SPEAKING WITH PRETTY MAJOR
She’s the shorty with the bucket hat and infectious laugh. Her style walks the lines of crazy, sexy, cool, while her outlook on the fashion industry is, have no mercy. Meet Talecia Tucker, the Atlanta Georgia native who somehow has a New York hustler’s ora about her. She is the Founder of Pretty Major and a key player in this street wear game. Tucker is a supremely genuine soul that has been at this fashion thing relentlessly working to make her dreams a reality. Her brand embraces graphic design as well as cut and sew with an ambiguous twist. With her recent web launch and fashion presentation, I’d say this lady is pretty major.
STYLE
My earliest memory of style would have to be going shopping for back to school at the height of summer because my parents were bargain shoppers and shopped out of season. I couldn't wear any of my new clothes for months so I'd invite my neighbors over for dinner and entertain them with a fashion show, just so I'd have a reason to get fresh and throw on my new clothes.
"My parents were bargain shoppers and shopped out of season."
UNISEX
It was always very important to me to create a unisex clothing line because I was always a tomboy, but ashamed to buy clothes from the boy's department when I was young. From a very early age we're taught that sex and gender and one in the same. Sex is based on physical differences and gender is based on social factors. I won't get too deep into the sociology of it, but believe in blurring the lines of gender. I'm drawn to making pieces that a woman or man can feel sexy and confident in.
FASHION
Curating my first fashion presentation was a challenge in so many ways. I'm driven off of impulse, so when I get an idea I like to act on it quick. I planned my fashion presentation inside and out in one month on a solo mission. I planned everything from finding a location, getting a dj, trying to get liquor sponsors and failing, setting up visuals, and promoting all with 40 hour work weeks in a very small window of time. The event was a success and I had an amazing turn out of very talented people wanting to support my brand. I learned just how far I could push myself, but more importantly that I need lots of help in planning future events lol.
MESSAGE
What I want people to take away from the Pretty Major collection is just a sense of pride in purchasing something that was designed with them in mind. There are a lot of designers who steal from our culture for their personal gain. I only intend to add to it.
"There are a lot of designers who steal from our culture for their personal gain. I only intend to add to it."
STAPLE PIECE
The design for the weird hat came out of a lack of resources and an abundance of imagination. I originally wanted those hats to be embroidered, but couldn't afford the cost. I had to get imaginative and use what resources I had. I love typography, so I went online to find the perfect font. I bought a lot of felt, cut out every letter by hand almost giving me carpal tunnel, and sewed them on the hats. I chose the word weird because I've been called it all my life. Most people have a negative connotation of the word, but I set out to change that and make the word as acceptable as unique.
COLLECTION
My favorite piece from my collection is my button up with red paisley collar and button panel. The rest of the shirt is made entirely of mesh. I've loved collared shirts since I was little and have a sports background, so I wanted to marry the two elements in a sleek and cool way
DESIGN
I'm inspired by places I've never been, movies I've seen a million times, and the people I encounter to name a few. Coco and Breezy have an amazing style and work ethic, so in my newest collection they're serving as my muses. They've overcome a lot of odds to get to where they are now and in doing so, embody who I design for. I've also spent a shit ton of years in retail and the people I've met a long the way who have supported my brand from the days of it's inception are always in mind.
"Coco and Breezy have an amazing style and work ethic, so in my newest collection they're serving as my muses. They've overcome a lot of odds to get to where they are now and in doing so, embody who I design for. "
PROCESS
The process of creating Pretty Major has been a extensive one. I've known I wanted to be in fashion for a while, but didn't know if I wanted to be a merchandiser, become a buyer, manage an already existing company, etc. Even after deciding I wanted to be a designer, I didn't know where to start. The creative aspect comes easy for me, but learning the business side is a daily challenge. I used to get down on myself because my business wasn't as successful as I wanted, but I'm learning that if you stay persistent and focused on your dream it will come to fruition in due time.
“Over are the days where we’re forced to purchase things that were not designed with us in mind.” -Talecia Tucker
