Sheridonna Wilson
Fashion Professor | Award Winning Designer
Webisode Season 1
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Sustainability as a Lifestyle
Summary:
In this episode of ZÁY SHEEN Webisodes, Tafreed sits down with luxury sustainable fashion designer, educator, and mom, Sheridonna Wilson, to explore how she blends fashion, family, and self-care into a holistic lifestyle. She shares her journey from Kingston, Jamaica, to studying fashion in Syracuse, and how she discovered her purpose as a designer who creates timeless, high-quality pieces inspired by architecture, nature, and intuition. A pivotal moment came after watching The True Cost, which led her to commit to sustainable luxury by choosing better fabrics and craftsmanship that honor people and the planet. Sheridonna also talks about founding Unity Fashion Institute to teach industry-standard skills and confidence to the next generation, especially students who may not have access to traditional fashion schools. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes knowing yourself, being patient with the process, investing in your growth, and remembering that success starts at home with love, balance, and daily self-care.
Fashion, Family & Self Care
Sustainability as a Lifestyle
Sustainability is often talked about in terms of fabric choices, certifications, and supply chains. But for designer, educator, and mom, Sheridonna Wilson, sustainability begins long before a garment is made. It starts with how you live, how you care for yourself, and how you show up for the people around you.
In her conversation on ZÁY SHEEN Webisodes, Sheridonna shares her journey from Kingston, Jamaica, to building Sheridonna Designs, a luxury sustainable fashion brand shaped by architecture, nature, and intuition. She talks about the moment her path shifted after watching The True Cost, a documentary that exposes the human and environmental impact of fast fashion. Faced with the truth, she made a clear decision to create pieces that are timeless, well-made, and kinder to both people and the planet. For her, luxury is not hype; it is high-quality craftsmanship, intentional fabrics, and designs that still look powerful five or ten years from now.
What makes Sheridonna’s story so powerful is how deeply it is rooted in real life. She is not only a designer but also a teacher, mentor, and mother. Through Unity Fashion Institute, she opens doors for aspiring designers who may not have access to traditional fashion schools, teaching them industry-standard skills while helping them build confidence in their own voice. At home, she models what balance can look like, reminding us that family and self-care are not distractions from the dream; they are part of the foundation that sustains it.
Her message to the next generation is simple but strong: know yourself, invest in your growth, move with patience, and do not chase quick validation. The seed you plant today will not become a tree tomorrow, so give yourself time to learn, time to rest, and time to refine your craft. Sustainability is not just a label on a garment; it is a lifestyle built on intention, responsibility, and love, for your work, for your community, and for yourself.
For both Izzy and Tafreed, sustainability is not only about fabric, water usage, or recycling. It is also about the people who make our clothes. Many garment workers in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal earn far below a living wage. They often work long hours in unsafe environments to produce inexpensive clothing that sells in the West.
Tafreed’s own background in Thailand gave him firsthand experience with this reality. He met workers who did not receive fair wages and saw clothes produced with little regard for quality or ethics. It was this environment that pushed him to say no to fast fashion and to start building something better.
The episode highlights a powerful message. Change begins with awareness. It grows through conversation. And it becomes real when brands and consumers choose ethical production, fair wages, and quality materials.
Fashion lasts longer when it is made with intention. The world becomes cleaner when we buy less and use what we already have. And the industry becomes fairer when we think about the hands behind every stitch.
Fashion for Change is not just a podcast. It is a reminder that style can be beautiful without harming people or the planet. With voices like Izzy and Tafreed, the movement continues to grow, inspiring listeners to choose better, live consciously, and support fashion that values humanity.