ABOUT

My relationship with fiber art goes back to my love for music, performing arts, and community. After debuting with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2004 under the baton of Grammy award-winning conductor and composer Lucas Richman, I attended Temple University to study music therapy and opera.  I was accepted into the Boyer College of Music and Dance with no support, so I decided to design scarves to put myself through college.  Crocheting allowed me to multitask - I could design while studying Western music theory, bel canto technique, and listening to over 600 years of Western music history and compositions.  Opera singers and classical musicians are inherently theatrical - we look for the spotlight and ways to set ourselves apart from the rest, so I knew that my bold handcrafted winter accessories would provide sustainable warmth luxurious style to others.  Initially, I sold my designs to my cohort and colleagues at school via Etsy; however, I felt confident to launch Fierce Stitch full-time in 2009 when I received a series of international orders. I invested my time in learning more about small business development, positive psychology, and creative entrepreneurship while working as a Philadelphia-based professional vocalist.  I sold my designs to customers and vendors all over the world and became an arts advocate by lending my leadership to artists and creative entrepreneurs through board memberships at SCORE Philadelphia and Emerging Art Leaders - Philadelphia. 

My paternal grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was a little girl.  I became quite fast at crocheting with her: she would create the same stitch over and over again, of which I did without question, which was how I learned of her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Fiber art only requires a small amount of patience to learn it; however, once you get it, it gives you a lifetime of patience and healing.  Every day, Fierce Stitch gives me an abundance of joy and peace while practicing radical self-care in Los Angeles: designing accessories is a meditative practice that soothes my spirit to do good in the world.  It’s because of the theraputic benefits of fiber art that I plan to design Sip & Stitch events for fiber artisans who seek community, connection, and creativity.

With the introduction of COVID-19 and mental and emotional wellness into our lives, now is the perfect time to support artists & creative entrepreneurs as we look for creative and holistic ways to live as safely as possible.  While practicing safe physical & social distancing, our mission is to provide sustainable and luxurious handcrafted winter accessories for everyone by designing with radical self-care while supporting the holistic wellness of the most marginalized.  To learn more about our brand and the causes that we support, sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch!

Open mind. Open heart. Open spirit. 

With immense gratitude, 

Shauna L. Howard, Founder