A Letter from Our Founder

Hello Gorgeous,

Hi, my name is Shermta Flomo, and I’m the founder of Dream After Dark.

I’ve wanted to be a fashion designer for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until 2019 that I began taking it seriously. I started sketching, watching vintage runway shows, and shaping ideas for what my brand could one day become.

At the same time, I wanted to understand the industry beyond the surface. I worked for three months at Kathmandu in the warehouse, learning how clothing brands operate behind the scenes. It taught me the rhythm of operations and gave me clarity on the kind of culture I’d want to build in my own warehouse as the brand grows.

I also spent five years working at Dotti on the retail side, where I learned how to serve customers directly, listen to their needs, and understand what makes them feel seen. Those years gave me the foundation of customer service and connection that I carry into Dream After Dark.

Travel became part of my education too. I spent three months in Europe, exploring fabrics, paying attention to craft, and seeing how culture shapes the way people present themselves through clothing. In Paris, Milan, and New York, I was surrounded by designers launching their own brands, each reflecting what they felt was missing in the world. Those experiences convinced me that I wanted to do the same.

By then, I was also stepping into a new chapter of my own life: my first corporate job, traveling more, finding my independence. I began asking myself bigger questions: Who am I? Where do I belong? What do I want to say when I step out into the world? Fashion became my way of exploring those answers. I wanted clothes that felt polished, classic, but still carried a touch of sensuality. Not trendy pieces that disappear after a season, but clothes you could return to again and again, no matter the moment. That search became the beginning of Dream After Dark.

My Liberian roots have always been my foundation. Growing up, I was surrounded by color, beadwork, and a sense of style that was celebratory and personal. Alongside that heritage, I have always drawn inspiration from women whose presence defined elegance and power:  William Travilla, Marilyn Monroe, Toni Childs from Girlfriends, Diahann Carroll, Dorothy Dandridge, and of course my mother. What I loved about them was not only what they wore, but the way they wore it. Sexy, but always classic.

When they entered a room, their aura spoke first. That is something I want to echo in my own designs: modern pieces, drawn from timeless influence. I also look to fashion houses such as Chanel, Schiaparelli, Hermès, Alaïa, and Hervé Léger. Their devotion to craft, the  tailoring, the workshops, the hand beading, sets a standard I deeply respect. That level of care is what I aspire to as Dream After Dark grows.

I don't believe any brand can be 100 percent sustainable, and I will not claim that we are. But I do believe we can be intentional, keep learning, and strive toward better practices. My hope is that one day we can operate at 80 to 90 percent sustainability, while still creating clothes that feel beautiful and enduring.

The Name Dream After Dark carries that duality.

Dream is about aspiration, the quiet choice t imagine more for yourself. It is how you present yourself in what you wear, how you move, and who you are becoming.

After Dark is about reflection, the in-between hours when the world slows and you ask yourself the questions that matter. The answers are not always clear, but they reveal themselves in gestures: what you reach for, what you avoid, what feels most like you.

The Responsibility

From the beginning, I knew I could not build this brand at the expense of the world around us. I have seen the waste and the speed of fast fashion, and I wanted to do things differently. Our pieces are made to last, to move with you through life, to be worn often and repeated without shame.

I am mindful of the fabrics we use. I am not completely against polyester, as I understand why it is used, but I want to keep it limited and replace it with better options whenever possible. As we grow, my aim is to shift toward fabrics that are breathable, lower impact, and longer lasting. And where waste is unavoidable, I want to work with companies who are giving textiles a second life.

We are not a perfect brand, and I do not want to pretend we are. We are still learning, and I welcome feedback. My promise is that we will stay intentional, transparent, and always open to doing better.

The Invitation

As a Dream After Dark customer, I want you to be an outfit repeater. I want you to love your clothes enough to wear them often, and when the time comes to move on, I ask you to think about their lifespan. Resell them. Donate them. Or send them to companies who can give them another beginning, such as Re-Fresh Global, Loop Factory, Mull Club, SUAY Sew Shop, or Gjenge Makers Ltd.

The way you choose to care for your wardrobe is just as important as how we choose to make it.

 

With love,
Shermta Flomo
Founder of Dream After Dark