and exciting things in the works.  Don't worry all the old works will be there as well and better than ever, including my menswear, my children line and my lingerie line, Kinky Krochet.


I am adding other talents to my product mix as well.  So please stay tuned for new works and new designs.

Much luv
The artist
e

What kind of man is a SMH man?

So what kind of man would choose smh designs menswear?

a warrior
a luv-her of all things beautiful and of the Most High
a trendsetter - a man with his own sense of style who views it as simply being himself.
A man of smh designs luvs the arts
He is an activist
He is creative
A motivator
He is a teacher, a leader...
A lion, a king
A man of smh is royalty so he needs robes fitting for a ruler, robes that won't get in the way when he is a battle, robes that lets the whole world know who he is....
Mi Lion, my King, my Pharaoh
He needs crowns to hold back his beautiful locks, camo robes for destiny and tunics laced with the green ova the red for legacy.
This my family is the style of a SMH MAN!
coming soon...

My Fashion Style Vol. II

Current mood:hopeful

Lately all the styles I have been creating is laced with the green over the red.
It's no secret nor surprise that I am more than inspired by my livity ~ Rastafari. I stand tall when I walk my walk. There are times in one's life where you feel spiritually inspired by whatever your path may be and this is one of those times for me...suddenly I feel hope and renewal in my faith and I realize how much Jah has blessed me in my life.
So a lot of my newer creations express humbleness, simplicity and tranquility. The silhouette poncho exuberates my flow of life, water.
The tube top (pattern by Sis Afya -not my personal creation) illustrates bands of the green over the red.
The lace Cami is made for layering over modest clothing with a touch of feminity with the rose choker...A warrior princess can be and is soft as well. It's the beauty of being a wombman.
You can be the top designer you are and still sell clothing that tells your personal story and style. Clothing that illustrate your faith...it warms my heart to have people who know little of my livity come to me wanting to buy my "spiritual wear". Women who come to me not understanding why I choose not to straighten my hair turn right back around and ask how can they wear their hair as I do.
I luv it and I welcome it.
One luv
Empress e

Handmade Price List

Handmade Price Sheet

Soul Crowns

Large Tam……..$40

Righteous Rasta………$40

B-boy!.....$30

Small Tam……$35

Tam with Brim….$42

Tam with hard brim…..$45

Warrior……$30

B-boy! Ridged…..$35

Basic Ball Cap with hard brim…..$35

Skully….$20

Home Decor

Blanket (Full Size)…….$60

Clothing

Plus Size Poncho……..$55

Halter…….$25

Bathing Suit……..$

Multi-way Shrug…….$25

Mesh Vest……..$20

Bra Tops….$15

Accessories

Cell phone holder……$15

Hobo Bag…..$20

Beaded Ruffled Scarf……..$20

Rippled Scarf…….$25

Infants and Children

Baby Hoodie…..$30

Hooded blanket….$35

Baby Skully…$15

Baby booties…$10

Baby skully, booties and hooded blanket…….$50
Baby Onesie, Skully and booties......$40

Sets

Rippled Scarf and Hat set…..$30

Halter and hobo bag…….$40

Beaded Scarf and hat set…$35

Mens Hat and Cable Scarf Set…..$35

Seele mit herz designs

A division of seele mit herz, LLC

My Fashion Style Vol. I

Current mood:cultured

I've always been an individualist. I do my own thang on my own terms.
So I want to share with you all my sense and style...in fashion that is.
This is vol. I
I came across some photos from my college days....

I used to work with children for a very long time, shocker huh since I always talk of how I don't want any of my own...but I did this for about 6 years and I worked at this one daycare for my university the longest. This was our university mascot...One thing I really miss about working with children is the opportunity to express myself fashion wise...Here I am with the natural do and my square turtoise frame glasses....looking like the liberated intellectual. Just one of my looks - i like change on a daily basis....

Truly a favorite of mine! Here I am with ...yeah a baby! LOL But this was my first year in college and I was truly a miserable soul that year. It was the worst year of my life and I struggled a lot. I was called the angry militant girl a lot...lol
Hard to imagine me angry all the time, huh? LOL So one day, I am crying my eyes out in frustration because I missed Atlanta...and some girls down the hall approached me about spending some time with them away from campus. We went to one of the girls' home with her parents and I am here holding her cousin actually feeling a little hapiness if only for a minute. Notice the angry sista Zulu Knots I sported back then...lol

Fast forward back to that daycare I was speaking of before...
I got happy that next year...Now I wish you all could see the full outfit....Hair in two pigtails with furry pom pom hair barrets. An Asian inspired T-Shirt with the number 21...just before I turned 21...Then the jeans...dramatic bell bottoms with splits on the sides (hand me downs from my multicultural roomate)...My style was so hot...lol
I was truly touched. lol

My Business and Service Style

This is a unique service and I would like to take this opportunity to share my procedures and style of service with you.

Turnaround Time

It takes approximately six to eight weeks from initial consultation to delivery of your completed garment. Unforeseen complications in design changes, fittings, the search of "just the right fabric and findings," and family needs may affect the delivery date. Long-time clients will have a shorter turn around time as fewer decisions need to be made on each project. Rushing in the planning stages can lead to poor choices. Each client is important to me and receives every consideration that I can give.

Fitting Appointments

Please be on time for all appointments (or call), wear suitable lingerie and either wear or bring the correct shoes. Due to the importance of proper foundations in fitting, I will not fit you without them. An additional $20 fitting fee will be charged and a new session scheduled.

I will notify you if it becomes necessary to change an appointment, and it would please me if you would do the same. Call or leave a message on my answering machine.

Fees

My price sheet explains set fees for specific garments. Other fees will be estimated. Prices include consultations, phone calls, design planning and changes, fabric preparation, precutting the paper pattern, cutting out garment, sewing, fitting, pressing, and final delivery/billing. Garments require a %50 deposit and full payment upon delivery.

Patterns

I have accumulated an extensive collection of fine patterns in a range of sizes from which you may select, or you may purchase your own pattern. Although the final choice will be yours, selecting the right pattern and fabric to create the desired effect is the very essence of my role in consulting on each project.

Fabrics

An investment wardrobe deserves to be constructed of the best fabric you can afford. Natural fibers will be your best in fabric choices. Your job will be to purchase the ultimate choice and mine is to pretreat the fabric and purchase the necessary findings (findings are added to the price of the custom project).

A lot of thought and consideration goes into each new client's project. Since I specialize in investment clothing, the garments we create should work in your wardrobe for many years. I will become acquainted with each of you, getting to know your lifestyle and clothing needs. This enables me to better guide you.

I look forward to working with you.

Respectfully,



Erica Skrine
seele mit herz designs
~ A division of seele mit herz, LLC