Meet Micha Alleyne

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Micha Alleyne. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Micha below.

Micha, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

If I am the only one in a room that looks like me, it either means that the room is so diverse that no one person looks alike, or alternatively, that the room is so lacking in diversity, that I am the only representation of diversity in the room.

If I am in the former situation, I’ve learned that success comes from embracing and learning from that diversity. I see diversity as something that enriches and builds. It is both a means to an end and an end in itself. As the motto of my home country, Jamaica, says – “Out of Many, One People”. In Jamaica, we harness diversity to achieve greatness. This worldview is at the heart of my company, PAPAIŸO. To date, while based in Los Angeles, we’ve worked closely with amazing talents from Ukraine, Russia, Dubai, Italy, Israel, as well as several Caribbean Islands such as the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Barbados and many more. We are better off for it.

If I am in the latter situation – i.e. the only representation of diversity in the room – the challenge here is that the lack of diversity could mean that there are structural forces that impede participation or access to the room for people who look like me, or that the room does not value diversity and, therefore, does not value my presence. In this context, rather than learning to be “successful” or effective in these settings, I have found the most success from divesting from spaces that do not share my commitment to diversity and investing in spaces that share this value, even if I have to build the space myself. PAPAIŸO was born out of this commitment to diversity.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As a Creative Director, I design projects that capture my curiosities and expand the imagination. I’m fascinated by cultural legacies and the ability to see life through the dualities of past and present, real and make believe.

With this in mind, I launched PAPAIŸO in 2020 as a forever repository of these creative pursuits, consistently gesturing towards a personal ambition to inspire a sense of magic and endless wonder in every experience I create.

PAPAIŸO is an articulation of Caribbean enchantment through multiple artistic forms including fashion, art and design. We curate and co-create objects and experiences along these sentiments. The most magical aspect of my work is being able to create new imagined worlds that reflect the values I hold true. In doing this, I get to work with some of the most talented spirits all over the world. Whether we’re doing a photoshoot with white-haired llamas in North California farmlands, or writing a journal about a hidden treasure in the Caribbean, PAPAIŸO allows me to immerse myself fully in creativity every day.

This year, we will launch a new brand – MERVYN, and I couldn’t be more excited.

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?

Three skills/qualities that were most impactful in my journey were: (1) problem-solving, (2) communication, and (3) an impeccable work ethic.

I think you develop the skill of problem-solving through trial and error, as well as thoroughly studying your industry and thinking in terms of outcomes rather than cookie-cutter activities. My mantra has always been “Fail Fast, Learn Quickly.” But the only way this works is if you learn at a faster pace than you fail. So learning from mistakes is paramount.

The head of an iconic media house once told me that if you can write, you can eat. This is so true, except that I would expand this to any type of communication – written, oral, visual, audio. The ability to communicate effectively determines what deals you can make, the teams you can inspire, and the audiences you can captivate.

Lastly, a good work ethic will allow you to make leaps and strides. It will attract the right people to your projects. And it will sustain you on the days when you can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

PAPAIŸO is an ode to my father — MERVYN. His influence has had such a huge impact on me and he would be so proud of my work.

The most impactful thing my father did for me was nurture my spirit of adventure, while convincing me that I could be anything I wanted to be. As a little girl, he would tell me that I was a queen of an African tribe – and I believed him. I grew up believing the world was my oyster. He gave me an assurance that he would always be there to catch me if I stumbled, and this gave me a spirit of confidence and fearlessness that I carry with me to this day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://papaiyo.com
• Instagram: papaiyoworld
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaalleyne
• Other: https://michaalleyne.com