On Friday, I had the unexpected pleasure of discovering Yasmin Williams on the cover of The Washington Post weekend edition, wearing our Secret Garden Jumpsuit. Then, I stumbled upon her recent Tiny Desk concert, where she performed in our Kahla Romper. I read the article, listened to her performance, and was instantly mesmerized. I felt deeply honored that she chose to wear Mixed for both occasions.
Her Tiny Desk concert is melodic, uplifting, and transporting. I watched with curiosity as she set her guitar on her lap, strumming it with all ten fingers—almost like a piano. She then taped a kalimba to the guitar and played both instruments simultaneously, while tapping to the rhythm with tap shoes! The way she broke the rules, forged her own style, and developed a uniquely impactful method was nothing short of bold. That takes guts and a deep sense of self trust. As a self-taught designer, watching her reminded me that I too can create my own rules, blend styles, and trust myself. And still be taken seriously. There really are no rules. There are only ways of doing things and figuring out how to do them well.
Mastery was a word that stood out to me as I read The Post article. Yasmin scales mountains with a guitar on her back to play a single note. She dives deep into her craft, sometimes playing a single note for hours just to get the sound exactly right. In the interview, she was asked if she’d ever sing, to which she responded, “I don’t want to. I don’t need to. The guitar is going to take several lifetimes to figure out.” I think I often underestimate how much time, effort and focus it really takes to become great at something. Her ability to discern, to say no, is likely what makes her such a visionary guitarist.
She also shared with The Post that she’d been grappling with her music career post-college and during the pandemic. She wasn’t sure whether she’d make it, if she should continue, or go back to school. Then, she released her record Urban Driftwood, which set her career in motion. It’s a feeling I, and surely many other artists, have felt—when the path ahead is unclear and it feels impossible to keep moving forward in the dark. But what matters is that you keep going. You create. You publish. And sometimes, that can make all the difference. You never know when you’re on the edge of a breakthrough until you bet on yourself and leap.
The cherry on top of all this is that Yasmin and I actually went to the same college at the same time! I don’t know her personally, but I've become so inspired and re-energized by her work. I’m beyond humbled that my pieces could play a small part in her incredible journey. It’s a reminder of why I do what I do—it’s not just about clothing. It’s about embodying the human spirit, and celebrating our expansive identities, stories, and evolution.