We were lucky to catch up with Jada Ivey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jada thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The passion for fashion I had started to influence the people around me wanting to see more. Including a clothing brand, starting a fashion show and even being a stylist. As so many brands around me were all manufacturing, and the over consumption of fast fashion which came curious to me about being sustainably and helping the fashion environment. That’s where XII XXI came in and involved upcycling and sewing new pieces. At XII XXI our mission is to produce eco-conscious clothing, allowing our customers to purchase with intent and meaning while saving the earth. We do this through upcycling and with a commitment to sustainability. XII XXI strives to create a more equitable and environmentally friendly fashion world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jada Ivey creative Director stylist and designer of 1221 sustainable clothing brand. I started in the industry around 2020 during Covid when I didn’t have anything to do and I started to research fashion, different trends, different designers, different styles and most importantly learn how to sew. Over the past few years, my mission in fashion has been signifying my brand and things that I want to do in the future for design thinking and forward mindset in the fashion industry. So many clients that has booked me to creative direct fashion shows, styling for different events and many more.

We specialize in deconstructed, reconstructed garments and patchwork pieces. With our brand thrift and cycle, donated pieces of clothing and turn them into something new. The problems that our were trying to solve when my brain was generation unsustainable practices and environmental impact that our industry takes apart in. With that being said, I’ve done so many solutions like customer awareness, mini different sustainable production methods, fair labor, practices, and recycling and up-cycling.

Something that I most proud of is sharing my story amongst so many individuals who watch me and the journey that I begins starting fashion and wanting to make fashion something that is sustainable and better for the future. Some things that I want my potential client and followers to know about me is that I have transparency and everything that I do and making sure my customers feel comfortable in their pieces they like the work that I do rather it’s with styling or creative direction and many more.

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

As creatives sometimes we have a block when it comes to thinking of new designs, ideas or goals that we wanna achieve. It definitely put me in a pivot December 2022. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my business. Did I want to keep it going? Did I want to keep working a 9 to 5. There were so many things that took initiative to which made me sit back and think what was really my goal and how did I want to prove to everybody my influence will help so many people. That’s when I started taking the whole year to create 1221 and and Launched December 21st 2024

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When I tell you as my business I started from 0.00. I really used my allowance money and savings to start XII XXI ( 1221 ). Its really hard for small businesses to start the you have nothing but the idea. My family and friends helped a little bit but I realized its important to get people to help you like pitching to win seed money or even being able to reach investor .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stylesbyjadamarie.net
• Instagram: princessjivey21( personal ) _xII_xxI ( business )
• Facebook: Jada Ivey
• Linkedin: Jada Ivey
• Twitter: NA
• Youtube: Jada Ivey
• Yelp: NA
• Soundcloud: NA