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Zakiya Mendez
Special Occasion

Front view of cape made out of silk organza, ostrich feathers and floral appliqué with an ombré silk charmeuse dress.

Back view of dress made of ombré silk charmuese with a cape made out of silk organza, ostrich feathers and floral appliqué hanging off shoulder.

Back view of a silk organza cape with ostrich feathers and floral appliqués.

Close-up of silk organza cape with ostrich feathers and floral appliqués with emphasis on the floral appliqué and feathers.

Side view of ombré silk organza dress with silk organza cape being held up.
Video of a silk organza dress being worn with a black feathered cape over the dress.
Meet the Designer

Growing up I watched my mom sew for a range of clients, and my design journey started right there in the heart of my home. I have always expressed myself through clothing, but the design aspect didn’t begin until middle school when I told my mom I don’t want to attend the school dance in a store-bought dress; I wanted something different that a store could not offer me. Hence my reason for going into special occasion. As I began to design for various events, I realized so much can be expressed in a garment that makes a woman feel confident for any function they attend. Focusing on the deeper meaning behind a design, I strive in every garment to tell stories that can be relatable to many and impacts how one feels about themselves inwardly.