Name: Pietra
Age: 24
Business: Retrochic by Pietra (RetrochicByPietra.com)
Location: Philadelphia

When did you first develop an interest in fashion design?
As a child, I was motivated by my toys: One was called Fashion Plates—you could make endless clothing combinations with that toy; and the other was called Puffy Paints—all I needed was a plain T-shirt or canvas shoes, and I was ready to go.

Did you go on to pursue formal training in design?
No, I don’t have a formal background; my work is inspired by the things I like to see on people in the streets, on the runway, and what I like to wear myself. All of that is reflected in my collection.

What prompted you to begin selling your own designs?
If you ask my family, I’m sure they’ll tell you that I was born selling things. I always liked the idea of having my own money, so I started decorating clothes for Barbie dolls and selling them to my cousins for a dime apiece. Later, it was shoes, Scrunchies, and T-shirts. When I got older, people would ask me where I got my shirts, and when I told them I designed them myself, they’d ask me if I could make them one, too. I guess you could say that I’m a walking billboard.

Where can we buy your T-shirts?
They’re currently available at Abyssinia, the Kulture Shop, Resource, Bella Boutique, and Michael Garfield’s in Philadelphia; and you can find them at Look in My Closet in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Next year, they’ll also be available through my website.

Are you also available for custom orders?
Yes. I’ve done custom work for individual clients, performance artists, community organizations, and Black History programs. I’m also in the process of designing several shirts for local hip-hop artists.

Your T-shirts are surprisingly inexpensive.
Yes. It was important to me to create an affordable line. I don’t want to put something on the shelves that I wouldn’t buy myself, and I know what it’s like trying to look good on minimum-wage pay. Sometimes your budget only allows you spend $20 to $50 on clothes a month, and I want the wearers to get their money’s worth.

What or who inspires you?
I’m inspired by the past, and that includes every decade from the ’50s to the ’80s. When I think about the ’80s, in particular, I think about experimentation with layers, color combinations, accessories, and acid washes—yikes! We look back at some of those outfits now and laugh, but when was the last time you put on something you actually liked? In the ’80s, we wore ruffled skirts over stretch pants with two different-colored slouch socks and colored Keds. Do that now, and you’d have Ambush Makeover or some other TV show hauling you in to make you more “trendy,” as if just being happy with yourself is a problem.

What inspired the name “Retrochic”?
I wanted a name that would describe my motivation, my focus, and me. “Retro” means reminiscent of things past, and “chic” means setting current fashions and styles. I believe these two words describe both my line and the people who wear it well.