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Creator of the Month: Kierra Lee
A girl with big dreams and a sewing machine.
Learn about this sustainable fashion designer and how she hopes to leave a mark in the sustainable fashion industry and create room for more diversity in creative fields.
My name is Kierra Lee, and I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up, I was always very interested in fashion design after watching shows like America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway. When I was eight, I was introduced to a seamstress who was one of my grandmother's friends, and I thought it was amazing that she was able to create pieces from her drawings and inspirations so beautifully. Shortly after that, I ended up convincing my parents to pay for sewing lessons for me to learn, and I realized it was something that I was very passionate about. I feel like I sometimes strayed away from fully pursuing it when I was a child and teenager, but ultimately I realized in high school that it was something I wanted to continue with as a career path. As for what's most fulfilling about my work, a lot of what I do is very sustainably minded, even with my own brand and what I'm currently also doing with Levi's as a 3D product development designer. In everything I do, I'm conscious of the harm I'm causing to the environment. This includes the materials I choose, the patterning techniques I use, and even the messages I spread through my designs. As a designer, I strive to uplift marginalized communities and showcase their stories in a beautiful light, especially when it comes to the black community.
First off Kierra, thank you for blessing SUNNI SOCIETY with our very first interview! When the thought of looking for a creator came to mind, you were the perfect person to kick it off with. I've been following your journey for years now, it's taken off quickly. Overall, how are you feeling with your success in your life and career?
This is very sweet, and I’m happy that you thought of me when deciding who would go first. I’m always watching you too, and I think this is an amazing idea, so I definitely look forward to seeing how far this goes in the future. Honestly, when it comes to the success of my career so far, I'm very grateful, but I also know that I still have a long journey ahead of me, and it is really just starting. Even though I've just graduated from design school, I feel like there's so much more that I want to do. I've already managed to land a job with Levi's, which is an extremely great company. I look forward to seeing where this takes me and how it elevates me even more as a designer moving forward.
Recently, you just celebrated graduating from Jefferson University. Congratulations on that cycle completion! How was your experience at Jefferson? You accomplished so many amazing things, would you mind sharing a few projects you worked on while in attendance there?
Thank you so much! Jefferson taught me a lot about myself as a designer, changed my perception of the fashion industry, and made me realize just how much work goes into making clothes. The experience I had at Jefferson was amazing because I was fortunate to have some amazing teachers and meet some great friends. I also competed in numerous scholarships and won six out of the seven I entered. This year, I won the Virgil Abloh PostModern scholarship a second time as well as a Skims scholarship. As part of that project, I created an eight-look collection for the brand Patagonia, which explored the possibility of smart technology and a digital world while pushing boundaries on racial diversity in winter sports. In my last semester, I also completed my senior collection, which won an industry award from various fashion companies in the Philadelphia and New York regions for real-world design.
Archive 319, let's get into that. As you know I'm such a big fan your line! I truly do believe your work speaks for itself but I would love to hear your thought process behind it all? Why did you choose the sustainable fashion route?
Thank you so much. Honestly, I just had a really great teacher in school who taught me a lot in a class that I took, which was called Sustainable Concepts in Design. This class focused on the harmful rhetoric associated with fast fashion and the problems of textile waste, especially overseas. I was also able to volunteer at an organization called Fab Scrap in Philadelphia, which collects textile waste from companies like Urban Outfitters, Free People, and 200 others along the east coast. My perspective on the kind of designer I wanted to be completely changed when I realized how much waste these companies produce and simply discard, as well as how it affects the environment in nations like Ghana, where the majority of the clothing we dispose of ends up in people's backyards, destroying the ecosystems of their land. The fashion business is the second biggest polluter in the world, and I could not allow myself to be a part of that same problem. I didn't want to add to this already severe problem.
Fast fashion...what are your thoughts on how it affects people and the world?
I hate fast fashion. When my family and friends indulge in purchasing garments from businesses that will essentially fall apart over the next year or so, I complain to them about it so much. But as time goes on, I've realized that many people are unaware of how damaging fast fashion is to the environment because it's damage hasn't affected the United States. However, it will eventually happen, and I don't think we'll be prepared when it does. The living conditions in the countries where these factories and power plants that make our garments are located are quite unfortunate and honestly hard to even look at, but I do believe everyone should see them. I remember watching a film about a small village in India whose drinking and bathing water has the color of oil because of the dumping of wastewater into rivers by H&M and other textile factories. The fact that children in the village suffered from birth defects as a result of the terrible circumstances they were forced to live in really shocked me. I am convinced that racial discrimination is a contributing factor in the fast fashion industry because, if the same situation occurred in a European country where the people you see on your screen are children with blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin, I think the response would be very different from what we continue to tolerate happening globally.
What are some new things you have been able to experience due to your career? What doors has it opened for you?
I feel like the things I've been able to experience in my career are mainly from good connections and proper networking. I've had opportunities to go to galas where I'm in the room with professionals that work at some of the biggest companies in fashion and have been able to pitch myself to them on the chance of getting a job. I've been able to visit the Vogue headquarters and meet Anna Wintour, which was extremely interesting for me and definitely changed my perception of how I viewed her before. I had the incredible opportunity to visit the LVMH headquarters on two occasions, which was truly amazing. During these visits, I had the honor of attending panel discussions on design and had the chance to ask questions of individuals whom I greatly admire and look up to. However, none of this would have been possible if I hadn't believed in myself and pursued opportunities regardless of the potential outcomes. Today, I am part of a network affiliated with hundreds of big brands, and a significant factor in securing my current position at Levi's was the organization's encouragement and assistance in applying for the job. I am immensely grateful for this support.
How do you plan to wow the people again? What can we expect next from Kierra Lee?
I don't have a fixed career path in mind, as I believe in taking things one step at a time. My ideas flow naturally, and my interests tend to evolve as I progress in my career. However, one constant for me is my unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability within the fashion industry. No matter where my journey takes me, I will always work towards implementing more sustainable practices and solutions. In addition to sustainability, I am deeply passionate about fostering diversity and inclusivity within the fashion industry. I firmly believe that the industry must open its doors wider to people of color and underrepresented groups. This is a vital change that the fashion industry needs, and I am determined to continue working towards creating more opportunities for individuals who share my background. My goal is to contribute to a more inclusive future for an industry that has historically marginalized people like me.
For more updates on Kierra and her journey follow her insta linked below and check out her website!
Website: https://www.kierralee.com/
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