Visual Artist and Custom Designer Patty Myasia Talks About Her Mission To Impact Black Women.

Visual Artist and Custom Designer Patty Myasia Talks About Her Mission To Impact Black Women, The Influence of Her Mom, Starting Her Brand Piece By PMR., Black Women in the Fashion and Art Industry, Expanding Her Brand to Brick and Mortar, And More.

Patty Myasia

I love being able to connect with creatives and entrepreneurs who use their art to address situations that are based on real-life issues and concerns. In my honest opinion, one of the greatest gifts in being an artist is having the power to express yourself freely without ever worrying about the ramifications of your work or actions. Brooklyn-native Patty Myasia is a walking testament to what it means to express yourself through art unapologetically.

Using her love for fashion and visual art, Patty started a brand called Piece by PMR that helps highlight some of the social justice concerns we face today in America. She continuously uses her platform to amplify certain messages targeted toward uplifting women like her such as “Protect Black Women” and “A Black Woman Is Speaking.” These powerful sayings can be seen on custom handbags, apparel, or other accessories that are created solely by Patty. “I took the two things I am most passionate about, fashion and black culture, and combined the two worlds,” says Patty. “I paint the statements I paint, and I paint the imagery I paint, with the sole purpose to inspire, empower, disrupt.”

I had the opportunity to catch up with the outspoken creative. We talked about her overall mission to inspire Black women, learning from her influences, combining her two passions into one brand, her respective duties as a Black woman in fashion and art, and how she plans to expand Piece by PMR throughout the rest of the year. Read the full interview below.

1 - How are you feeling right now? 

What a great opening question; I am truly feeling blessed. I feel like I am currently in one of the best chapters/seasons of my life, so overall extremely happy and blessed.

2 - You’re born and raised in Brooklyn. What was that like for you growing up there?

I loved it, I have zero complaints lol. The culture, the diversity, the fashion, the hustle. I personally think coming out of NY, especially Brooklyn, you're just destined for greatness.

3 - Fashion has always been a part of our lives, whether we’re in the know or just focused on our personal style. But, for you, when were you introduced to the world of fashion? How was that experience for you?

My mom was a shopaholic growing up, so I stayed in the latest trends. My introduction to fashion was initially through her. I remember being like 8 years old when I started to dress myself. I would mix colors, prints, fabrics and create the most outlandish looks. She never said things like “change that” or “take that off”— she just freely let me express myself. I've always been such a silent little lamb, extremely introverted. At that very age, I fell in love with fashion and also found my way of introducing myself without speaking. Style truly speaks, so I found a way to be vocal through the expression of fashion. 

4 - Who were some of your early inspirations, whether street style, high fashion or both? 

Teyana Taylor, Janelle Monae, and Pharrell. If you could mix them all into one person, that's where I found my personal inspiration early on.

5 - You talk about your mom and how much of an influence she was to you. As a person who grew up with a single mom, I know how you feel. As you got older, what are some memorable moments or lessons you remember getting from your mom?

I actually owe all my current wins to her. I big everything up to her. I would have a 9-5, then quit. Have another 9-5, then quit lol. The pattern was horrendous. I wasn't being fulfilled. I didn't enjoy waking up every day and committing hours to things that didn't truly fuel me, outside of the bad energy that a lot of corporate places have. So, I remember going to my mom and speaking to her about it. Letting her know that I know I am talented enough to succeed if I give my all to my dream; which is art, but making it fashion. I wanted to hand-paint art and apparel, and eventually combine the two worlds. She looked at me and said “If you start this, don't quit” and I assured her, I 100% would NEVER. This was my dream. The following day I came home to all sorts of paints, canvases, jackets, etc. Now, Piece by PMR is what it is. She's the reason I started, and I still credit every win to her because she believed in me. I actually carry that with me all the time now, whenever I enter lanes—“If you start this, don't quit,” and so far so good. Outside of always randomly telling me “You know I'm your biggest fan, right?” she taught me how to believe in myself. Step out on faith, and never cling to fear. This journey was hard in the beginning, but now my pieces are all over the world. The way she supports and believes in me is the reason why I know I'll never lose. There's nothing like a mother’s love.

6 -  In a previous interview you mentioned Janelle Monae and Teyana Taylor helped influence your personal style as a young adult. What was it about their fashion sense that influenced who you were and how you dressed?

I think Teyana and Janelle are the perfect examples of women who don't conform to the norm. It inspired me to stay true to my difference in style. I used to stay in blazers and bowties, sometimes tom-boyish looks, and just all around very versatile. When you're young, in high school, you get weird looks and questions like “Why does she dress like that?” so I remember when I first discovered these two, I felt SEEN. They're very unique and fashionable women.

7 - Fast forward to 2016 - you began working on your brand, Piece by PMR. Talk to me about that journey and the decision to start your brand. 

WHEW, a journey it's been. Piece by PMR is hand-painted black luxury. Yes, I said “luxury” because a black woman created it. I've always been very different, so I wanted to bring that difference to fashion. My goal has always been to highlight black, but make it fashionable. I was nervous because I know hand-painting is not the norm when it comes to fashion, but I stepped out on faith and just did it. I knew that if God gave me the gift, he would also open the doors. He won't bring you somewhere and just leave you there, so I knew it would work out. I just had to stay dedicated, and five years later I am more than happy I chose to stay committed. It's paying off very beautifully.

8 - Upon the inception of Piece by PMR, you did your due diligence by studying visual artists such as Keith Haring and Basquiat. Aside from the fact that they both dominated the pop art scene, what about these two made you focus on them as a source of inspiration? 

Haring was known for his colourful pieces and iconic motifs. His pieces often reflected contemporary social and political events. Basquiat’s art focused on wealth vs poverty, integration vs segregation, etc. They were both using art to highlight important things, just like I planned to. I truly found inspiration in that. They were artistically disrupting, just like I planned to. 

9 - By 2018, Piece by PMR started to gain some recognition. In your opinion, what do you think contributed to more eyes catching on to what you were doing? 

The power of social media, truly. I credit all the elevation to that. I would only display my art on Instagram. I eventually started to use all my social outlets, and once I put my work on Twitter, everything changed. There are so many eyes and opportunities on that app. One like or retweet can change your life, and that's exactly what happened in 2018. I also started to do more footwork by attending pop-up shops, which brought new eyes to my brand. My biggest win was Masego; he got one of my custom pieces that year. I had my first fashion show in 2019. Ty Young wore my custom bandana jacket two years after that, and the list started to slowly pile up. The celebrity and social influencer clientele impacted my business in a great way. Always super thankful for that.

10 - You’ve created a variety of different pieces ranging from a Colin Kaepernick t-shirt to custom handbags with sayings on them asking people to “Protect Black Women” or “Legalize Being Black In Amerikkka.” What are some of your thoughts on being a Black businesswoman and entrepreneur today? Also, what sort of obligations do you feel you have as a Black woman in the art and fashion world?

Being a Black businesswoman and entrepreneur today means working twice as hard. It's a task enough being a Black woman in today's world, but adding a business to that only deepens the way in which you have to apply yourself. As a Black woman in the art/fashion world, we are the ones people take from the most and give no credit to. The ones on top don't look like us, but they love our genius. Black women creatives are imitated a lot— yes I know fashion repeats—but it's a fine line between a timely piece repeating itself and strictly imitating what you saw another brand or creative do. I feel obligated to not compromise on my “why” and what I mean by that is I've been contacted by companies that could've set me up for a lifetime of living in luxury, but they wanted me to conform. It's in the tone of “We love your work ethic, we love your eye, and we want to welcome you in this room but lose that ‘woke’ stuff.” Like “Come in here, but don't be unapologetically black.” I'm not willing to compromise on my “why”—integrity is priceless. I also feel like it's our obligation as Black women creatives to keep the light turned on when it comes to America vs Black/Brown people. I'm not saying it has to be your entire mission statement, but if you have a platform, use that platform to keep the light turned on. I create the things I create with the intent to disrupt, and the intent to keep the conversation going. This is my way of using my voice—through my art.

11 - Can you expound on the overall intention of Piece by PMR and its message. 

Piece by PMR’s mission is to fashionably disrupt. I took the two things I am most passionate about, fashion and black culture, and combined the two worlds. I paint the statements I paint, and I paint the imagery I paint, with the sole purpose to inspire, empower, disrupt. That's my mission and motto: inspire, empower, disrupt. My brand is very much for us, by us. For Black women before anything else. This is my way of handing the flowers back to us. After all, we are the blueprint to everything. 

12 -  What is your true definition of success?

I don't have a Webster's dictionary type of definition. I believe true success is measured by the amount of hearts you impact, the number of lives you change. I don't think true success should ever be measured by currency.

13 - The first six months of the year are finished. We’re now focused on the second half. Talk about some of your plans for the remainder of the year, whether personally or professionally with Piece by PMR. 

My biggest goal right now is to have Piece by PMR be more present in brick and mortar spaces, as present as it is online. I want to make my mark more on-ground as we close the year off and enter 2022. I plan to expand the presence of my brand—that's my main goal. Bigger and better. The rest of the season is geared towards elevation. The goal will always be to highlight Black culture and Black women before anything. That will never change. I love being an unapologetic young Black woman and disrupting the norm.