Meet Trekina Rajeanné: Fashion Designer & Instructor

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

Hi Trekina, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up on a small farm in Mississippi. Growing up on a farm taught me hard work and made me strong. I was surrounded by manual labor, woods, and animals. Even though fashion was always so limited to me, I loved looking in magazines. Unfortunately, I could never find those clothes in my local stores so I started altering and enhancing the clothes I already had. FYI…It did not always go over well with my parents. At first, my parents didn’t understand why I was “messing up” my overalls but as time passed, they appreciated my unique ability to express my individuality. I comprehended the concept of why I had to wear overalls while I fed the pigs but I didn’t understand why they had to be so plain. Although, no one was going to see my high fashion overalls besides my mud-slinging animals, my heart longed for them to be colorful and covered with crystals and glitter. That desire inspired me to create and Rajeanné was born. At that point, I realized that everything in life can be functional but it can also be beautiful and unique. I started to teach myself how to enhance and create things and from that point on I knew that I had the power to create all of my heart’s desires. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
If I could tell the world one thing about me it would be that I was created to create and teach others to create. One of the greatest qualities that I possess, as a self-taught designer, is patience. Having patience does not only help while designing heirloom-quality pieces, it helps me teach my students how to sew and create their own masterpieces. Given that I built my foundation from learning in a non-technical matter, I am able to teach individuals regardless the skill level; and at a pace that is comfortable for each client. That is what sets me apart from others. Although I love designing, teaching others to create their own masterpieces brings me the most joy. My journey has been far from easy, but I’m thankful for everything it taught me and the amazing adventures its taken me on. One of the biggest life lessons that I have learned is that God loves laughing at my plans and is gracious enough to lead me where I need to go. When I look back over my career, I realize that God has always led me to teach. For example, I wanted to take classes to learn the “proper way” to design, but then my design professors asked me to be their teaching assistant. Another instance would be before we could officially graduate, we had to do a senior internship. I was devastated when I did not receive an internship with a big box retailer that I did several rounds of interviews with, but a few weeks later I was offered a paid internship teaching fashion design and handwork skills in Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Finally, I wanted more retail experience. I became a retail manager and I hated it! A few months in I was recruited to be an alterations manager for a bridal company. I loved it and a year and a half later I was promoted to an Alterations District Trainer. I trained Alteration Managers in the Southeast region of the U.S. and the United Kingdom. See the theme? Creating and teaching others to create… After evaluating my life, I realized that the teaching aspect was missing since I moved to Georgia so I founded Sip, Sew & Shop ATL in October 2019. Sip, Sew & Shop ATL is a 3-hour event where men and women without previous knowledge create a luxurious hand-crafted project while learning the basics of sewing in a safe and fun space. Each event has a theme, music, cocktails, food, our signature cotton candy shots, and local vendors. As a small business owner, I know how hard it is to get exposure. That is why I decided to have local small businesses at my events. It allows the community to experience the amazing small businesses from their local area. Sip, Sew & Shop ATL provides all of the materials for each project. Literally, all you have to do is show up ready to create and have a great time while dancing and shopping. We have expanded into doing private events such as birthday parties, bachelorette parties, girls’ night, and youth events.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since Covid-19 is alive and well… lol If my bestie was coming into town, things would be a little different but, we would still have to get out and about some. My top 8 things to do would be: (1) game night at home (2) the Aquarium (3) Suite Lounge (4) Skyline Park (5) The Flying Biscuit (6) Scream’n Nuts (7) Restoration Hardware (8) movie night in the backyard with s’mores.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother, Tess Crenshaw, has always been my biggest supporter. I announced that I wanted to design when I was about 12 years old. My mom started buying me sewing kits and handheld sewing devices and when I turned 14 years old, she purchased my first sewing machine and it transformed my life. Not only did she support me, but she pushed me to be my best. After I finished a design, she would have me compare my design to a similar garment in my closet. My mother could not help me thread the sewing machine but she gave me tools to enhance my skills. To this day, I still flip clothes inside out to examine the construction and quality when I am shopping. My great grandparents, Mary and Wardell Thomas, also played a huge role in who I am today. My great grandmother sewed the most beautiful handmade quilts. She would use clothes, curtains or whatever materials she could find that was full of color, patterns and life. She taught me to be resourceful and that I could make up my own rules. My great grandfather was just sharp! He polished his shoes every day, wore suspenders, several gold necklaces and gold rings. He taught me to be bold and to be a good steward with all that I have. I would like to give a huge shoutout to my Sip, Sew & Shop ATL team Jay, Lauren, Angela, Sekina,  and Lewis. It would not be possible without them.

Website: www.Rajeanne.com
Instagram: @sip.sew.shop.atl @rajeanne
Facebook: @sip.sew.shop.atl