What is 'Afropean'? That's how Atlanta-based fashion designer Yvonne Pearson describes herself and her brand Melange Mode. Afropean, a play on Afro-European describes her heritage. Her mother is from Ivory Coast in Africa and her father is Belgian.
Even though she grew up in France, she always appreciated her mother's culture in Africa. "Melange Mode simply means 'Mixed Fashion', which simply describes who I am in two words: a mixed chick who loves fashion," said Pearson. After moving to Atlanta in 1997, she knew the city she loved would be a great place for her and her family...and her business.
Melange Mode offers a blend of Pearsons' personal tastes and bold African fabrics. She first started selling maxi skirts and then expanded to shirts, jumpsuits, pants and more. She loves the maxi skirts because they are easy to dress up or down and are comfortable to her customers. The colors and patterns on her vibrant clothes make her items a hit on social media with shares and retweets galore. Her style is fun and flirty with off-the-shoulder styles, long capes, and swimwear. You don't really see these types of styles so it's refreshing to see some fun trends incorporated.
Melange Mode has a great variety to select from and includes tons of summer wear. You can get a short skirt that works perfect for warm weather or a cute romper in fun prints. Even if you aren't into prints, Pearson offers solid maxi skirts -- a hit for the flexibility they offer.
Her unique fashions range from $50 - $500. Pearson will even customize an outfit for you. She has designed prom dresses and bridal dresses and you may have seen her designs on celebrities such as Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams or ABC's Black-ish teenage star Yara Shahidi.
Getting constant positive feedback from her customers keeps Pearson going. In just three years since starting her business, she has excelled. The brand has been featured on several websites and customers are always happy to plug in the brand when they wear the items.
"My most proud moment is when I get a sweet emails from my customers thanking me for making them something original that they truly love. That is my pure joy and pride," says Pearson. On Instagram, you can see a diverse group of influencers and customers praising her designs. To continue increasing her following, she is constantly coming up with new designs and collaborating with other people in the fashion industry.
Will we find her items at stores in Atlanta? She is considering opening up a commercial facility in metro Atlanta. A couple of times a year, Zuvaa.com, an African inspired clothing marketplace, has their pop up shops in Atlanta selling Melange Mode and other brands. For now, you can purchase her items at ShopMelangeMode.com. New items are constantly being added so you want to get them before they sell out.
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