Tygerian "Ty" Burke crafts a tailor-made career in fashion design

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Though she was happily busy with a newborn and 3-year-old at home—not to mention a full-time job in finance—in 2011 Tygerian "Ty" Burke realized she could really use an expressive outlet for her creative energies.

"I think many mothers can attest to the fact that you become so entrenched in your kids and you need creative outlets, whether it's joining a moms' group or taking on a new hobby," says Burke, whose realization would eventually lead to the launch of her fashion design business, TygerianLace, in 2014. "For me, that hobby was sewing."

As a pastime, it made perfect sense. Burke had always had a passion for design—as a child she'd inherited a love of fabrics and style from her fashion-forward mother, and while her peers were taping posters of celebrities to their bedroom walls, future fashionista Burke was adorning hers with magazine clippings of inspirational clothing, architecture, and landscapes.

The only catch with her new hobby: Burke didn't know how to sew. "YouTube University was the perfect solution," she jokes. "I bought a sewing machine one day and was able to go through and teach myself." In the hours after her children were in bed, Burke picked up skills on everything from threading a bobbin to creating paper patterns to selecting the best materials for the project. Between online tutorials and helpful tips from the friendly members of a sewing group, it wasn't long before she was bringing her own designs to life. "It probably took me a little over a year to become confident in my sewing," she recalls. "And then I really think I hit the ground running."

From the start, her aim in design was to create pieces "not just for the moment but something that I can pass down and something that is sustainable," Burke says. "So, I like to say that my designs are timeless. Sometimes they are a bit flashy, but I feel like they're still timeless."

Donning her own designs for networking events, parent socials, and sporting functions, she soon found herself with requests to tackle custom creations. "After a while, I thought I might need to make this a business," she says.

As she nurtured her fledgling enterprise, Burke also continued to develop her full-time career, shifting her professional focus from finance to marketing, a path that brought her to Johns Hopkins in 2022 as the assistant director of marketing and communications for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences' Advanced Academic Programs division. Based at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in D.C., Burke manages marketing and communications projects related to student recruitment and retention for AAP.

In her free time—with support from family and friends—Burke built her design business and showcased her work in competitions and fashion shows, starting with Charlotte Fashion Week 2014, where she got her first opportunity in the spotlight. A nervous Burke was the last designer on the runway, "and as I walked down to the end, the room stood up," she recalls. "I started crying. I was so emotional when I walked back, holding my model's hand, and the producers were like that was just awesome."

There would be more fashion shows—by mid-2025 she'd taken part in more than 65—and more accolades, "but I think that very first connection that I made with the audience made me realize this is where I'm supposed to be," she says. "It was an unforgettable moment."

In 2018, Burke had another memorable moment, when she won Charleston Fashion Week. The competition pitted her against other talented designers, including a Project Runway winner whose work Burke admired. "When I won, I had the biggest smile on my face. I just couldn't believe it," says Burke, who'd advanced to the final audition round for Project Runway but hadn't been selected. "I think there's a time and place for everything. Project Runway" wasn't my time, nor my place, but this moment [was], and it was an awesome opportunity."

Yet another awesome opportunity came her way in 2024, when Burke brought her designs to the runway during New York Fashion Week. "Walking into that space as a self-made designer felt surreal," says Burke, who was buoyed by the feedback she received. "I connected with stylists, editors, and buyers who understood my vision and pushed it forward," she says. "It reaffirmed that I belonged in the room."

As satisfying as participating in competitions and fashion shows was, Burke also found fulfillment in discovering ways to give back to the design community. By 2022, she'd added a new facet to her design career, helping to produce fashion shows for D.C.-area nonprofits. Her experience as a designer allowed her to understand what other designers need to showcase their talent, while her marketing and communications skills helped her create excitement for fashion events that stand out from the crowd. "I think that I have the ability to look at all angles, and I'm able to say, OK, how can we get this out there? How can it make a big impact? For me, it was important to use my full skill set and knowledge."

To further support the design community, in 2024 Burke co-founded Insider's Preview Group, a collection of experts who provide resources to fellow designers, most of whom come from a nontraditional fashion background. In August, the group will present a one-day Emerging Designers Competition for local design professionals. "The idea is to amplify their voice in our community and just give them the ability to shine and take advantage of essential tools and opportunities that they might not have without participating in this showcase," Burke says.

As committed as she is to her community and production efforts, Burke has no plans to stow her sewing machine. In fact, she is currently hard at work on a new project to revisit some of her past designs for an All Season 2026 Collection. "I've found that I have tons of pieces from collections that I love, and I'm excited to push the creative limit even more by taking a piece that I designed one way and then giving it a new life," says Burke, who is working with two local artists to adapt her designs to be displayed on canvas. Her designs will be featured at the Emerging Designers event. She'll also continue to sell her creations—off-the-rack TygerianLace pieces have been available on Shein.com, where three of four designs are currently sold out, and her custom business, which leans toward formalwear and separates, is thriving.

Looking ahead, Burke hopes to continue evolving creatively and explore new forms of expression while remaining grounded in community. "Whether it's through fashion, events, or mentorship," she says, "I want every stitch, every show, and every story to inspire something greater."