We recently had the chance to connect with Heidel Dube and have shared our conversation below.
Heidel, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
Since May this year I have been learning from my mentor through the Soho House x Creative Futures program. I was lucky enough to get accepted into their mentorship program this summer where we had a 16 week program that ended with an incredible showcase. My mentor taught me a lot about connecting with others and curating my online presence. For the showcase I got the chance to work with a fantastic musician named Codi Dillon. We collaborated on a 3 piece collection inspired by their latest single “Stunnah”! Which is out now. If you want to see the looks we collaborated on check out my Instagram @hdubedesigns for the photos.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Heidel “H” Dubé. I am a sustainable fashion designer & comedian in Nashville, TN. H Dubé Designs focuses on eclectic womens-wear handmade clothing from thrifted/gifted materials. 10% of all proceeds H Dubé Designs makes we donate to a DV/SA shelter. The last project i worked on was a solo fashion show and short film about the making of the show which is up on my YouTube channel: HDubeDesigns. The short film goes over my process of designing the collection, planning the show, and my own personal story with DV. I just finished my collection for Soho House X Creative Futures and am currently starting an art piece for the MADE Foundation gallery show which will be out Nov 2025.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that shaped how i see and move through the world was the day i left my abuser. I left on May 26th 2020 and moved hundreds of miles away. That relationship shaped who i am as a person but more-so how i dealt with it has had a lasting effect on how i move through the world. I have spent the last 5 years working through what i experienced and channeling it into my work. It drove me to take a real chance on myself and my career since I got a second chance on life. I feel lucky that I was able to take such a difficult thing in my life and use it to inspire my work.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that it’s ok to fall down and fail. You don’t have to be perfect all the time. Failure is a natural part of life & nothing to be ashamed of! If you spend to much time focusing on how things could’ve been different you will miss all the beauty in front of you.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes & no? I built a platform on being relatable & authentic, but there are definitely parts of me that are different in person. I am always trying to make people laugh online and in my real life. But i think online its a more exaggerated version of me! I can’t share every portion of my life, gotta keep some of it just for me. That’s something I have really worked on the last two years, keeping some of my life private.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I have been knocked down more times than i can count, but i have never let it convince me to quit my dreams. I could have given up on the idea of being a full-time designer a long time ago, but i know one day i will make it happen. If i have to work 3 jobs and apply for every mentorship/program i have to, then i will. We need passion more than ever out in the world. Art can help us process the chaos and pain around us. Fashion itself is a political act that we need to preserve. Fashion can express our thoughts and feelings on the world around us. We communicate so much with just what we wear. It’s important to value that and use it to express ourselves authentically and artistically.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://readymag.website/u1512743065/Hdubedesigns/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hdubedesigns/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/h-dube-759119243/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hdubedesigns?si=K_trHejPOjLJ511R&themeRefresh=1
- Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hdubedesigns
Image Credits
Photographers: @sublimekenz
@h.b.creativedevelopment
@photo.giirl
@molliebumpus_
