The Music Tree Tee (aka-Designer Self-portrait Tee)

In 2012 I created the Urban Doll Vintage shop and though I love vintage for many reasons, I knew my true passion was to design clothes. In beauty school, I would “sketch” designs that were in my head and spend my breaks at the fabric store down the street, Even though I wouldn’t buying anything, it was enough to simply be in the presence of fabrics wrapped so perfectly waiting to be made into something special.

Design school seemed so unattainable at the time because I was thinking very one-dimensional. Decades later, I realized that was a limiting belief and have changed what was in my way. (Spoiler alert! It was me) back in 2012; I had the idea for an off-shoot of The Urban Doll where I would make simple goods including Graphic Tees. Aside from stick figures, I am not the drawer, but knew what designs I wanted to make so I asked my partner at the time if he could draw me a giraffe eating from a tree with music note leaves, and he did along with a couple of other designs I had in my head. I ended up curbing that off-shoot idea and focusing on the vintage and styling of my business.

When I finally got around to designing again, I was nudged by a couple of people who knew about the design to print it and so I finally set out to complete and get produced my first graphic tee design, and here you have what I call The Music Tree Tee (inspired by one of my favorite books the Giving Tree) aka- the designer self-portrait Tee because I love music and I feel like giraffes have my soul! the text says “j’aime la musique” which translates I love music. This design has a special place in my heart, being that it is my first one ever and I am excited to share it with all of you.

Top: The Music Tree Tee (aka-Designer Self-portrait tee) Skirt: Madewell

Shoes: Intentionally blank

Earrings: line by Ari J Rose

The Original draft circa 2012.