We were lucky to catch up with Akela Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Akela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

How did you come up with the idea?

My business idea materialized right before the 2021 Olympics. I didn’t qualify. When I came home from the trials in the Bahamas I realized I’m not going to the Olympics. I was also getting over this guy as well. I needed to release this frustration so I felt like painting. I used to make earrings, bangals and necklaces in the past. So I took my hat and painted it and I recorded it. It was such a great journey to see how the colors came together.

I posted a reel and wasn’t expecting anybody to really like it. I had 1,800 followers at the time. I went out to the track to train and my reel had about 500 likes. By time I got back, my reel had over 5000 likes and I had 5,000 followers. The reel then grew to 10000+ likes and by the end of it all I got 30,000 followers from that one reel. It showed my creativity. Then everybody said can I have a hat? I said, this is it. This is the million dollar idea here. I took another year and a half to meet the demand.

Akela, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

About You & Your Business / Brand

I built my audience on giving them the inside scoop on how I transformed something normal to a unique wearable art piece. This February 2024 is my business’ fifth year anniversary. I try to be authentic, wearing my art with pride. Talking to my audience in my own Bajan accent. Just being myself with my audience and not code switching. I don’t go after celebrities, they find me. One of my clients is Caroline Wanga, who I didn’t even know at the time I sent the hat she was the CEO of Essence. I contacted her through my customer feedback and she sent me pictures of her on the red carpet, wearing it. I was so surprised and exciting. I have confidence that what I create can be worn by anybody.

I don’t think that any one thing sets me apart. I believe there is no innovation without imitation. I want to be an influencer around the world. I want to make change and feel like I am part of a community. Not like I’m above my community, but that we are rising together. I am Most proud of my confidence to create. Even when I’m scared. I want fans to know just like my art, I am a work in progress. I feel deeply. I create with passion. I want them to know each piece is unique. I only create when I am inspired to create. Nothing I do comes from a duplicate of anything.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of my biggest pivots in life came after competing in the 2016 Olympics for Barbados. It felt like a depressive faze because my life felt empty after the thing I thought would fill it up the most didn’t. I thought the Olympics was going to be a transformative thing. I would have interviews and sponsorships but it was more empty than ever. So I started to look outside of track and field to add more things in my life like art, fashion, music and photography. I started to attend more events, be more expressive in my dressing. I started diving into art, attending more art shows, looking up artists and watching documentaries. Then in 2019 I started re-selling African inspired jewelry before I decided to become an accessory designer and jewelry maker.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I am unlearning that I don’t have to do everything by myself. I did track and field because I could control my destiny. I picked entrepreneurship because I didn’t have to rely on a team. I am unlearning this individual mindset. I am learning how to ask questions and ask for help. That’s in sports, relationships, business and family. Now, nothing fills me up more than training with people and interacting. I’m a caller, not a texter so I get excited about a group face time. I have a need now to be part of something bigger than me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Edgedxechelon.com
• Instagram: @edgedxechelon
• Facebook: Edged x Echelon
• Other: Pinterest – https://pin.it/3YH7fS5mS Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@akelajumps

Image Credits
Photo 1 – Getty Images ( Caroline Wanga CEO of Essence at the Time Woman of the Year Gala 2023) photographer unknown. Photo 2- photographer Ashanna Hodge from Pulchra Avenue. Photo 3,6,7,8 taken by Akela Jones (Creative Director and Owner of Edged x Echelon Photo 4,5,9 taken at the recently by Accra Fashion Week media Team 2023.