We were lucky to catch up with Maya Davenport recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Maya with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from my mother.. Growing up I use to watch my mother work hard by herself with at times little to no help. She has always been very independent and has taught me to be the same. My mother was an African American women working as a manager in IT. I know that it had to have been very difficult due to her race and gender but she never complained, got discouraged or made excuses. Growing up with a mother equipped with these natural born leadership skills and intelligence is something that I never take lightly. I admire her and to this day she encourages me to work hard in my endeavours and to be creative and free thinking.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Maya Davenport owner and Designer of Maya Nicole. I am a fashion designer from Atlanta, Georgia. I started my business in 2o2o when Covid had just begun and also when I graduated college. I have always had a passion for fashion as well as art growing up so I decided to use fashion as an outlet for my creativity and thus my brand was created. I love creating beautiful handmade designs as well as upcycled pieces. My clothing brand is mostly a combination of resort and loungewear. I love to create sexy robes, beautiful sundresses, bralettes, and off-the shoulder tops etc. Maya Nicole is for women off all demographics and of all body types. My clothing aesthetic is very chic, futuristic and luxury. What’s most exciting about fashion to me is being able to be myself and create exciting new designs that noone has seen before. Fashion always has been able to put me into my own world where I feel that I can truly be myself. Recently I have created an Etsy shop as well as a Youtube channel in which I’ll be creating tutorials as well as lookbooks for my brand. This is very exciting because I’ve always wanted to create a Youtube channel. I have also been shopping on Etsy for a long time. Feel free to follow my Etsy shop and also my Youtube channel if interested in Fashion Design tutorials or just to get to know a little about me and why I started my online boutique!
Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mayanicoleart
Youtube: @Mayanicoleofficial
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?
1. Patience; I’m still learning how to be patient in the journey because nothing real or authentic will ever be an easy process. 2. Resourceful; If you have access to resources to where you’re able to learn more about your skills/interests hobbies please utilize them. Or if you have access to platforms, groups, or even people that can support you utilize them to the best of your abilities.
3. Time management; I always made time to create even when I didn’t truly have enough time. You make time for things that you are truly passionate about.
I would just say to take your time and truly master your skill. Always utilize your resources to the best of your abilities and make time for what you love to do.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’d love to collaborate with more fashion brands and also models and photographers in Atlanta. You can reach out to me on my Instagram page or Facebook page.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mayanicole.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayanicoleart_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mayanicoleart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-davenport-6684a2177/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCIl4_XM2_8IgJuxUVggKRg
- Other: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mayanicoleart?ref=profile_header
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Cymphonie Raziya
