We recently connected with Dezra Robitson and have shared our conversation below.
Dezra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
As a African American Woman who is also a business owner, I realize the odds that are stacked against me daily. However, everyday that I’m able to do what I love to do, promote my culture and art, and provide for my family means the absolute most to me. I realize what my destiny and calling in this life is meant to be and I plan on doing what God has put me on this earth to do and do it to the fullest. I realize that this business is bigger than me. I have younger girls and boys who look at what I’m doing and become instantly inspired, I have my peers who also loves what I do and want to take part in it, then I have my older generation who wants to see me continue on my journey because I have more opportunities than they ever had and that’s why I choose not to take this path for granted. I take pride in providing items that my customer’s want to take part in to express their own individual identity. It helps me to understand how we all are connected by the commonality of culture and fashion. My biggest accomplishment to date is shipping some of my items worldwide which goes to show that African American culture is American culture and American culture is the worldwide standard. My small part in the world expressing their interest in my items gives me a sense of pride and fulfillment. Anyone is allowed to take part in the overall message and I want to help bring my view of American culture to the global stage. In conclusion, I’m forever grateful and blessed to still be here doing what I love and I am excited for what the future may bring.
Dezra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As a business owner of Gold Focus Productions which produces photography and videography services to my community, I have recently opened an online clothing store by the name of Kimante. Kimante specializes in urban men and women’s apparel; from clothes, to jewelry, and shoes. Every item I provide has some significance in the realm of the urban way of life through the expression of fashion. With the majority of my customer’s being African American, my clothing store offers a wide array of items that coincide with American self-identity. From items that depict African American icons and hero’s such as Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Bob Marley, Queen Latifah, etc. to items that depict our art, music and film such as items like Above The Rim, Michael Jackson, Dead President’s to name a few. I have digitally painted these cultural items and have created shirts, sweaters, jackets, and shoes, from the painted icons. It all began when my digital artwork was placed online specifically on Instagram, and I was asked if they can get a shirt of my painting. I saw that other digital artist were also designing items and providing them to customer’s who were interested in their work, and thus beginning the process of creating Kimante. I created Kimante as an answer to trendy fashions directly to the consumer. I understood the importance of convenience, no longer will a consumer have to go to multiple places to get different styles for different occasions, I wanted Kimante to be a one stop shop for all styles and needs. No one really wants to go to multiple different places to purchase multiple different styles, trends and looks when you can do it all in one convenient place. Our Kimante Team diligently researches the best one of a kind fashions from around the world and brings them directly to the customer. Our Motto is ‘when you look good you feel good’, We have the ability to curate a customer’s personal journey from streetwear, to business fashions, to wedding and special occasions.
I also still provide Gold Focus services to the local communities as well, we will be working on films in the next coming years to promote local talented screen writers and actors and help bring them to the forefront. It is important that our stories our told in the way that we would like to tell them. Gold Focus will also continue to work with local artist and businesses to help promote their art and brand and bring their hard work to a global community. I am personally invested in every project that Gold Focus takes because I would like this brand to be synonymous with quality and value. Currently we mainly serve the local Akron and Cleveland markets, but have recently travelled abroad to Jamaica and looking to film and shoot any where to get the best looks and feel.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
By far hands down the most rewarding aspect of being a creative or artist is creating something from literally nothing, and the object that you have created, is shared around the world and people actually love and understand the intent behind what you created. It gives the world an opportunity to see the part of your soul that you placed in your art whether it’s a dark part of you or a part of you that you want to share to see if someone can relate to who you are. The great thing is that anyone one can be an artist, just as long as your genuine and your working from within yourself, you are then considered an artist.
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
I met my best friend, soul mate, brother, and father figure by being introduced by my sister. My sister was getting married, and normally as a photographer, I would be the first person a family member calls to do an event, however, I was a bridesmaid and taking part in her special day, so unfortunately, I was not going to be shooting her events. My sister did a meet/greet and rehearsal with all of her professional designers, event planners, and photographers. Before I arrived, she called and informed me that she would like to introduce me to her photographer named Cameron who has worked on professional magazines, and have known people in the industry that has worked on shows such as ‘Love and Hip Hop’. When I arrived, and said my hello’s to everyone, I immediately went over to him and started a conversation and tried to pick his brain different photography equipment and lenses he used. He was thoroughly impressed with my knowledge of cameras and thus our friendship began. We would meet every day and work on multiple projects, we would buy the newest equipment together and fly camera drones and begin on our film endeavors. He also helped with the logo for both Gold Focus and Kimante as well as provide me advice on expanding my businesses. We became the best of friends in both professional and personal spaces. As we began working on our first film at the beginning of this year and I was was learning to become a flight pilot (he flew inside of a plane with me), Cameron suddenly passed away in February 2022 of this year and I have been struggling to maintain everything by myself and manage my grief due to the great loss, however with the blessings of God and with my faith in the Lord, I have been able to slowly but surely get everything back to my standards and walk in the path that he helped me to create with my art and creatives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimante.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldfocusproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimanteclothing
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dezra-robitson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoldFocusPro
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Goldfocusproductions/featured
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Goldieshots
Image Credits
All photography pictures shot and edited by Dezra Robitson. All Kimante clothing items courtesy of Kimante Clothing, Blue Star Ventures and affiliates.