Meet Tianna Mae Andresen

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tianna Mae Andresen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tianna Mae, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
My creativity has been kept alive through community, nature, discipline, and challenges! I am consistently inspired by my community and friends to create and really embrace my creativity through different means. I also try to do something creative everyday, even if its something as small as a doodle. Sometimes I lose motivation, but the discipline of practicing creativity everyday helps keep me pushing. I also like to create challenges for myself. For example, only use silhouettes from nature to draft an outfit or upcycling challenges

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Barkada Baby is a dreamy digital art and slow fashion design brand rooted in Seattle Queer and Filipino American culture, and inspired by everything that brings us life and joy. Barkada Baby is community made and dedicated and we want to prove that sustainability, accessibility, community building, and social justice have a place in (and are at the core of) fashion. I have been featured on videos for LinkedIn and HiHo Kids as well as numerous articles from publications across the country. I have also vended in San Francisco and Seattle, even starting annual Makers Markets for the University of Washington when I was a student.

My art offerings include stickers (glow in the dark, sparkly, matte, all water resistant), prints (fandom, culture, protest, and more), and $1 mini portraits that are done on site. On the fashion end, my offerings are all hand made either from scratch or upcycled. I do fashion accessories (earrings and bucket hats), one-of-one totebags (filipinana tote bags, collectors totebags, and totebags made with unconventional materials), upcycled fashion (genderless, sustainable, and preloved items with a Barkada Baby twist), and cultural wear. My newest collection, Multitude in Me, is available for purchase on barkadababy.com!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The biggest thing that has been impactful for me is being involved with my community in different ways. Even before I started Barkada Baby, being involved with the community around me gave me a more empowered sense of self and of the collective. My advice is to really build relationships with those around you and show up where you can. You will learn so much from others and build stronger networks of support. Another quality would be to be proactive when you can. Seek out opportunities and apply for them. Create a schedule (or whatever works for you) to dedicate yourself to your craft or community building and it will take you far. Even if youre not perfect in that, its okay! One quality that ties these all together is the pursuit of knowledge and collective healing and justice. I think my quality of being a lifelong learner and educator has brought me places I never knew I’d be!

If you are early on in your journey, start by getting to know people/organizations right in your neighborhood. Really invest yourself in exploration of self and others. This can look different for everyone but you could always start by taking a class or attending an event that covers a topic of interest.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Since I am a sustainable fashion designer, my biggest area of growth has been really doing research and implementing practices that are sustainable. Instead of mass ordering clothing or fabrics, I look for thrifted or existing items to use. I also have taken a step back to unlearn internalized capitalism, which contributes to hyper consumerism, production, and fast fashion. Being a conscious consumer and promoting sustainable fashion has brought an audience and community that I have been learning with and from! I also have grown a lot in my craft because of the slow fashion model I have adapted. Taking time to improve on my techniques and being more intentional with my works instead of trying to rush things into a trend has been a huge improvement for me!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Ashley Wang, Lily Wenbao, Neil Yuzon, Tianna Mae Andresen, Toms 1hr Photo

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