Ocoee fashion designer creates tribute piece for mother

Ocoee fashion designer Santia McKoy is releasing a piece honoring her deceased mother. 

McKoy, of S&M Custom Design LLC, said although she lost her mother, Marie Renee Dorival, 10 years ago she wants the world to know how special of a soul she was.

"My mom was a wonderful mom who cared for her children and worked hard to make sure her children were OK," McKoy said. "After we lost our father, things got very difficult for my mother. She had to work much harder to take care of us. I watched my mom cry every day because she struggled to feed us. During that difficult time, my mom taught us to stick together and have never ending love for each other."

McKoy grew up with two sisters and two brothers.

Because she had not yet started her fashion design journey while her mother was alive, McKoy never had the opportunity to create a dress for her. 

This month will mark 10 years since McKoy lost her mother. She said the loss impacts her every day.

"I’ve named the dress 'Elegant,'" McKoy said. "The quality of someone who is distinguished by grace. This dress means a lot for me."

The dress is all black and was created with a special fabric. 

The dress took McKoy three months to make and is the second longest dress she has ever created.

She paired the dress with elegant black accessories, including diamond necklaces, diamond bracelets, diamond rings and a custom-made hat.

McKoy said her mother taught her to work hard for everything in life.

"My goal for the signature dress is to remain peaceful," she said. "Even though my mom is physically gone, spiritually she is with me. I promise my mom that my name will be known. I am doing everything in my power to keep my word. My mom taught me how to believe in myself. I am who I am today because of my mother. Therefore, I will continue working hard until I cannot work anymore."