Ocoee fashion designer pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman with new design

Ocoee fashion designer Santia McKoy, of S&M Custom Design LLC, has struck again with a one-of-a-kind custom design. 

The dress, a tribute piece to deceased actor Chadwick Boseman, is part of the designer's La Vie En Noir collection. 

McKoy said seeing Boseman play the role of Black Panther in the "Black Panther" movie meant the world to her and the rest of the African American community. She said the actor had a huge impact on her since the first time she saw the movie. 

"When that movie came out I have a lot of my fans tagging me and saying 'Designer Santia you have to go see the movie because the designs they are wearing are something that you can make,'" she said. "I went in watching the movie while at the same time my vision is putting me in action where I can see myself making all these clothes."

The designer said the dress took about one week to make. The dress is three pieces made with a custom velvet fabric and sequins. The necklace of claws is a close replica of the one Black Panther wore in the movie. 

"Seeing a black man playing such an important role, playing a king that portrayed so much culture is so meaningful in many ways," she shared. "His death genuinely brought tears to my eyes and I felt as if we lost such a huge part of our community. His impact truly inspired me."

Boseman passed away Aug. 28, 2020, after battling colon cancer. 

"Years after my favorite actor past away...my dream was to meet him to create some clothes for him," McKoy shared. "When I heard about the news I was so down. I said to myself, 'I will create a master piece to honor him.'"

The second Black Panther movie will be released on Friday, Nov. 11.

McKoy said her next move is to travel to New York for New York Fashion Week in September of 2023.