Sisterhood in Fashion: Why Every Designer Needs a Real Friend in This Industry

The fashion industry is often portrayed as glamorous, competitive, and cutthroat. What people rarely talk about is how lonely it can be—especially for independent designers building something from the ground up. Behind the runway lights, late-night fittings, and creative highs are moments of doubt, exhaustion, and isolation.

That’s why true friendship in fashion is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Finding Friendship in an Industry Built on Competition

A few years ago, I met my designer friend LaQuanius Cutner, an incredibly talented and visionary designer. At first, it was simply mutual respect for each other’s work. Over time, that respect turned into friendship, and by 2025, it became something deeper—a real bond rooted in understanding, honesty, and shared struggle.

LaQuanius was part of my Fall show, Nacht der Mode, and having her involved wasn’t just about fashion—it was about trust. Trust in her talent, her professionalism, and her heart.

In an industry where many people see each other as competition, we chose something different.

A Friendship That Understands the Grind

You need at least one person in this industry who truly gets it.

Someone who understands:

• Staying up until 3 a.m. perfecting a design

• The frustration of slow sales

• The emotional toll of dealing with cheap buyers who don’t respect the craft

• The pressure of constantly having to prove your worth

I can text LaQuanius at midnight with a design question or ask for advice on construction, and she can do the same with me—no ego, no hesitation, no judgment. There’s no competition between us, only support.

We don’t measure success against each other. We want each other to win.

No Competition, Only Collective Growth

What makes our friendship special is the absence of rivalry. In a world that pushes designers to compete for attention, clients, and validation, we stand firmly in collaboration and encouragement.

We share ideas. We uplift each other. We celebrate each other’s wins.

And when one of us feels like giving up—which happens more often than people admit—the other is there to remind us why we started.

Picking Each Other Up When It Gets Heavy

There are days when the weight of being a designer feels unbearable. Days when you question your talent, your location, your market, and whether it’s all worth it.

On those days, LaQuanius and I pick each other up.

We remind each other that our work matters. That our voices are needed. That quitting would silence something powerful.

She is more than a friend. She is my sister-wife in design—someone bound to me through creativity, resilience, and love for the craft.

Final Thoughts: Fashion Needs More Sisterhood

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Fashion is hard enough alone. Don’t do it without community.

Find the designer who understands your sleepless nights. Find the friend who doesn’t see you as competition. Find the person who will hold you up when the industry tries to tear you down.

Because when designers support designers, everyone rises.