She Brings Bold Fashion, Cultural Heritage & Creativity to Memphis
Memphis-based Nigerian-American designer Samilia Pelshak blends cultural heritage and visual storytelling through her sustainable brand, SAMILIA, creating bold designs that unite community. Image: Colin Chapman
Samilia Pelshak has a way of turning color, pattern, and heritage into something you can step inside. Her brand, SAMILIA, features bold designs deeply rooted in her Nigerian heritage and her belief in the power of creativity to bring people together.
That belief recently took center stage at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, where Samilia transformed the museum’s plaza with “Wax Print Wonderland,” a vibrant installation inspired by African wax-print textiles, her cultural heritage, and her childhood imagination. Celebrating strength, community, wisdom, and the joy of gathering, the installation invites us to see fashion and design in an entirely new way.
You have such an incredible background, starting with a BFA in graphic design from the Memphis College of Art and studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. How did that formal training set the stage for your pivot into the fashion world?
It gave me the structure for what worked visually and why. I believe that once you have the tools to execute your vision and you understand how to use those tools, the results are endless.
How did your early days in Memphis shape your creative perspective?
It helped me to recognize creative components anywhere I looked. I was immersed in art on all fronts — from museum collections to the classroom. It felt like the epitome of “the world is your oyster.” Everything was new, and everything was possible. It allowed me to soak in a ton of information in a very condensed amount of time and see what came of it.
And discussions during critiques were so essential, too, because I was able to fully immerse myself. Now, with a different time allotment, I’m able to easily tap into those creative networks as needed. Having so much art and live feedback at my fingertips early on instilled [a desire] in me to always explore new ideas and see where they take me. There’s so much creativity in the city that my inspiration is ever evolving.
Before launching your brand, SAMILIA, what was the “aha” moment that made you realize fashion was the medium you wanted to pursue?
It clicked for me in the middle of my BFA career. I was working on a personal side project after using the sewing machine for a Surface Design class project. I always loved the vibrant African-print fabric I grew up with, and I had the idea to make a handbag out of wax print that looked like the African talking drum.
After a couple of years of trial and error, I had a product I really liked, and it was well-received. I was getting so many ideas for other bag styles (and eventually clothing) that I decided to open an online store.
Your brand marries traditional African prints with modern Western street fashion. As a Nigerian-American designer, what does this fusion mean to you?
Because I had older brothers, I wanted to climb trees, wander through creeks, and collect rocks like them. I enjoyed the freedom I felt in nature. However, attending all of the Nigerian functions, I felt more restricted in the style of clothing I was expected to wear.
My escape was to imagine clothing where the African prints were still prominent but took on a more relaxed fit. I began to blend qualities I loved about both cultures into the perfect garment. By fusing the two, I’m recognizing the importance of this synthesis to form something unique.
Building a sustainable fashion brand is no small feat! When you look back at your journey, from sketching your very first concepts to where you are today, what have been your proudest milestones so far?
My proudest milestones have been being accepted to the Harlem’s Fashion Row designer retreat in 2023, winning best mini collection at the 2024 Runway at the Museum fashion show at the Brooks Museum, and my first solo exhibit in the Brooks’s Summer Art Garden this year.
We are absolutely swooning over your bold patterns. What is your process like when designing these striking fabrics?
When I design, I always start with visual hierarchy — what elements do I want to stand out the most, and what do they signify? I want people wearing a SAMILIA piece to feel full of joy and confidence.
This summer, you brought pure magic to the Brooks Museum plaza with your Wax Print Wonderland for the Summer Art Garden. Can you tell us about the inspiration for your vision?
My Summer Art Garden design is inspired by motifs reminiscent of my Nigerian heritage, combined with the whimsy of Surrealism. The three motifs fold together like fabric for an imaginative experience.
You’ve mentioned that Wax Print Wonderland is ultimately about community and how we are stronger together. Why was it so important for you to bring this message to life in Memphis?
This message is important because it’s easy to feel siloed or to think you have to do everything yourself, so it’s an encouragement to work together. I feel the more Memphians work together, the more prominent the city will be. It’s a reminder and message to myself to use my resources and allow others to help so I don’t get burned out.
Beyond your incredible design work, you are so generous with your time, hosting youth fashion design camps and private sewing workshops. What drives your passion for passing these skills down to the next generation?
I love seeing the spark ignited when everything clicks for a student. They get really excited, and all the new ideas start to open up a new world for them. That feeling is life-giving, and witnessing it is even more so.
Teaching the next generation of designers is how we keep this creative engine going! I hope young creatives leave my camps with the know-how to construct any design they dream up.
Memphis is so lucky to have you! For young, aspiring artists or fashion designers in the city looking to follow in your footsteps, what is your best piece of advice?
My best piece of advice for aspiring designers is to do anything and everything that brings you joy, because this is what fuels your creativity. The more sources of joy you can pull from, the more that will show up in your work. Also, develop a close circle of creative friends; you will never not be inspired.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Who are your favorite creatives in Memphis? The short answer is my friends; I tell them all the time. And I know everyone says their kids, but I truly am blown away by their creativity.
What is your favorite hidden gem in Memphis? Greys Fine Cheeses is always a cherished experience — and I could live in Tom Lee Park.
How do you love to spend a perfect day off in Memphis? I love jogging and yoga by the river, then grabbing coffee with a friend, seeing a new art exhibit, and having a robust game night or dinner with friends.
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Rachel Mullen
Born and raised in Memphis, Rachel is a third-generation Memphian, professionally trained pastry chef, and owner of Primas Bakery. As StyleBlueprint’s Memphis Market Leader, she is passionate about highlighting the people, places, and stories that make the Bluff City special, with a focus on community, culinary experiences, and meaningful connections.
