Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikah Keathley & Cloud Mora. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mikah Keathley & Cloud Mora, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
As high school students and business owners people will always have their doubts but we try to tune out the noise. Being invited to attend and vend at local events has been a moral booster. We’ve met so many great people in the industry and have developed solid friendships. Those friendships turn into collaborations and before we knew it we were being endorsed by professional athletes and recognized by Harley-Davidson. We have a really great support system so that helps a lot too.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
It’s wild to think this all started as a class assignment—but it really did! Our digital media teacher, Mr. Shwab (shoutout to the GOAT), gave us an assignment to run a social media account, and we kinda ran with it… all the way to building a real clothing brand. We started learning Shopify, built our own site, and started making designs that actually meant something to us.
We called the brand Savage Saints because it’s all about duality—some of our pieces are loud, wild, and chaotic (that’s the Savage side), and others are clean, calm, and thoughtful (the Saint side). Honestly, being a high school freshman feels like that too—some days are savage, some are saint.
We’re just two high school kids trying to create something of our own and inspire others to do the same. It’s been crazy watching it grow—from screen printing in garages to setting up booths at big events. We’re super grateful for everyone supporting us and especially to Mr. Shwab for sparking the idea. This is just the beginning.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I’d say the three biggest things that helped us the most were listening, communication, and perseverance. But honestly, mentorship was huge too. We’ve been super lucky to have some amazing people in our corner—Mr. Shwab, Ricardo Testai, Brandon O’Connell, Chris Lohman, and Miss Jessy Jess—just to name a few. Each of them took time to guide us, share knowledge, and push us when we needed it. That meant everything.
Listening helped us learn fast—we stayed open to feedback and weren’t afraid to ask questions. Communication helped us work better as a team and build real relationships with people who wanted to help us grow. And perseverance? That’s the key. There were moments we could’ve quit or felt like it was too much, but we just kept going, even when it got tough or awkward or things didn’t sell right away.
For anyone just starting out: stay humble and find mentors. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you look up to—most of the time, they want to help. And when stuff doesn’t go how you planned, don’t see it as failure, see it as part of the learning. Keep showing up, even if you don’t feel ready. That’s how we got here.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
100% yes—we’re always down to collaborate! We’d love to work with people and brands that inspire us and match our energy. Eminem was the first rapper we ever listened to, and we feel like he might see something in us, like he would in his own kids. Kai Cenat has been a big influence too—we grew up watching him and feel like we’d really connect.
We also really admire A$AP Rocky and J. Cole. Not only do we love their music, but they just seem like genuinely nice guys. A collaboration with either of them would be unreal.
On the brand side, Stussy and Nike have always been major inspirations for us. And Tilly’s feels like a perfect fit for our style—it’s where a lot of kids our age shop, and we could totally see Savage Saints on those shelves.
If you’re reading this and want to collaborate —whether you’re an artist, brand, store, or creator—we’d love to connect. Hit us up on Instagram @_savagesaints or reach out through our website shopsavagesaints.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopsavagesaints.com
- Instagram: _savagesaints
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
