Interview: Whitney Manney - Fashion and Textile Designer
We like to take time to highlight women we see out in the world doing their part to make the world a little nicer. In this Real Nice Lady Spotlight, we’re talking to Whitney Manney, Fashion and Textile Designer, about creating a brand that makes her clients feel as fearless and unapologetic as she does.
Job Title/Profession
Fashion & Textile Designer
Favorite Drink?
Cherry Limeade, preferably from Topsy’s but Sonics will do in a pinch
Favorite Food?
Tacos and Mac & Cheese..not at the same time though
Karaoke Song?
“Tell Me” by Groove Theory
What song are you listening to on repeat right now?
Testimony by Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Female icon you would be for Halloween?
The 1st Black Barbie (1979)
Telling as little or as much as you want, how are you feeling these days?
Overwhelmed
What, if anything, are you enjoying about quarantine?
I've been enjoying having long mornings. I wake up early but hate to rush to the day’s to-do lists. Having porch time, coffee, reading, and playing with my pup.
What first attracted you to your current profession?
Freedom to express myself when I didn't have the confidence to do it with my own words.
What do you think kept you from expressing yourself freely in the past/in the early stages of your creativity?
I’ve never been worried about it. Always been looked at as a weirdo, so I gave myself permission to do what I felt like. I think once I moved away during high school and had to start over in new schools, I introduced myself as who I wanted to be.
When it comes to your work, how do you approach fashion trends or fads that seem to be taking over the industry?
I try to keep my blinders on as much as possible, the last thing I want to do is be a copycat but it is important to know what is going on. Knowing who my core audience really helps me design for them and not for everyone, this is street bespoke! I want to make sure everything is special and my clients know that they are getting something they can't find everywhere
What statements do you want to make with your fashion creations?
Well, when I'm wearing my work, I want to express myself without using words. I want the world to know that I am confident in who I am, I'm not afraid to stand out. I want to teach myself to own my fearlessness and to be unapologetic about who Whitney is.
What is your favorite thing about your industry? Your least favorite?
Favorite: The process of taking something from flat sketch to real life and I LOVE dyeing fabric. I like letting chance have it's moment when I'm hand-dyeing/painting fabrics. Least Favorite: Math, the never-ending need to keep up with a ridiculous pace, and the out of touch "gatekeepers".
What's your creative process like?
There’s two ends of the spectrum for me. I either like to plan and make lists up until the final point or I pick up some scraps and let it flow. I love to be comfortable, I usually start out listening to gospel and end up at the furthest thing from it. I mostly end up writing out what I want to make, like bullet points of descriptors, and then draw from there. A process, I know. When I’m dyeing or painting fabric, I let it be completely organic, go off however I’m feeling. I think in pattern, so it comes to me naturally.
What have you learned about yourself since starting your business?I like to do way too much at one time, but I’ve also learned that nobody creates the way I do.
What do you want for the future of your industry?I hope that the pace of it will slow down a bit and I hope that more large platforms pay attention to the little people instead of stealing ideas.
What advice would you give other women trying to succeed in your industry?
Never stop learning, build a community with people who will encourage you but hold you accountable, give yourself space to freely create, and believe in your unique voice as an artist.
What was a formative moment in your life that made you who you are?
Surviving art school. If I can make it through that, I'm built to create the type of work I'm meant to.
When do you feel the strongest in your life? When do you feel the most vulnerable in your life?
Strongest: When I have a well-laid out plan
Vulnerable: When the plans go left…
What have you been doing to maintain your mental health since the pandemic hit?
I realized I missed going roller skating, the library, and art shows. Those activities for me really help get me centered and refreshed. I skate at the outdoor rink pretty much daily, it’s like an incentive to hurry up and get my work done at the studio. Just being able to be in the sun and on wheels helps clear my mind. If I can’t make it, I’ll practice steps and tricks in my living room. It’s not the exact same as going to the indoor rinks but I’m a bomb DJ. Morning Pages has also helped, it’s a technique I picked up from The Artist’s Way. Just write two pages of whatever and don’t look back.
What are some must-have songs on your roller rink DJ list?
This is what I've been rollin' to lately:
A Night To Remember by Shalamar
In The Party by Flo Milli
Touch Me Tease by Case ft. Foxy Brown
Chunky by Bruno Mars
Before I Let Go...both the original by Maze ft. Frankie Beverly and Beyonce's version
Blow by Beyonce
And the Beat Goes On by The Whispers
PYT by Michael Jackson
Say You'll Be There by Spice Girls
Don’t Stop The Music by Yarbrough and PeoplesBare
Wit Me by Teyana Taylor
Captain Hook by Megan Thee Stallion
The Glamorous Life by Sheila E
Dime by KenTheMan
Dior by Pop Smoke
Who are five women that inspire you?
My Mama, both of my Grandmamas, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Beyoncé.
