ARTIST STATEMENT

My work transforms garments into living canvases, merging textile art with couture to carry narrative, symbolism, and emotional resonance. I am driven by a desire to translate cultural memory, storytelling, and personal reflection into pieces that move with the body, allowing art to inhabit both space and form.

I work primarily through hand-stitching, appliqué, and layered fabric construction, building depth and texture that transform cloth into sculptural, expressive surfaces. Each piece begins with an internal narrative—an emotion, question, or historical moment—that guides my choices of fabrics, colors, and textures. Every stitch, cut, and layer becomes part of a visual language, with craftsmanship serving as an intentional act of devotion.

My inspiration comes from history, identity, and the beauty of human expression. I explore themes of legacy, memory, and transformation, integrating research, archival references, and culturally-rooted motifs into my designs.

I want viewers and wearers to experience my work as both art and energy—pieces that provoke reflection, spark conversation, and evoke a sense of connection. Ultimately, my practice seeks to use fashion as a vessel for storytelling, creating textile narratives that inspire creativity, celebrate self-expression, and leave a lasting cultural and artistic legacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIO

In 2024, Harlem Renaissance Reverie marked Therez Fleetwood’s vibrant homage to the spirit and legacy of this pivotal era in African American history by celebrating the creativity and resilience of influential artists such as William H. Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, and Elizabeth Catlett.

With a foundation rooted in high fashion and global couture glamour, Therez is a distinguished fashion designer renowned for her impeccably crafted and thoughtfully curated women’s apparel.

Born in Boston, she began her design journey at the age of twelve, and by fifteen, sold her first dress on the iconic Newbury Street in the city’s exclusive Back Bay neighborhood.  This early success set the stage for her move to New York, where she pursued her passion at The Fashion Institute of Technology while working as a production coordinator in the bustling garment district on 7th Avenue.

In her role as a production coordinator, Therez honed her expertise in garment construction, fit, and couture craftsmanship. Her career flourished as she ventured into designing Afrocentric attire under her PheZula Collection label, catering to boutique clientele in New York City, and requests came in to create custom designs for celebrities such as EnVogue, Vanessa Williams, and Queen Latifah.  

While her global clientele extends to countries including Germany, Egypt, Italy, Tanzania, and Australia, Therez’s designs have appeared on daily and morning shows such as the Today Show, the Portia Show, and Good Day New York, as well as in national commercials for American Express. Her work has been featured in solo exhibits at the African Textile Museum in Atlanta, GA, the Kaplan Gallery in Bloomfield, NJ, the City Museum of New York and The Fashion Institute of Technology.

Her fashions have been included in several books, including Fairchild Publications’ Survey of Historic Costume (1st through 3rd editions), The Threads of Time, Fabric of History, Style Noir, and Jumping the Broom. Therez is also the recipient of the Allstate Insurance Company’s “From Whence We Came: African-American Women of Triumph” Award. Notably, she designed the only Afrocentric costumes ever worn by Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World, which are now part of their themed costume collection.