K
aysha Piers is a name you need to know, and know it very well. Piers is the newest storm to hit the fashion community, and she’s taking out everything in her path. Her designs breathe new life into the world of couture, bringing in never before seen textures, contrasts of colors, and sleek designs that accentuate women of all shapes and sizes. With an eye for the latest and greatest styles and a skilled hand to match, Piers has managed to make an astounding imprint in the fashion world in just a few, short months. This month, AVENUE gives you the exclusive on the newest member of the fashion elite as she shares her passion for designing with the virtual world. A “Photoshop junkie” since the age of fifteen, Piers is no stranger to creating textures and designs that make you do a double take. With a real life background in art and design, she goes beyond just designing fashion, and instead creates art. A product of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Piers was surrounded by fashion in both lives, and could not help but to dive in head first into the world of fashion. “I’ve always been involved in fashion, Second Life® just helped me express it on a new canvas” says Piers. Getting her start in a different virtual community, IMVU, over three years ago, Piers began honing her design skills, and with her introduction to SL® over two years ago, she brought over her designing talent, fashion prowess, and technical knowledge and hasn’t looked back since. After creating her first dress for a writer at Vain Magazine for a showcase of Maitreya footwear, Piers knew that fashion was her calling. “After I finished making it, I felt like a new door of opportunity was opened for me. Funny enough, it was a dress that transitioned itself
into the first Osakki store after the rebrand.” Her brand, Osakki, is as unique and creative as the name itself. Born from her love of Japan and the Asian community, while the name doesn’t have a particular meaning, Piers explains that it can be anything you want it to be, which is part of the beauty of the name itself. “It’s not categorized; it doesn’t have a label, which is what my brand mission is. It applies to all people and hopes to bring fashion to everyone. I think it’s pretty cool that people can interpret it differently, and walk away with different views, and hopefully they can see a little bit of me in what they wear.” And a little bit of her is definitely what you get in every design. With a goal of unpredictability, and showcasing the unexpected, you never know what you will get with the next release of goodies from Piers. Gathering inspiration from everything, including fashion from her own closet, worldwide fashion shows, minute details in life, or even her feelings during the day, Piers translates the beauty she finds around her into everyday couture for the modern woman. “I adore couture clothing, but I like couture to be wearable at the same time. I think any woman can attest to wanting to be comfortable while looking chic. Sometimes couture clothing can be overwhelming; here, I hope to achieve a nice medium without feeling overdressed, and it can be completely possible. If anything, I hope to achieve a new genre.” And what exactly does the ever-talented Piers even consider worthy of the title fashion? “I think it’s truly important to find your own voice. So many individuals find themselves following each other, but if you can take the risks and evolve