We were lucky to catch up with Keilana Ellison recently and have shared our conversation below.
Keilana, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I developed my ability to take risks by putting myself out there and taking the good with the bad! Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed taking risks, risks that are thrilling, exciting, challenging, yet ultimately, innerly rewarding. My mom has always taught me to go after what I want very early on, which became apart of who I am today. I feel like having confidence and being bold has helped me take risks. The funny part about taking risks is that you never really know of the outcome until you take them and you have to have an optimistic mindset, but at least you are plunging forward, past your comfortability zone.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Simply put, I am a multipotentialite that helps others through whatever I do! I’m an artist, fashion designer and creator overall. My personal goal is to empower people and spread love. After moving to California at 19, I knew that I wanted to eventually create and express my artistic skill more. I began working at corp jobs and it didn’t really satisfy me 100%, so I started finding artsy things to do after work and on the weekends. Art is truly healing. Honestly, it was a slow start, considering life’s many turns, but I continued to pray and manifest the life I wanted. I did what any striving artist did at tht time. I started an Instagram page, filled it with my art as “KeilanaDezignz” and promoted, promoted, PROMOTED!! I started doing art shows a year later, after being contacted by local art directors and event managers in LA. At the same time, I was also creating a following and building my brand’s audience…which is continuous, yet today I am more so in the creative or production phase in my artist, fashion designing journey.
My professional endeavors have lead me to become an entrepreneur and business owner! Ever since 2020, I have adapted the mindset of “ownership”. I am big on having your own, spreading love and being a boss babe! Fast forward to 2023, I am still working on my business, KeilanaDezignz LLC and also my professional career. In the beginning of 2022, I wanted to tie my personality into my brand more by showing myself and connecting my brand’s mission with sustainable efforts and eco-friendly approaches within the art of slow fashion. My passion for saving our eco-system can be seen in my brand’s packaging, fabric selections, mission and more.
In the middle of 2022, I hosted my first ever brand photoshoot and worked with one of our ambassadors, local photographer and friends, to create a beautiful content. At the end of 2022, I had my first ever fashion show for KeilanaDezignz and introduced a new clothing collection (“The Dragon of Enchantment”) including all handmade, one of one, sustainable garments made by me. I really wanted to showcase a mini capsule collection, including five different looks and we did just that! Each look was tied to a vibe and/or occasion, the models were giving fierce!! The audience loved the showcase and I cannot wait until our next show!!
At this time, I am current working on a handmade spring collection for KeilanaDezignz! Stay up to date with us by signing up to our newsletter.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
In my journey, I found that having the ability or skill to connect within yourself, often times shows outwardly in your art/brand and others will want to connect with you and support your purpose easier, than if you are not tapped in. This alone is super impactful, when attracting what you want. Being confident is another skill that will impact your journey. Confidence speaks for itself and will add to your brand’s goal. Lastly, trusting your artist vision and journey is another skill. All of these skills may take time, which is totally okay. You just have to keep pushing forward and create your own rhythm.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I believe that you have to always go at your own pace at whatever you do! Yes, invest in yourself by improving your not so strong points, but also continue to grow your natural strengths. When you gain insight and knowledge on your natural strengths, you’re able to tap in more and accomplish more while keeping your uniqueness. I think that we may superficially say that we love well roundedness, but I think individuality is special. For me, my fashion journey has been so interesting and challenging, in a good way. I’m constantly trying to create pieces that are influenced by art itself, while improving my skills. On one hand, I want my brand to showcase a beautiful luxury, soft vibe and on the other hand, I want it to showcase subversive looks, with a different abstract uniqueness. Initially, I didn’t feel so confident about my brand’s style or mission and felt like there wasn’t a particular lane for it, until I looked within and said “I don’t care”…literally!! Hahahah. I want to keep my brand authentic and show that you don’t have to fit in. I improved my philosophy on my brand, tied it to a mission and now I feel more confident in my creative processes. It took time, but was and still is, so worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: KeilanaDezignz.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/keilanadezignz
- Facebook: Facebook.com/keilanadezignz
- Twitter: Twitter.com/keilanadezignz
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@KeilanaDezignz
- Other: https://linktr.ee/keilanadezignz
