Crystal Renee Lee | Fashion Designer + Owner, C.R.LEE Design
Crystal is the fashion designer and owner of C.R.LEE Design, a brick-and-mortar and online clothing boutique specializing in unique, high-quality, conversation-starting, and size-inclusive pieces. Her work has been featured at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), Paris Fashion Week, and she has made appearances on shows like STITCHED and the Tamron Hall show. C.R.LEE’s design aesthetic combines the sophistication of city life and the ease of beachside living, which is inspired by Crystal’s time spent in Miami. Through her designs, she seeks to empower women to reveal the strong, ambitious, and luxurious sides of themselves.
The Basics:
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Current city: Centennial, CO
Alma mater: Oklahoma State University
Degree: B.A, Sociology
Very first job: Retail at Burlington Coat Factory
Hustle: Fashion Designer + Boutique owner, C.R.LEE Design
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
My mom. I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about her, and she made so many people smile
What’s your best method for staying productive?
Getting up and having a routine
If you could attend any fashion show in the world, which one would you go to + why?
Stephane Rolland, because he is the king of Couture
What advice would you give your eighteen year-old self?
Wear the shorts.
Who’s one person you’d love to see wearing your clothing line?
Come on, I can't choose just one! Tracee Ellis Ross, Beyonce, Rihanna, Zendaya, Ciara, Gwen Stefani, etc!
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
Whoa, that's a loaded question. No two days are the same. Currently, running both my brick and mortar and my online business keeps me BUSY. Some days I’m sewing, some days I’m stocking the store, some days I'm designing new pieces, some days I’m tracking down more funding, some days I’m drinking champagne with customers during private shopping appointments, some days I’m cleaning the bathrooms at the store, and some days, I do all of those things in one day.
What’s your professional journey been like so far? How did you find yourself at your current position?
My professional career has been a wild, organic growth journey. When I decided I wanted to be a designer and own my own brand, I did everything I felt I needed to do to make it happen. I went to Design school at the Art Institute of Colorado to learn how to sew. I just started making things, and REALLY worked very hard to perfect my craft. Word spread organically after making things for friends and family, and I have since showed at NYFW twice as well as Paris Fashion Week. I’ve dressed a couple celebrities, and now I have my own store. That’s the summary—there were A LOT of tears, sacrifice, and sewing hours to get to this point.
People shop every single day, not knowing the amount of effort that goes behind a single piece of clothing. Can you walk us through your process, from start to finish?
Whether I’m making a C.R.LEE or one of my custom higher-end pieces, I always start with the mood. Where do I see this piece living and existing? How does my customer or client want to feel when they walk into the event? I then choose fabrics and colors I think will invoke that mood, then I drape or pattern out the piece to get the foundation of the design. Then cut the fabric, sew it, and we might have a couple fittings.
When did you first spark the idea for TOMBOI? What was the process of turning your vision a reality like, and what are some roadblocks you hit along the way?
My Paris runway collection was named TOMBOI, and featured silk joggers and poncho-type looks with a streetwear influence. My family traveled to the show and wanted to wear shirts in support, so we made some BASIC black and white T’s. The collection was doing really well, so I decided just before the pandemic hit to offer a black hoodie, followed by a black TOMBOI set. Then, while preparing for a trip to Mexico and realizing I needed something other than black to travel in, I made the SKY Crew and matching shorts, took a picture in the airport bathroom, and BOOM… I was flooded with DM’s. I decided to offer the set in a couple colors, and the first 160 pieces sold out in 15 minutes. We have been non-stop since that drop last June.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
I was a bartender for about eight years, so getting to really know people and what makes them move is a skill I picked up from the service industry—but there’s a big difference between working for a business and owning a business.
How has being a woman of color impacted your professional experience? What can we do to create more supportive and inclusive work environments inside and outside of your industry?
Capital and financing. I truly believe there are barriers to lending practices for women, especially women of color. Even though we are the largest growing number of entrepreneurs and business owners, people still don’t take us seriously. I think the industry has done a better job of adapting to the new demands of the customers. I remember a time when anything “Urban” was frowned upon. Now it’s EVERYWHERE, and used in large campaign ads, etc. I think the best way to help is to understand when ideas are “inspired by,” and not to cross the line of blatant theft of ideas and concepts by creators of color.
How has your own experience as a mother influenced your business + goals? What’s your approach to balancing these two important roles + aspects of your life?
Oh man, this is my “why.” Seeing my son experience this journey alongside me has been the ultimate driving force to keep going. The fact I get the privilege of showing him an example of what it looks like to be a woman outside of society's version is so special. I listen to my heart and my gut, and I really try to make sure everyone gets their mom time, and to be present when it’s his time. My grandmother told me years ago, before I was a mother, to find something that is mine, and no matter what happens in life, to keep doing that one thing. Designing is that thing for me. I realized it made me feel like I'm still a human in this world. Not just mom, not just wife, but Crystal the fashion designer—who is also a mom and wife.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
I’m more inspired by the women in my life. I have some of the most dynamic women around me who do all kinds of things that inspire me, and I'm just in awe of each and every one of them.
Are there any brands that you’d love to collaborate with?
Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons. I was so inspired by what Kimora was doing during the early 2000’s and it’s kind of what inspired me to start—so that would be a really dope full circle moment for me.
Do you have routines or rituals that keep you balanced throughout your work day?
Something about lighting candles grounds me and gives me so much peace while I'm working.
Career and/or life advice for others?
Follow your gut and do the work. Despite how it may seem like there are a lot of overnight success stories these days, there is no substitute for old school hard work and paying your dues.
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