Natalie, a 25-year-old West Indian from Guyana, has always connected deeply to art and fashion. Growing up in the DMV area with immigrant parents who moved from Queens, NY, to Alexandria, Virginia, and then Maryland, her diverse cultural background greatly influenced her creative outlook. She recalls, “I’ve spent a lot of time in DC since I was younger, so I feel a connection to all parts of the DMV. I spent a lot of time visiting family in New York growing up, so that city has and will always have a special place in my heart.”
Natalie’s love for fashion blossomed alongside her passion for art, nurtured from a young age. “I’m not exactly sure why I was always so drawn to art,” she muses, “but I do think often about how, growing up, something I always had access to was paper and pencils. My older brothers were good at drawing, and I used to sit with them and copy the things they would draw.” This early exposure to artistic expression laid the foundation for her current career in fashion design.
Ylang Ylang, the brand she co-founded with her best friend Nia, began as a creative experiment. “Our creative chemistry was so unmatched,” Natalie recalls. What started with making jewelry for themselves soon turned into a full-fledged brand. “We were brainstorming names all night, and she has ‘ylang ylang’ tattooed on her arm, and I was just thinking that name sounds cunt for a brand, and so we just went with it.” For Natalie and Nia, Ylang Ylang represents more than just a fashion label; it’s a creative universe where they can explore their passions across various art forms, including painting, fashion, film, photography, and music.
Natalie’s designs are deeply personal, reflecting her unique tastes and values. The brand’s aesthetic, which blends punk, DIY, feminine, artistic, goth, and monochrome themes, is a testament to her desire to create something meaningful. “I just create things that I like,” she says simply. “When I design clothes, I try to create the things I want to wear. When I create anything, I just want to add something valuable to the world.”
The YY tank, Natalie’s debut piece, exemplifies her design philosophy. “It’s not the first piece I’ve designed, but it felt like a good piece to start with,” she explains. Designed with versatility in mind, the YY tank is an essential yet distinctive item that can be styled in numerous ways. “Usually, when I get a piece of clothing I like, I wear it all the time. I like clothes that you can style in different ways, that you could be wearing on a regular day, but if something comes up and you have to be more dressed up, it can still translate into a different setting.”
The response to Ylang Ylang has been overwhelmingly positive. “The support I’ve received has been so heartwarming,” Natalie shares. Her innovative and sustainable designs have resonated with her audience, who appreciate the subtle but significant details. “I posted a video of the different ways it can be worn, and I got so many comments on its being innovative and sustainable without even saying any of those words to myself.”
The typical Ylang Ylang shopper is creative and experimental in their everyday life, whether they consider themselves artists or not. “Someone intentional and passionate,” Natalie describes. This sense of intentionality and passion drives her to continue creating.
Reflecting on the fashion scene in the DMV area, Natalie sees immense potential. “I think there are so many talented and creative people here,” she observes. “I would love to see more people here stepping outside of their comfort zone and really using fashion as a form of self-expression and individuality.”
Looking ahead, Natalie is committed to using her art to address global issues. “I just want to be able to address things going on in the world through the things I create, and I want to keep creating things that are valuable and intentional.” With Ylang Ylang, Natalie is not just building a brand; she’s creating a platform for meaningful expression and innovation in the fashion world.
