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When I was a teenager, my mother used to sew men’s suits on the side to make extra money. We would go to the fabric district in Downtown Los Angeles to shop for materials for her clients. While we were there, I would wander through the aisles, dreaming up designs for my own school projects. I’d come up with wild, creative ideas — and somehow, she always brought them to life exactly as I imagined.

My mother passed away in 2009, leaving behind her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Her passion for fashion, her strength, and her perseverance inspired me to continue walking in her footsteps.

One night, I had an unusual dream: a Black woman with an afro in handcuffs, struggling to break free. She fought with all her strength, but eventually lost hope. I could feel her pain, her frustration, her exhaustion — it was so real that I woke up shaken. I didn’t know what it meant at first, but deep down, I knew this vision carried a message.

In my heart, I couldn’t let the image fade. I wrote it down, had someone draw it, and soon its meaning became clear: it represented my mother, and every woman like her — fighting to break free from struggle, pain, and limitation, while still holding onto hope and creativity. That’s when Afrowear was born in 2011.

Growing up in Watts, we didn’t have much, but we had dreams. Afrowear became my way to honor my mother’s strength and to give voice to those still fighting to be seen, heard, and free through fashion.

In 2016, I hosted my first-ever fashion show — the Afrowear End of the Summer Fashion Show. I wanted to create an event that celebrated small businesses, artists, and local fashion talent. The show was beautiful — I had a makeup sponsor, local vendors, and even a custom Snapchat filter!

But in my eyes, it wasn’t perfect. I saw only the flaws, and I felt defeated. I told myself I’d take one year off to regroup — but that one year turned into four.

By the end of 2020, something inside me reignited. I decided to fight the good fight again — to return to what I love, to honor my mother’s legacy, and to continue the vision that began with her hands, her heart, and a dream passed down through me.

Afrowear isn’t just a brand — it’s freedom stitched in fabric, resilience woven in every thread, and a legacy reborn through fashion.