37 Magazine
S&M Custom Design, led by visionary designer Santia Mckoy, proudly presents the Forty Collection, a celebration of artistry and innovation marking Mckoy’s 40th birthday.
The collection, featuring four exclusive pieces and a limited-edition hat series, embodies the timeless elegance and cutting-edge design that defines the brand. Each garment in the collection is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and creativity, making a bold statement in contemporary fashion.
In unveiling this collection, Santia has ignited a movement—a call for all women to recognize their worth beyond numerical age.
Is there a particular message or theme you are trying to convey through the
“FORTY” Collection?
The forty collection conveys a crucial message: do not ignore God’s plan. After graduating from college, my intention was to work in my field, but it wasn’t part of God’s plan for me. Now, I am an international fashion designer, without any formal sewing education. Through the gift God blessed me with, I can create stories and bring them to life through fashion, transforming vision into reality and darkness into light.
Are there any personal or emotional elements that you have infused into the “FORTY” Collection?
Each piece has an emotional narrative. The silver dress, crafted with 40 roses, holds a special significance for me, as I am passionate about roses and can create handmade roses to adorn the dress, symbolizing my age in a unique and meaningful way. My goal for this collection is to remain elegant and distinctive, reflecting my story as a 40-year-old mother of three girls.
The peach creation presented a unique design challenge. I developed the dress three times, evolving my concept with each iteration. While the initial idea showed promise, the vibe was not quite right. I reworked it, and the second attempt successfully captured the desired atmosphere. The third version finalized the design, incorporating a bow at the neckline, seamlessly integrating with the collection’s overall aesthetic. The peach collection features tailor-made fabric, specifically created for that look, boasting a 25-year durability guarantee, ensuring the fabric’s color and quality remain unchanged.
The pink gown is my ultimate aspiration. My dream is to be married in a pink dress, which I have designed as a symbol of my forthcoming wedding celebration. The dress features metallic customized fabric with a bubble effect on the sleeves and train, creating a stunning couture pink wedding gown. The front of the dress is adorned with a pink bow that elegantly ties together the four sections of the dress.
The white dress radiates majesty, its visual impact extending far beyond the initial impression. The designation ‘majestic’ is fitting, as it represents the duration required for a new generation to emerge. The dress, paired with a cape, assumes a resplendent appearance, which transforms when the cape is removed, revealing a distinct character. Interestingly, this piece shares a connection with the industry, as evidenced by the sneak peek’s influence on subsequent designs, highlighting an unforeseen correlation.
What impact do you hope the “FORTY” Collection will have on your long- time fans and the broader artistic community?
Over the past 40 years, that collection has been substantially impacted. I have developed many collections, but every piece has a deliberate reason for its creation, and all four were released concurrently at the precise time they should have been.
How does this collection reflect your personal growth and evolution as a designer?
The Forty collection represents a milestone in my personal growth and evolution as a designer, diverging from my previous works. This collection is an intimate fusion of myself and fabric, emphasizing couture and style with restraint. A notable challenge emerged when attempting to incorporate forty roses into the dress, requiring an enlargement of the pattern to accommodate the roses.
How have your design principles and aesthetic changed since you first started your career?
Yes, the design principles and aesthetic of that collection have undergone a transformation since the commencement of my career for a couple of reasons. Firstly, this marks my first foray into couture cut collections, and two of the dresses possess the unique ability to transform into multiple looks. For instance, the primary look can be reimagined into three distinct looks: a functional look, a high-fashion gala and red carpet look, and an elegant dinner look without the cape, each accompanied by three coordinating hats.
What lessons or insights have you gained that you hope to impart through this special collection?
Through this unique collection, I have gained a deeper understanding of emotions, details, ideas, connections, and love. My hope is for this collection to remain an integral part of my brand, exemplifying creativity, couture, and style, with the silver dress becoming a signature piece for birthdays and anniversaries, adaptable to milestone ages such as 30, 50, or 60, with a floral arrangement reflecting the age.
What advice would you give to other designers approaching their own milestone birthdays?
For designers interested in celebrating their birthday collectively, my guidance is to emphasize individual celebration. As fashion designers, our tendency is to focus on the brand, neglecting the fact that we embody the brand. With each sale, customers are purchasing a reflection of us; therefore, it is vital for us to present ourselves in a manner that reinforces our brand and maintains our relevance.
The Forty Collection will be available exclusively through S&M Custom Design’s official website.
Ocoee , Florida
Editor-In-Chief: Jamee Beth Livingston
Photography: Paul Darius
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