Designer, Mika at a recent event.

Brooklyn-based designer Tamika Haywood is taking the apparel world by storm.  Her line, Culture Flyy is the extension of her real-life wardrobe; super girly, feminine and frilly with an edge for rare shapes and colorful silhouettes. Her unique eye to capture more than trends sets her apart from other budding designers.  From pinup to playful there is always room in your closet for one of her unique pieces. Animated cartoon The Jetsons was the inspiration behind her  “turning heads” futuristic ensemble she wore to a recent event.  Mika, as she is known wants you to be her next customer!

1.       Style & Substance Magazine: How long have you been designing the line?
          I’ve been designing for 3 years now.

 2.       Style & Substance Magazine: Your design aesthetic is one part feminine and sexy, who is the Culture FLyy Woman? The CultureFlyy woman is a woman not only hip to the latest trends but knows how to flip it, stand out and make it her own.

3.       Style & Substance Magazine: Have you always longed to be in the fashion industry?
I actually wanted to become a professional dancer since I was in elementary school. I always liked fashion and revamping my clothes growing up but God gave me a sign three years ago to take fashion seriously and here I am!

 4.       Style & Substance Magazine:  What sets your line apart from the pack?
What sets my line apart from everyone else is its constant homage to pop culture. The same way Andy Warhol artwork was inspired by a person, place or event in time, Cultureflyy’s piece are inspired by those same things as well. Art imitating life.

5.       Style & Substance Magazine: Do you find the process difficult to create an entire line from concept to execution?
It’s not difficult to create a line as long as I don’t over think or try to keep up with trends that are in right now. I just go with what feels right to me and the statement I want to make.

 6.       Style & Substance Magazine: What are your efforts to get this line out to the masses?
I plan on shopping the line around to local boutiques in the NYC area but for now, customers can make orders for custom made pieces on the website or email me at Mika@Cultureflyy.com.

 7.      Style & Substance Magazine:  At a recent event you wore a bold striped shoulder- heavy dress, a crowd (and website) favorite, the inspiration behind it?

Thanks! My inspiration behind it was the futuristic fashions from one of my favorite cartoons growing up, The Jetsons. And I really love the nautical/sailor striped look so I combined the two and the result was that dress called “Space Sailor”!

 8.      Style & Substance Magazine: Describe your style & substance?
My style is exactly what Cultureflyy is, inspired by different things in pop culture. From punk glam 80’s to Mod 60’s to 50’s pin up; it’s always ever-changing and fun.

Bestseller, "The Gates" leather bag

1.      Style & Substance Magazine: You created the line with your cousin, Undra Duncan in 2004 when did you realize you both had a desire to jump into the fashion industry!?
 Fashion has always been our first love, as little girls we would put on fashion shows with our dolls that’s how far back we go with fashion.  We actually started Cousin & Co while still in college, we made the bags by hand back then and each one was unique. We started a production when the demand from friends and family became overwhelming.

2.      Style & Substance Magazine: To secure funding you worked with the Tory Burch Foundation, explain the process of finding out about this unique opportunity and working with one of the most well-known designers in fashion?
 Tory Burch is a strong supporter of Accion, an organization that provides small to mid-size loans to minority owned businesses.  We were already working with Accion, but once Tory Burch became aware of our company we were able to secure additional funding. Tory was very impressed with our line and the growing success of Cousin & Co and featured us on her website. She’s shown continuous support by tweeting about us several times and inviting us as special guest to her fall 2010 runway show at Bryant Park.

3.      Style & Substance Magazine: The bags in your line are very “It” bag-worthy, what is your design process? Our design process is a bit unconventional, each season we research and consider what’s trending in the market but we never become overly consumed with trends.
We find that our own natural design instinct for fashion has never steered us wrong.  We love bright colors, texture and shiny things! We both sketch and design what we think the direction of the new season should go, then meet Sundays after dinner and collaborate; we have similar styles so we’re almost always on the same page with the design direction. 

"The Dean"

4.     Style & Substance Magazine:  Where do you see the line growing in the future?
 I see the line expanding into SHOES, Undra definitely would like to see us expand into dresses and home goods! Branding and licensing is so vital in order for a business to grow, so with that in mind the sky is the limit.

5.      Style & Substance Magazine: What are you most excited about the brand of Cousin and Co.?
We are most excited about our upcoming events, we’re doing Sheckys Atlanta on November 18th, Tribeca Retail Club event on September 24th in NYC and Fashion Night Out NYC on September 11th (location TBD). These great events allow us to meet and greet our customers in person and get immediate feedback on the collection. We are also submitting pieces for charity at the This Old Bag Fundraiser in San Francisco CA on October 15th. We would like to get more involved in other women’s charity organization in the near future. We will be offering a tote and t-shirt in the new collection where all profits will go towards women’s issues. Overall we are excited about the continued growth and success of Cousin & Co, we’re doing what we love.

The Gabriel

6.   Style & Substance Magazine:  Describe your style and substance?
Style is the statement; substance is having the right accessory to emphasize that statement!!

To learn more about the line and to purchase, contact them here.

1.       Style & Substance: You have been designing the line since 2008, what is your inspiration behind FAQ Clothing?
Most of our inspiration comes from architecture & music. Both my business partner and I studied architecture together out here in Los Angeles, and a lot of the techniques that we use along with ideas (aesthetics and philosophy) come from architecture. Music plays a big part in our lives as well; the different types of sounds & tempos we hear definitely trigger our imagination.

2.       Style & Substance: The clothes are simple yet striking what is your motivation between the 3 collections?
All of our collections are based off of a theme, where each collection is a series of events or ideas within a concept. For the Forecast Collection, we created a design to represent the different weather patterns. The Transmutation Collection is a series of collages put together from various magazines. The main concept is to create a sense of dynamic by fusing a various amount of pieces together in order to form a balance. The Mini World Cup Collection was created due to the passion we both share for the soccer event that occurs every 4 years. We picked our top four teams & played with the idea of each country’s flag using abstract ideas.  The t-shirts are designed to be versatile, where one can still wear the t-shirts during & after the World Cup is over.  Something completely new & different is always created in each of our collections. The only thing that is always consistent is the idea of keeping everything minimal & simple with our abstract sense of style.
3.       Style & Substance: Where can fans purchase FAQ Clothing ?
        FAQ Clothing can currently be purchased off of our website, www.faqclothing.com and also through our Big Cartel store, www.faq.bigcartel.com

4.       Style & Substance: What is the most difficult part about staying motivated to design?
It’s not often that we become unmotivated to create something new. We are constantly striving to make time to produce the many ideas we have lined up. Motivation never lacks when you do something your truly passionate about. 

5.       Style & Substance: Was it hard to get financing to create and produce the clothes?
This is something that we put together little by little over time and morphed into what it is today. As time went on, funding became easier to work towards.

 6.       Style & Substance: Have you done any major fashion shows?
We’ve been a bit reluctant with the idea of a fashion show. Perhaps sometime in the future we might do one when our brand progresses into something bigger. If we do have one, it will definitely not be your typical fashion show. It’ll be a fashion show with our own twist.

 7.       Style & Substance: Where do you see the line progressing to in 5 years?
5 years from now, we hope to expand our brand into boutiques and other online stores. We also plan on releasing more collections per season.

 8.      Style & Substance:  Describe your style and substance?
 Our style is minimal, dynamic & schizophrenic. We keep our designs simple in terms of colors and/or complexity of the graphics. Releasing different themed collections and being consistent with a minimal aspect is what makes FAQ what it is today.

Statement making pieces shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Ashley Nesbitt,  a Baltimore native is the creator of a unique new concept, Jenafer Jewelry Collection. Her line of one of a kind bracelets, earrings, and assorted baubles, mainly her Sweet Junk Collection, are eye catchy enough to jazz up any outfit without breaking the bank.  After a rather usual trip to the hair store a new hobby was conceived and like kismet, Ms. Ashley knew exactly what to do next! Create! Her detailed and colorful designs are all crafted and made with the customer in mind.  No one piece is ever the same which has many followers clamoring for a slice  of “sweet junk” a play on remnants of the past to make vintage treasures for today. These pieces are not only affordable and but fun a created with a hint of whimsical.

Take a peek into Sweet Junk.

  1.  Style & Substance: How long have you been creating these unique gems?
I’ve been making jewelry pieces since March of this year. It started when I was visiting a natural hair salon and I bought a pair of handmade earrings from the owner. From there, I began to come up with ideas for me to make for myself. I was up the rest of the night just going over new ideas. But for the Sweet Kitchen Junk button charm collection, I came across my mother’s old button basket and I knew instantly I had to do something wild with them.

2. Style & Substance: Where do you find inspiration to make everything one-of-a kind?
I’m very creative and if left alone, my mind can come up with some outrageous ideas. Usually, I’m inspired by my customer’s personality and other times a specific button can inspire a whole collection. When I’m making a button charm piece, it starts out normal then I keep adding odd items and charms to make it one-of-a kind. If my husband gives me the” What in the world is this?” look, then I know I have winner.

3. Style & Substance: You have created an online e- site using Esty, was it difficult to bring your creations to the web
More Tedious than difficult. That hardest part is capturing that perfect angel that will highlight my jewelry pieces especially the buttons that I handpick. But Etsy has such a great online community that gives excellent tips and I’ve gotten positive feedback from my customers that use it. Also I’m able to link my Etsy shop to my blog and Facebook page which is another added benefit to promote my work.

4. Style & Substance: What are some the upcoming projects you are currently working on?
Right now, I’m working on turning some of my most popular SKJ button charm bracelets into necklaces, like the “Jungle Machine” army bracelet. I have these children’s toy party favors that I’m itching to place on a necklace too. And in early August, I will launch my SKJ natural button charm pieces featuring wood and earth tone buttons with tribal designs and textures.

5. Style & Substance: Where do you see this line evolving to in the future?
I hope to add on more accessory pieces to my line which I’m currently mapping out. This originally started out as I hobby so any new venture is huge for me and I am appreciative of how it is growing. I’ll take this as far as my mind lets me.

6. Style & Substance: Describe your style & Substance?
It’s funny, because though I can create a lot of funky and crazy pieces my everyday style is very functional and simple. My daily uniform consists of my Threads 4 Thought organic V-neck tee-shirts, which I have in every color, jeans and maybe an oversized sweater. But I always have my Steve Urkle style tortoise colored frames, SKJ button charm bracelet and hot pink or plum nail polish to junk-up my uniform.

To learn more about her designs and purchase click here.