Since making her mark on the fashion world, Timeekah “Murph” Murphy has dressed the likes of Beyonce and Cardi B. Her line, Alani Taylor, is known for its unisex silhouettes with a focus on layering and reworked proportions. During an exclusive interview, she revealed more.
Who has been your favorite client to draw for?
Cardi B. is a rapper who is well-known for her Many of the clients I’ve worked with aren’t necessarily my favorites, and I just see them as my clients. But it means even more to me when I work with people whose work I admire. When I had the opportunity to design for her and meet her, I knew she was just who she claimed to be. She’s very responsive, and it was a fantastic experience.
Tell me about your designs and your usual client in a few words.
I make clothes for both men and women. There are several textures, designs, and prints to choose from. I enjoy putting fabrics together that do not actually belong together because I enjoy defying fashion laws. You can’t place a limit to what constitutes fashion. My average client is someone who enjoys fashion, wants to stand out, and wants to be seen but not overly seen all at once. Someone who can put on the clothes and let the clothes speak for themselves. I design my clothes to make me feel good, and when I design for clients, I want them to feel good too. You don’t have to say something when you walk out in Alani Taylor. Your clothes reveal a lot about who you are as a human.
What do you believe sets you apart from other designers?
My personal style. Since the designs are [mine], no one will ever design like me. This is true for all types of artists. We’re all going to be unique. Since everything I do is in my mind, no one else will ever be able to build the way I do. I wouldn’t say I’m unique as a designer because I don’t use patterns. I design from what is in my mind, and since I have a brain injury, I am unable to retain knowledge in the same way that the average person would learn something and… remember it. I create designs that are inspired by life in general. I’m most likely going to be one of the first Black designers to open a profitable showroom.
What project do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
The Black is King Project. The gown that I made for Beyonce was seen by the whole world and it got us a lot of recognition in the industry. It opened a lot of doors for the brand since then with being able to work with Cardi and DaBaby, and all the other big artists that we have had the opportunity to work with right now.
