Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Koko Allen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amber Koko, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
In 2024, I took a leap of faith and signed up to participate in my very first fashion show. Before then, I had only been experimenting—putting my art on clothing—but I had never showcased my work on a runway. The inspiration came the year prior when I was vending at the same event. Watching the show, I knew deep down that one day, my creations would walk down that runway.
That leap would have never happened if I hadn’t first taken smaller steps. Even when I wasn’t making sales, I stayed active—sharing my clothing on social media and participating in local shows. Those efforts opened a door I never imagined: a luxury boutique noticed my work and honored me, along with other remarkable women, with the Woman of Substance and Style award.
That recognition ignited a spark within me, pushing me to take the risk and sign up for my first fashion show. It was a learning experience—challenging but absolutely worth it. Last year, I proudly showcased my work in three fashion shows, which led to an incredible opportunity: invitations in my inbox to participate in NYFW 2025.
The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to take the leap. Do it unsure. Do it scared. Take the risk—it’s worth it!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As a multidisciplinary artist, my art is a reflection of my life. Through my art, I share my journey navigating life as a wife, mother, and educator, while celebrating my African American and Caribbean roots in a variety of creative mediums. My work consists of mixed media fine arts pieces, digital collage, and self-loved infused wearable art collections. My ultimate goal is to share my art, my voice, and my story to empower others to dream bigger and leave their mark on the world. I knew at the young age of five that I wanted to be an artist and have been pursuing my dream ever since. It was my kindergarten teacher that inspired the vision. Now I can proudly say that I am an artist, designer, educator, and visionary whose mission is to empower and positivity into the world.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Let’s rewind back to 2010. I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design. I left college on top of the world, then found my world crashing down shortly after. Life didn’t go exactly as planned. With a bun in the oven and no prospect of a job in the design field, I had to pivot my plans, change career routes, and rebuild myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This moment in my life was the catalyst to the brand and the mission; to empower creatives and entrepreneurs to look good, feel good, and dream bigger.
The pivot was only the start. In 2011, I began to redefine and refine the person I wanted to be. The pivot forced me to set a strong foundation for my life; new years, new goals. I used my art as therapy and clarity while setting goals and intentions to rebuild my life at a time that I felt like a failure. I paused my art dreams and pursued a career in education, (my second love). I pulled all the pieces of my life together crossing off all of the goals I set for myself 13 years ago rebuilding my life and a dream. I now understand that the struggles that I faced were a necessary part of my growth and my story. The pivot forced me to be intentional about my plans. My plans transformed from lists to. visual collages. Little did I know that this practice would be a catalyst to a brand new vision.
I worked 10 years rebuilding my life and crossed off every plan that I created for myself during times of struggle. After a lot of hard work and dedication, I vowed to get back to my dream. During this time I also decided to not only list my goals and plans for my life, I would visually represent them through vision boards and sharing them on social media. This practice literally landed me an invite to LA with CRWN Mag to their Future Craft, Vision Board event. That moment in time sparked a new vision for me. It was then that I realized I was empowering people across that country that I had never met. I have gained attention from corporations and media outlets who have featured my work, and invited me to host workshops partnered with organizations; including CRWN Magazine, Black Girls in Art Spaces, and Newark Art Museum. I have also been featured in Essence, CBS New, Philly Chit Chat, Shoutout Atlanta, CRWN Mag, Huffpost and more. My mentor once told me, there is power behind your name, so I’m walking into this year with clarity and purpose. I am no longer waiting for validation, I am creating and curating the life that I have always dreamed of. What I learned over the course of my life is that there are no mistakes…every part of your journey is a lesson and catalyst to something greater. It is my hope that as my mission, my art, and my work inspire and empower you to dream bigger and walk in your purpose, as I walk in mine.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As I mentioned in my story pivoting from what I thought was failure to paving the way to success, I realize that without that time of doubt, fear, uncertainty I would not have the drive and understanding of what hardworking and success truly looks like. I thought it was going to be easy, but that wasn’t the case. I attribute my success to the lessons and steps I took to move forward from a difficult time in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberkokoallen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amberkokoallen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/amberkokoallen
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amberkokoallen
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/amberkokoallen
Image Credits
Image Credits:
Amber Koko Allen Shot by Francesca Andre
Runway at Newark Fashion Week Owner -Hydia Honora
Runway Images by D Rhodes Photos