Meet Tatii | Designer & Founder of MetaNoia Apparel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tatii and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tatii, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I would like to first start by saying that no entity knows your potential, better than the devil (or any other evil deity you choose to believe in). Said devil will place every opposition in your path to deter you from your purpose. That being said, I don’t know whether to keep going or give up because giving up is not an option. There is no such thing as a “Plan B” when it comes to executing the innerworkings of my passion. When I feel like giving up, I apply more pressure. Sure, there are times when I need to pivot strategies and adjust to circumstances, that comes with the territory of entrepreneurship. In some cases, that’s the best part! We are all a product of our experiences and if I persevere and allow my actions to positively reflect the lessons I’ve learned, I’ll always be a success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is literally the physical figments of my imagination. This may seem haphazard but shouldn’t all art be that way? What sets me apart from others is my appreciation for authenticity and bold colors. I am increasingly inspired by nature and do my best to reflect this in my work. Professionally, I got to this point in my career by failing upwards; taking every single lesson and making it into something useful.

I am not a person that complains about things not going my way. I am human so yes, I get frustrated, but I don’t let that stop me. I literally have nothing to lose by trying my best. I overcome challenges my having a solid plan at the beginning of every process. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Through extensive planning I have the knowledge to be able to adjust to unfavorable circumstances.
Along the way I have learned to invest in myself and not think about money as the main end goal. Realistically speaking we need money to function in this society, but when an artist places that in the forefront, they have the potential to lose their own sense of direction.

I want the world to know that I LOVE what I do, and this love transcends into every aspect of my business. I cannot express in words the amount of gratitude that I have for those that support me and I cannot wait to branch out and have the ability to dress more and more people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being from NYC I am an advocate for people seeing the REAL New York. I am from specifically from The Bronx, so I will be taking my friend around those parts. The Bronx gets a bad rap for being the borough that nobody wants to go to…and I LOVE THAT! The Bronx has held on to its authenticity over the past decade when places in the other boroughs have become more gentrified.

We’d start with some Puerto Rican food from one of my favorite Cuchifritos located on the corner of Freeman Ave (off the 2 and 5 train line). After that, we can circle back and visit some tourist attractions like Yankee Stadium and the Universal Hip Hop Museum. Next, we’re going to take a nap because the real fun doesn’t start until after 11pm!

I’d take my friend to a party in the Uptown area of the borough (Gun Hill Rd to E241 St on the 2 line). This is where all of the Caribbean people from The Bronx reside. If there are no parties Uptown we’d go to Mt. Vernon. We’d go to a back yard party and dance all night! At about 6am, we’d leave and get some jerk chicken and hard dough bread from a street vendor pulling a chimney grill on the back of his truck. On the other days we’d visit Little Italy, the Botanical Gardens and The Bronx Zoo but to be completely honest…most of the trip would be filled with food, drinks, and dancing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Have you ever seen strength, grace, tenacity, and courage personified; I have! I owe it all to my dear grandmother Estelle. She instilled in me at a young age the importance of education and independence. She was the one who introduced me to sewing by helping her hem pant legs for my boy cousins or sewing buttons onto school shirts.

My lovely grandmother had an AMAZING church hat collection with a matching purse and jewelry to complement it. She taught me the importance of fit in a garment. “Young ladies…”-she would say- “…should always have a well-fitting bra, slip, and pantyhose on under their dress. That’s decent.” Through the years she has solidified a special place in my heart because every day I can feel the love she gave to me through the love I give to others.

Unfortunately, my granny has dementia, so she doesn’t remember who I am. When we speak, she’ll call me by another name and while sometimes it can be heartbreaking, I am blessed to still have her here on this Earth with me. She could address me a hamburger and I would smile because she still loves me all the same. If she were to read this I’d say, “Love you plenty my Gullah baby. I thank you more thank you know”

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Other: email: metanoia.apparel@gmail.com