We recently connected with Kaila Wilkie and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaila, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/ artistic path professionally ever since I was a little girl. Of course back then I wanted to be Beyonce’s background dancer and that didn’t happen, but I always enjoyed drawing, sewing, dancing, singing, and fashion. However, growing up you are not always encouraged to follow your passions. Most of us were told to follow a stable career path. Although my parents never pressured me to be anything specific, school pushed the idea of college on me from grade school up until high school. Additionally, no one around me was doing something unconventional with their lives except my oldest brother. He went to school for music and actually went after his passions; which is quite commendable.

I entered college pursuing a Biology degree. I got into this field for all the wrong reasons. I chose Biology for the money and for that I suffered tremendously. I experienced numerous panic attacks from the stress I endured earning my degree. Despite my circumstances I graduated on time Cum lade with a minor in Chemistry. During the pandemic as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, I went through a spiritual awakening. I knew the current path I was headed down was not for me. I was doing what I believed I needed to do instead of what my heart desired to do. I decided to do some reflecting and ask God to assist me in realigning my path and finding my truth. Come year 2023 I decided to quit my corporate pharmaceutical job and become a flight attended to not only travel the world more, but to also focus on my career in fashion. Now I am making more quality content, working on funding for my fashion brand Polychrome Attire, and pitching brand deals with other businesses.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

First and foremost I am a proud Virgo. Anyone that knows me knows this as a fact. I am hardworking, cynical, loyal, critical, honest, smart, creative, and authentic. Despite any fears I may have, I push through the barriers and always preserver. I enjoy putting myself in uncomfortable situations as they allow me to grow as a person and learn. I am not a talker, if I say I am going to do something I do it. My favorite things to do are watch tv, eat excellent food, and create content. Although many would say I am out going I can be shy at first and prefer to surround myself with close friends instead of larger groups of people.

I started getting into fashion by first taking pictures and posting them on instagram. I would always get compliments on my outfits, so I decided to share them on a large platform. From there I decided that if people like the outfits I put together, they may possibly like clothes that I design. Thus, I created my clothing brand Polychrome Attire. My brand is a reflection of my personal style. It’s fun, colorful, and has a vintage flair. I started my clothing brand with the help of my boyfriend in the year of 2021. I was a complete amateur. From my mistakes with trying to grow my brand I learned to create an LLC, build business credit, and how to market my business. It is an everyday effort trying to scale a business especially when you have no prior experience as a business owner.

With my brand I offer clothes and accessories that can be worn by anyone at any age. My clothes are timeless and unique. With my brand I hope to inspire others to step out their comfort zones and have more fun with their style. A lot of people seem to shy away from color, yet color can bring such a light to this world we live in. My brand is a direct reflection of who I am as a person. I am kind, charismatic, and full of light. Even when I am making my fashion content, you can see where Polychrome Attire gets its inspiration from. I hope that with my influence I can help take the focus off of what is trendy and inspire my audience to find and cultivate a style that is not only cool but that is authentic to them.

I would say that I am unique because everything I post, everything I wear, and everything I create is me. I am proud that everything that I have created has been ideas straight from my imagination. I want potential clients and followers to know that everything from me is authentic. There are no scams nor agendas. I just want to live my truth and help others do the same.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Omg great question! In the beginning of my journey I thought I had to use my own income to support my business. Little did I know that there are many grants and loans out there for small business owners to apply to. At first I was fearful of loans and their affect on my business credit. However, the most important thing I have learned through my journey is that there are two types of credit; good credit and bad credit. Now I am researching and applying to many different loans and grants to help grow my business. With this money I hope to fund my inventory and eventually open a store front.

Most of us aren’t taught much about money except the basics. You really have to take the time to research and teach yourself about gaining resources and assistance.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is getting to see the final project and having it be received by the public. Although public validation is not everything, it is still nice to have people recognize the effort you put into your craft. It is also rewarding to receive compensation for your creative work. Not only have I received many orders from my clothing brand, I have also collaborated with businesses and platforms that have offered me compensation. Although just a micro-influencer, I have been fortunate enough to work with various businesses from small businesses to corporations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.polychrome.shop
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___mooch/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@___mooch

Image Credits
Photography credit: Jon Sky @Jon.skyy