Local fashion designer participates in New York Fashion Week

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Phalandra Squires participated in a New York Fashion Week Show this Friday. She owns a clothing boutique in Whiteville called Fashion Couture Studio on 463 Vinson Blvd.

Squires’ original desire to design clothes by hand started in high school in 1989. She went on to pursue a career in nursing but got back into her original love of creating clothing 8 years ago.

She says she wasn’t sure she would be picked as a designer for a show this big.

“I got a call from New York, and I was like oh my God, is this them? And it was actually them. They gave me a callback and said they would love to have me for the show,” Squires said.

She drove 10 hours to New York City to showcase some of her creative designs.

New York Fashion Week is one of the biggest fashion events in the world and helps set trends around the globe. Squires says she’s excited someone in Europe or Asia could wear one of her creations.

“It could go to Dubai, China, or Japan, anywhere around the world would be awesome,” she said.

Squires’ collection that she showcased was named “Around the World”.She came up with the theme when discussing details with another creative artist named Sheresse Cromartie.

“We were just talking, and I told her I wanted to do something different. That’s when she said around the world. I said yes because I had seven looks,” Squires said.

Her pieces had many people turning their heads and experts weighing in on her work. Adrian Murchison is a celebrity stylist, best known for his work with Tamar Braxton. Murchison says Squires’ collection stands out from the crowd.

“Others use the same patterns, but she kept you wondering what the next piece would look like because it wasn’t the same designs over and over again,” Murchison said.

Squires says she never thought her dream would take her this far. She wants to encourage others to reach for their biggest dreams.

“Never give up on your dream even if it doesn’t happen today, tomorrow, or next month, next year. Continue to do what you do because it’s someone out there who needs to see what you do,” Squires said.

You can follow Squires’ designs here.

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