We were lucky to catch up with Aby Kane recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aby, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
The most common adjectives I’ve heard used to describe me are “energetic,” “fun” and “confident.” While I agree with these, there are times where I have low energy, I turn down fun activities and I have bouts of insecurity and self-doubt.
A great friend of mine once told me, “nothing is as bad as it seems when you’re going through it, or it just happened.” Although it’s a very logical reminder because as we all know hindsight is the best sight, I often repeat that line to myself especially during times when I feel overwhelmed, lost, or troubled. I have been lucky enough that my mom, sister, and best friends have always been around me to remind me that whatever is happening to me does not define me and that they will be there when/if I needed them.
I learned to lean on myself during my adolescence, specifically during my high school years where I was bullied during my junior and senior years. While I seldom discuss this period of my life, I often revisit it and I am thankful that at a time when I could have allowed negativity to overcome me, I learned that my environment defined me only if I allowed it to. Whatever happened to me would affect me if I chose to let it. I became a stronger and more defiant me and I told myself that I would never shirk in the presence of others. if Aby enters a room, you will see and hear her. I don’t get intimidated by power, money or influence and my greatest weapon is myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started my business in the summer of 2018 when my mom and sister who both knew I was a longtime lover of fashion, encouraged me to turn my passion into a business. I started out by styling friends and family, but with the help of word of mouth (I seriously have the best tribe one could ever ask for,) I was able to develop and maintain a sizable client pool. I wanted to do more, I loved working with fashion, but spending all day carrying garments and running from fitting room to fitting room was not exactly what I had in mind when I set out to go into business for myself. I was also working full time and it was very tiring to juggle my work obligations along with my responsibilities as a business owner. You often hear success stories of people who go into business for themselves but the fear, self-doubt, and fatigue (even when you’re doing what you love,) is often left out. Or you’re told to be grateful because “you prayed for this,” well, I was tired to say the least.
I wanted to grow more in my capacity as a stylist. My cousin Mina Lo, _@minalo, a multi-faceted journalist, dancer, and all-around creative, helped me network with Find Your ID NYC, a creative agency started by Imani Jones, looking to work with up-and-coming creatives such as myself. Before I knew it, I was working backstage at New York Fashion Week, styling and creative directing my own photoshoots while still managing my clients. Somehow, I got it all done. I was happy, euphoric in fact; I was working my nine to five and building myself in my own time. I was tired, but happy.
Shortly before the pandemic, I took a leave of absence from my full-time job because I had plans to expand my business and form a collaborative agency with three creatives I had the pleasure of meeting in my post-college years. Photographer Paul Howard (@mr.poward) Portrait Photographer and Writer Brian Edsall (@brian.edsall) and MUA and Special Effects Specialist Noelle Antoinette (@no.ellez). This is how 4crtvs. (@4crtvs) came to be. We oversee campaigns from concept to mood board to editorials. We handle model casting, fittings, and the entire editorial process. Our work has been published in many high-profile magazines such as LiveIn, Picton, GMARO, The Doe Online and Mordant Magazine.
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?
Organization, effective communication and once again confidence. People will not believe in you unless you believe in you. I know that sounds really cliched, but it’s true. If you’re trying to work with others or work for others, you need to show that you have what it takes to do the job that needs to be done. My experience in sales has helped me tremendously in my personal endeavors. The older I get, the more I see that the most important parts of life are defined by how well you can sell yourself. As reductionist as it sounds, life really is a big game of sales and the product you’re always selling is you.
Being able to communicate with people from all walks of life and with different backgrounds has also helped me. I can connect with people just by being myself and approaching every new interaction knowing that I can learn something from every person I encounter.
For those who are just starting, my advice is start! It’s the hardest thing to do, that leap of faith into the unknown can really be life or death, so I’d say, start, but start smart. Do your research, learn the skills you need to learn, but don’t focus too much on the preparation part. You can start and continue to do research about the field you’re looking to enter. And you can take your sweet time learning skills, but you’ll realize very quickly that there’s always more to learn. Learn as you go, grow as you go. You can strive to be the best version of you while also taking that leap of faith. It is easier said than done, so seek advice from people you trust and learn to also trust yourself, so you don’t fall to pieces when those people are not around. In the game of sales, always bet on yourself.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I set very high standards for myself. Growing up in a Senegalese household, my parents always stressed good grades in school. That perfectionist mindset spilled over into my personal life. I have no patience for mediocrity or anything subpar. Having people in my corner who remind me of who I am and why I shouldn’t give up is both comforting and motivating. My sister forces me to hold myself to my already high standards. She is my greatest critic, my biggest supporter, my loudest cheerleader and the best sister and friend I could ever ask for.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4crtvs/
Image Credit:
IMAGE 1
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – H&M
Photographer – Julius Jones Jr @kinggjulius | @benchmarkstudio_
MUA – N/A
IMAGE 2
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Installation Brooklyn @installationbk
Photographer – Paul Howard @mr.poward
Models – Nina Londyn @iamninaalondyn, Lester Brown @trvpforever, Mangbe Sylla @mangbe
MUA – Nina Londyn @iamninaalondyn
IMAGE 3
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Nabudavid @nabudavid
Photographer – Brian Edsall @brian.edsall for GMARO Magazine
Model – Maddie Fall @maadiieee_ of @fall.twins
MUA – N/A
IMAGE 4
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Nabudavid @nabudavid
Photographer – Brian Edsall @brian.edsall
Model – Alana Robinson @lamochatv, Maddie Fall @maadiieee_ of @fall.twins
MUA – N/A
IMAGE 5
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – H&M
Photographer – Brian Edsall @brian.edsall
Model – Taz Ladipo @_taztv
MUA – Noelle Antoinette @no.ellez
IMAGE 6
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Sofianka pulled from The Confessional Showroom NYC @the_confessional_showroom_nyc
Photographer – Paul Howard @mr.poward
Model – Mangbe Sylla @mangbe
MUA – Noelle Antoinette @no.ellez
IMAGE 7
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Installation Brooklyn @installationbk
Photographer – Philip Harris @philandhispictures
Model – Christina @christinagsky
MUA – N/A
IMAGE 8
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Installation Brooklyn @installationbk
Photographer – Paul Howard @mr.poward
Model – Mangbe Sylla @mangbe
MUA – Nina Londyn @iamninaalondyn
IMAGE 9
Creative Director + Wardrobe Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Wardrobe – Catou @catouwear pulled from The Confessional Showroom NYC @the_confessional_showroom_nyc
Photographer – Brian Edsall @brian.edsall
Models – Aaron Brunson @sensei.quarantino, Earl Denmon @thepearlworld, Khareem Medici @khareem.edwards, Rohan Williamson @rhonthemodel_ny, Abdou Lo @alo_abdou, Daniel Roberts, @buttah_smoovee, Abdul Sarr, @dou_bankz, Kevin Dayne @kevdayne,
MUA – Noelle Antoinette @no.ellez
IMAGE 10
Lead Stylist – Aby Kane @aby_wabby
Photographers – Amy Maya, Liz Guarracino, Kerby Jean
