We were lucky to catch up with Ky Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ky, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I’m learning, to be successful it takes faith, dedication, sacrifice and perseverance. If you were blessed with a vision of success, only you know what it takes to get there. Everyone’s journey looks differently. I taught myself how to sew at the age of 13, practicing on old clothes I’d come across at home. As I grew up, I started to develop better skills, but still wasn’t up to par just yet. Years later, after taking classes in college, and shadowing successful and seasoned designers, I started to become more confident in my craft. I had taken multiple clients for custom pieces and failed! Then failed again, but my faith wouldn’t let me give up! God had placed me in rooms with people who seen me for who I am and felt my passion. I had to discipline myself in perfecting my skills. I knew that this vision I received in 3rd grade of being a successful Fashion Designer had a purpose. It was in my heart and followed me wherever I went. I knew I couldn’t give up. After starting my own family, I knew I had an example to set. I had to sacrifice time and moments to pour into my craft. I recently took a job in the film industry out of state away from family. While it has been extremely hard, it was a sacrifice I was willing to take to reach the next level in my career. I had to learn to turn that pain into motivation. I made a vow to my family that this would be the greatest investment to my career and to take full advantage of the opportunities. My faith has grown stronger than ever that God continues to order my steps and prove to me that my passion has a purpose.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Fashion Designer, Creative Director and Stylist. I create custom formal wear for men, women and children. I like to consider myself a suit enthusiast due to my admiration for a perfectly tailored suit. I am a Creative Director and Stylist for Advisor.- a fashion business journal centered around what matters in Black Fashion, based in my hometown, St. Louis, MO. I am most proud of my tenacity on my journey. Knock me down 9 times, I get up 10! I learned to turn my losses, into lessons and take pride in how far I’ve come. What I want readers and potential clients to know most is that “It’s not about perfection, it’s about purpose”. I didn’t wait until my craft was “perfect” to put my work into the world. I accept the challenge, and grow through it all. I am a consistently evolving brand, aiming to change the world of fashion one exquisite garment at a time…

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

Getting married at the age of 23 meant I had to pivot from my dreams of being a designer, and create a sustainable life for my family. I started working in Accounting, where I was able to rely on a consistent income. The deeper into Accounting I went, the further my dream felt. I started to contemplate if it was time to give up my dreams and do what was “right” for my family. Eventually, I started to resent the Accounting field as it was too boring for me. I could’ve utilize my creativity or feel purposeful at work. Yes, I received the income to take care of home, but I became extremely unhappy. I started to change my prayers from asking God to provide me with the income in any job I could obtain, to asking God to order my steps, and to reveal my purpose in life. I started to lose jobs randomly. Every time I found a job that I could tolerate, it fell through the cracks. I started to feel as if I wasn’t doing enough, until one day I was shown, every position that I lost in Accounting was replaced with a new opportunity to lead me back into Fashion. I started meeting creatives that would ask me to participate in fashion shows, photoshoots, even the building of a new fashion journal! All signs pointed towards fashion. It was then that I realized what divine alignment was.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Diving back into the Fashion World, I felt a bit out of touch. I had spent so much time creating a career in a field I cared nothing about, that I hadn’t poured into my skill set. All the new techniques, styles, processes,- I had no clue what I was doing. I was so out of touch! I started attending classes at Stephens Institute of Business Arts to sharpen my knowledge and skills, and found so much more. My time at SIBA allowed me the opportunity to access so many resources I wish I had knowledge of years ago when starting my Fashion career. I was always so critical of my sewing skills, never knowing that designing doesn’t have to be complicated. I can contact a manufacturer that can bring my ideas to life, with no stress or struggle. I was mind blown after learning I lived in a city with local manufacturers at my finger tips. I was always under the impression that manufactures were overseas, or in LA. Never did I ever expect them to be in my backyard. I had the pleasure of participating in a fashion show for a manufacture, The Collective Thread and learned how simple of a process creating a sample garment was. This resource could’ve taken me a long way in my career when I felt that I had to make a choice to leave fashion behind.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @untitledbyky
• Facebook: Ky Harris