FOCUS Magazine | Issue 1: The Visionary Issue

MMAG AG

THE

ISSUE

CAPTURING CULTURE

JASIAH

WITH

POWERS

OCTOBER 2022

THE

ISSUE

STARRING

JASIAH POWERS JAYDA’S COMICS HONEY’S APPAREL THEFUGAZIARTIST MAC BY MAC WEST MYLES BRANDO KIANNA HARRIS ANIA HOO KALLURE JENALI

DESIGNER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR FESTICIA BOVELL

WRITERS

FESTICIA BOVELL ARIANNA FLEURIOT NYVIA TAYLOR NATHANIEL ISIAH SWANSON

COVER SHOT JODY SANTIAGO

COVER STAR JASIAH POWERS

LLeetteter r from theEDITOR EDITOR

A part of me wants to make this super short and say I’m just a girl who loves designing, writing, and telling underrepresented stories, but there’s so much more you need to know about me and why FOCUS Magazine exists.

I’ve always had a deep love for writing, and as I grew older, the power of media and representation became more apparent. My passion lies in using this love to tell the stories of underrepresented communities, and I’ve always made that my priority. I created FOCUS Magazine to remind us that the inspiring stories we constantly search for are right in front of us. They come from our friends, neighbors, family, and ourselves. There is something special in everyone’s journey that fuels a passion you can’t get from following a celebrity, watching motivational YouTube videos, or whatever “cheat codes” to success we’re told to follow.

This is FOCUS Mag’s debut issue, The Visionary Issue, inspired by my love for the creative community in NYC, specifically Brooklyn. There isn’t a bigger flex than being from New York; we all know our experiences stretch far beyond the city lights. Growing up here has taught us exactly how we should move in the world and allowed us to continue the unstoppable culture you can’t find anywhere else.

The creatives highlighted in this issue are among some of the people I’ve admired because of their work ethic, talent, and dedication to creating something that will continue to build on a legacy. The only word I could think of to describe them is ‘visionary,’ a visionary isn’t just someone who dreams of what could be; they take control to create the world they want. During every single interview, I could feel how much they believed in themselves and their vision; to be honest, this is what kept me going throughout the process of putting this magazine together. I respect you and your craft too much to let your stories slip away. I can only hope I’ve done them justice. Thank you so much for allowing me to learn so much about you.

Make no mistake; Black people have been creating since the beginning of time; before we were even calling ourselves ‘creatives.’ It’s been incredibly inspiring to watch us continue to evolve and create joy in a world where we’re constantly told what we shouldn’t or can’t be. I truly hope The Visionary Issue inspires you to take control of your dreams and realize that you have everything in you to create the world you want. I don’t believe in limits when pursuing what you love. I cannot imagine a world where I wouldn’t be able to do the things I love. That is a privilege within itself. So my message to you is, never stop creating. Your work has real-world implications, and you are a part of history. So, continue to carry the tradition of using your art to stay connected to the things that keep you fulfilled, and most importantly, don’t forget to love on your community.

Festicia Bovell . fes tee . sha | founder + editor-in-chief

Take a moment to think about comics - what are you thinking of? Marvel heroes using their potent powers to save a town? Action-packed stories filled with “POWS,” “BOOMS” and “THUDS”? A world of fantasy?

Jayda Hinds, a 22-year-old comic artist, is changing the narrative of what comic art is.

Her model is simple - make relatable “hot girl” art. She isn’t focused on action-packed stories of villains but something more bona fide… life of a Gen-Z woman of color. Under the alias Jayda’s Comics, with a cartoon character of herself, she uploads her work to a growing Instagram following. Jayda’s most popular type of comic is her Hot Girl Tip of the Day Series - where she shares advice about relationships or self-improvement. Some of Jayda’s Hot Tips are: “Baby, the door is closed. Move on and let something more beautiful happen.”

“Do not let them slide back into your life with a fire emoji.”

“Chasing perfection is impossible. Allow yourself to have a bad day.”

“Gut feelings are guardian angels. Trust them.”

“Do not get him the PS5!”

Bordering between comedy and seriousness, Jayda’s Comics is a wonderful reminder of the objectivity of art. She shows that there is a space in comic art for the fun, sexy, humorous Gen-Z woman. And by nature, if she can create a space for “hot girls,” then any artist can create a space for their work in whatever field they choose. Jayda’s Comics is bigger than Hot Girl Tips - it shows the opportunity for any person to express themselves artistically (and that’s hot!).

In her first year as a self-taught tattoo artist, Kianna welcomed clients into her home, but she now shares her talents with clients at VIP Bodies in Brooklyn, NY. She specializes in linework, fonts, minimalism, mandala, low realism, and custom tattoos and views tattoos as an opportunity to permanently have something you love on your body.

Kianna takes pride in being a well-rounded artist, and all she’s experienced influences herwork today. Her previous experience in retail and child care taught her to communicate effectively and ensure that clients are comfortable. “I understand people on a deeper level, and I’m able to help them with more than just a tattoo. I use the customer service I learned and know how to handle situations where clients may have their children around during appointments.” She said.

WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL

At just 22 years old, Kianna Harris (KEE) has already been bold enough to follow her passions. Her journey to becoming a self-taught tattoo artist sparked when she stumbled upon a YouTube video of a girl tattooing herself. At that moment, Kianna thought, “I know I can do this design; if she can tattoo herself, I know I can tattoo myself too.”

Tattooing has opened up a new world of connections for Kianna. She’s been able to tattoo locals in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, to people from Italy and Hawaii. Kianna told FOCUS Magazine, “One of my favorite parts of being a tattoo artist is being able to connect with people. I’m an empath, so when it comes to my day-to-day experience, it’s always about helping someone. ” she adds, “ The connection you would have with someone is more intimate when you sit with them, create a design, and follow through with that design.

It’s amazing, and it’s even better seeing it be worn.” Kianna’s Trinidadian background exposed her to various colors, artwork, music, and tattoos at an early age, and it’s clear that the unconditional love she’s felt from her parents has made her fearless in the pursuit of all arts. She said, “A lot of times, we have family or friends who want us to steer away from a creative path, but lucky I come from a Caribbean family that is open-minded.”

She reflects on her childhood as a time when her creativity blossomed, especially in music and drawing.

“I’ve been singing since I was 5, and when I was the little girl doodling, they were able to see my own talent.”

When she was 13 years old, she learned about airbrush painting from her father, who specializes in airbrush body painting. Her mother’s keen attention to detail and cleanliness directly translates to Kianna’s attention to

Kianna Harris Makes permanent connections in her community

detail in all of her designs and cleanliness as a tattoo artist.

Outside of tattooing, she’s also found a love for music and she explains, “I am the Kianna that loves music, the Kianna that loves all forms of art, and the Kianna that will sit and be a therapist.” While Kianna spends most of her time servicing others with her skills in tattooing, she also prioritizes making time for herself when she needs it so that she can guarantee her clients are recieving 100% when they choose her to be their tattoo artist.

Kianna Harris exudes the kind of confidence you can see from a mile away, and she encourages others to focus on what they love to do while deciding to pursue a specific career path. After the loss of a childhood friend, she committed to living her life to the fullest and shifted her perspective on what it means to truly chase your dreams. “I don’t want to be on my death bed saying, ‘I wish I did this or that’.. It needs to be done now. Even if there’s something you need to save up your money before doing, it can be done.” She said. “My confidence in being a tattoo artist had to come from realizing that while there are many tattoo shops in the area, there are not many tattoo artists who will be exactly like me. The uniqueness comes from your exact experience and what makes you who you are as an artist.” She continues to add, “I feel as though you shouldn’t do something if you’re not passionate about it. If you’re not passionate about it, it’s not the right career path, not your life path; it’s not what you should be doing.” Removing negative thoughts and remaining aligned with her purpose have allowed Kianna to see the beauty in her progress and appreciate the talents of other creatives around her. “Wanting to compete with others stops you from moving forward and gets you stuck in negative thoughts like quicksand,” Kianna said.

The Trinidadian-American artist continues to expand her knowledge about tattoos through thorough research about the origins and meanings in every culture. This year, she started reading The World of Tattoo by M. Hesselt van Dinter, a book that describes the history of tattoo practices meaning behind them. Her research has reminded her of the value of reading and learning information outside a Google search and has inspired her to interview others who have tattoos to continue telling their stories. KEE is humbled to be a part of the history of tattooing and hopes to continue honoring the tradition by showing that tattoos tell a larger story outside of negative stereotypes.

THE FUGAZI R T I S T

Free, Urban, Genuine, Artistic, Zealous Interesting. The 19-yearold Brooklyn creator brings to life his emotional connection to music through drawings and paintings.

With portraits of artists like Brent Faiyaz, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Steve Lacy, Lil Uzi Vert and more, TheFugaziArtist proves time and time again that his work is all about intent and detail. His love for art manifested during his childhood with finger painting which then grew to pencil drawing, and eventually led him to digital art in 2019.

Scribble Portrait of Brent Faiyaz painted by TheFugaziArtist | @thefugaziartist

When FOCUS Magazine caught up with the artist who was always known as “that kid that could draw” to talk about his inspirations, creative process and the motivation behind his work, he told us:

“In 10 years, I see myself making a stable income from my art. I want to work with major companies and artists in the music industry. I also want to work with brands like Google and Nike. I want to see my art in museums, different places online, train stations, just everywhere.”

Jasiah Powers photographed by Jody Santiago Photographer: Jody Santiago Creative Director: Festicia Bovell Model: Jasiah Powers

an exclusive interview

jasiah with

Photographer, Videographer Artist leading the next generation of creatives in new york city WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL

Jasiah Powers photographed by Jody Santiago | @jodyshotyou Photographer: Jody Santiago Creative Director: Festicia Bovell Model: Jasiah Powers

Through The Eyes of Jasiah

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hen Jasiah Powers picks up a camera, his only focus is capturing the essence of the cultures, people, and stories surrounding him. Driven by a love for his community, the 18-year-old Morgan State University student dedicates his talents as an artist to bring people together and reveal the authenticity that won’t be found anywhere else. With projects like “The Disparities Project,” “The Generations Project,” “The Northface Project,” “The Telfar Project,” “The Two-Five Project,” and many more, Powers continues to prove his commitment to amplifying Black voices and Black creativity.

When FOCUS Magazine caught up with the photographer and videographer on a Zoom call, he was in the middle of editing “The Telfar Project” but still made the time to share insight into his creative path and the fuel that drives him to create. Follow along as we dive into the artists’ inspirations, creative outlets, and the elements that give him his Powers.

FOCUS Magazine: What was your first experience with photography and art in general?

Jasiah Powers: Well, for photography, my earliest entrance was when I was 15 years old during my sophomore year of high school. My older brother had a camera, so I just took his camera and I used to sneak photoshoots after school and just do that within a 30 or 45-minute time frame. I really enjoyed capturing those moments and putting a lot of that together. It was a really fun experience. It was the first time I really put an immense amount of time and energy into something artistic. I realized it could push me in a more worthwhile direction as opposed to just something that was more temporary. So that was fun. With art, I always used to do spoken word, poetry, rap, freestyle, and stuff like that. I’ve just always been a fan of music, and just rap music and pop. So since I was like, five, I always freestyled and rapped and just wrote rhymes and, you know, spoken word and stuff like that.

FOCUS: Why is it important for you to highlight Black stories and Black creativity?

JP: I think it’s important to highlight Black creativity and Black stories because if we don’t highlight it ourselves, it’s not going to be put at the forefront.

I just feel like in a place where white mediocrity is heavily pushed and supported in the artistic wor-

ld, creators of color always have something more to offer but we’re often put down or are often overshadowed by our white counterparts. It’s important that every creative, if you have the opportunity, just to amplify our voices to the best of our ability because we’re the only ones in charge of our destiny in essence. We don’t have extra backing, we don’t have, societal support beyond our communities and beyond who we are as people. I also feel like, without Black art, the world doesn’t really move further; without art in general. Without art, the world would be bland. A lot of people take advantage of artists entirely, but the will to create is literally what keeps a lot of people alive. I just feel like there are a lot of kids of color like myself who like to create or have a sense of what they want to create, but they’re very, very scared to kind of showcase that. I kind of just want to use my platform to not only just amplify Black creativity but inspire people like myself to get in the field and create because we really need more creatives.

FOCUS: How has growing up in New York City, specifically Brooklyn, NY, influenced your work?

JP: Just being from here has provided me with a certain perspective that is ingrained in my mind. I just understand a lot of what a lot of other creators don’t understand, like a lot of privileged creators or non-Black creators; they don’t really understand the day-to-day things that we see and go through. So I-

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just utilize that to frame artistic perception. It’s definitely helped because I’ve just been around a lot of people because I grew up where I did, who supported me and have given me ideas. I’ve gotten ideas from just paying attention to what they had going on. I also feel like just being creative in New York is so easy because there are a million people out here, a million people with cameras, and a million kids with paintbrushes.

It’s just like, everybody out here is working. Everybody wants it. It provides you with a sense of inspiration just by paying attention and looking around. New York City is a very hungry city. So because everybody is so hungry to just like, start cookin’, it’s like, ‘oh, wow, I shouldn’t be slackin’ if nobody else is slackin’ it.’ That drive that being in New York gives you, it’s kind of what has pushed me as well. But with that, a fear of mine is falling into obscurity. I really just want to keep pushing the boundary with my work because I really want my work to be recognized, you know, beyond just a camera, but just like, have something just to sustain myself internally, externally, and financially through my work. So that’s just really my goal. New York City, being from here, seeing that people are doing it. It’s like I could do too.

FOCUS: What inspires you on a daily basis, and what influences your creative process?

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JP: I’m inspired by a lot of music. Music is a language that resonates with me. Without music, I probably wouldn’t have been creating to the degree that I am. I’m also surrounded by a lot of people who create artistically. Seeing how much they go hard and seeing their success with what they do, lets me know like, ‘Yo, you’re not allowed to slack or fall back because nobody else is.’ I feel like I actually have a genuine support system and team that whenever I see them create something new, it’s like, ‘Oh, I gotta go crazy now, I can’t slack.’ My day-to-day inspirations just come from the homies, basically. Just the people I surround myself with every day. I like to say, you are the company you keep. So if you have a creative drive and you like to work, the people around you have to embody that very same notion. If none of yall ain’t workin’, everybody slackin’, and that’s just the facts, to be honest.

FOCUS: Yeah, I definitely agree. The people you surround yourself with are so important.

It’s so funny you mentioned that because yesterday I was interviewing someone TheFugaziArtist (@thefugaziartist) and he also mentioned his friends inspiring him and even mentioned you because y’all went to high school together. I love that.

JP: Oh yeah, we knew each other since we were like 13 or 14. We used to be in the back of math class together. This is when I had, like, 800 followers and stuff like that, like we were both starting off with our pages.

We’d be in the back of class every day like, ‘Yo, we could do this together.’ We just used to cook up ideas and stuff. He’s definitely, like, a person who’s been a part of the journey and vice versa. I’ve seen his entire journey from start to now, like when he made his first Instagram page and everything, but you know.. that’s another story for another day.

FOCUS: Aww oh my gosh, I love that so much! Okay so back to the questions, can you describe how the PUMA project, Paper Planes, The North Face Project came about and what those experiences were like for you? I know you’re in the middle of editing The Telfar Project right now so I’d love to hear all about that too.

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JP: Well, PUMA came about because June Ambrose, she’s like a really big celebrity stylist, a very important fashion figure, and a creative director at PUMA. Her daughter wanted to do a project that basically catered to the youth. The makeup artists involved were young, a young kid of color, a hair stylist, a photographer, me, a videographer, editor, and everything was like, just a real youth-led project. So they just reached out to me and was like, ‘Yo, I want you to be a part of this.’ I didn’t get paid for that, but that was I was fine with not getting paid that time. It was like this is something bigger than me. They just reached out to me because they liked my work and they just liked the way I edit it because I have a very specific style.

High Court Collection | PUMA Hoops Photographer + Editor: Jasiah Powers Creative Director + Producer: Summer Hope Chamblin Designer: June Ambrose Stylist: Paige Briannie

Models: @fa3ba33 + @Teendabeen + @casketpaint JP: Well, PUMA came about because June Ambrose, a really big celebrity stylist, a very important fashion figure, and a creative director at PUMA, her daughter wanted to do a project that basically catered to the youth. The makeup artists involved were young, a young kid of color, a hair stylist, a photographer, me, a videographer, editor, and everything was like, just a real youth-led project. So they just reached out to me and was like, ‘Yo, I want you to be a part of this.’ They just reached out to me because they liked my work and they just liked the way I edit it because I have a very specific style.

Models (leTh to right): KELZ + @oliviaalexandra_ + @slimmjimzzz + @taemackk

JP: Paper Planes also saw my work, and then they asked me to go into their office. I met with them face to face, and I guess they

just enjoyed my energy a lot; they gave me a bag of clothes and gave me free rein to create without any instructions; ‘just make something with what we’re about to give you.’ I’m good at that I ain’t gon’ lie. One of my skills is I know how to make wine out of water. I just conceptualized everything insanely fast. White T-shirts, city bikes, dance scenes, everything I just put that all together fairly fast, too, because I shot that like two days after I got the clothes, and I did that they loved it so much that they ended up commissioning me for another shoot and they’re commissioning me again. They just see my potential, and they just respect my artistry, plus the Planes team is a very Black team. The Roc Nation team, in general, it’s a very close-knit vibe, which is why I can appreciate them as well.

“The North Face Project Part 2” Photographer + Director + Editor: Jasiah Powers JP: The North Face reached out to me after my first “North Face Project.” That project was just North Face jackets, New York

City kids, culture, like how can we miss, you know, that’s really just us. I feel like every kid in NYC has had a North Face jacket; it’s a staple. So, I just wanted to highlight the power of that staple piece on a grand scale because I know I’m not the only person that probably wanted to do a little North Face shoot or whatever I just wanted to highlight that it’s really bigger than just me picking out have six conventionally attractive models to put them in intentionally fly fits. That’s not really real. It means something, but it doesn’t. But if you can bring out 50 to 60 real people to have a real experience that they actually enjoy and translate that into something that you can create beyond that point, I feel like that matters way more. Now it’s more than a photo shoot because this is something that people can walk away from and be very happy with. That shoot was real energy… a real shoot from start to finish. I mean, we got racially profiled; this lady said she was scared to bring her kid into the park, and if we didn’t leave she was going to call the cops so, we got kicked out of the park, but that was a small hiccup, not everybody knew.

Photographer + Editor: Jasiah Powers

“The North Face Project” Part 1 | Photographer + Director + Editor: Jasiah Powers We were dancing on the train and all that the entire shoot was authentic, it wasn’t really fake. My supporters and my homies went tag crazy tagging @thenorthface under my posts and that’s when The North Face followed me, sent me a jacket, shoes and pants and now they comment on my work regularly. But I don’t really do any of this it for notoriety, I do it to highlight something worthwhile that will stick with people. The fruits of my labor that come out of that is just a part of the process.

“Telfar Project” Photographer + Director + Editor: Jasiah Powers

JP: The reason I enjoyed The Telfar Project as much as I do is because it shares the same sentiment that “The North

Face Project” did. The cultural relativity. I go to an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) , as well so being out here, I’ve seen Telfar bags everywhere. It’s the convenient luxury in a sense, where it’s just like, you feel mad good when you have the bag, but it’s bad affordable as well. You can’t lose, it’s a win-win situation across the board. There are a lot of brands out here, but not a lot of them have a lot of relativity in the culture. You know, like they don’t really matter that much to people of color like a bag is a bag Michael Kors bag is a Michael Kors bag. But like how much cultural relativity does a Michael Kors bag hold. You know, it’s like, ehh … if you f*ck with it you f*ck with it. You know? But where’s the cultural significance behind it? Not to say everything needs cultural significance… it may not need it, it can just be there. The difference is-

“Telfar Project” Photographer + Director + Editor: Jasiah Powers

Telfar does have that cultural significance. It’s Black owned, and its inclusive of all Black identities, it makes everybody feel welcome. They pay attention to the surface, it’s already an affordable brand, so they care about the people. I see how they pay attention, because I posted the behind the scenes on my page and they liked the photos, and they follow me so that was like oh sh*t. That just shows that they really pay attention because a lot of these other brands wouldn’t put themselves in that position to pay attention to us. I also really, really, really love bringing people together. For all of my shoots and just for anything else. I just like having people there vibing out, enjoying themselves, dancing, showing off their swag… any excuse, I have to just bring that people together to create something bigger than me, I’m gonna take every chance I get. I just like to bridge the gaps of cultural relativity and what matters to us. So this was a project that has so much energy tethered to it. And I’ve just really, really, really try my best to show how much energy was in this. Like I said, I’m actually like, doing last minute edits while we’re on this meeting trying to make sure it’s tough. I don’t want to slack at all.

FOCUS: So while I was looking through some of your older projects I saw that you also dabble in writing poetry and I know you wrote your own music so, what inspires the writing that you do?

JP: I ain’t gon’ lie.. I be writing a lot about love. I’m a real lovey-dovery hopeless romantic type of person.

I’ve also been eloquent with the way I spoke and put words together so it kind of just fell in line. When I was 16 I had my first lil’ heartbreak or whatever, so you know… I just had to put it on paper. But I really like the concept of love, the idea of Black love and fantacising about being in love. I’ve only had a taste of that.. I guess it was like puppy love but everything we see in movies and stuff like that always seems real fire. One of my favorite poems I wrote was written after watching Queen & Slim. I know a lot of people don’t like the ending of that movie but I think it was appropriate, I wasn’t too mad at that, it was a really enjoyable movie with that Black love essence to it.

But overall, poetry is like my emotional teather. My photography and videography are not a reflection of my personal emotions; you can’t really tell when I’m angry, happy, or sad, through my photography or videography. I alao make music as well. I don’t really promote or anything, there’s no SoundCloud links or anything I do make music and thats another way of getting my emotions out and stuff like that. So just being able to write in general has always been the way to flush out my emotions.

FOCUS: One thing I admire about you is that you’re not hesitant when it comes to creating things on your own. But is there a dream collaboration you have in mind? Who would you love to work with?

JP: I actually would love to work with The North Face. Solange is definitely on my list, her brain is amazing. I used to watch the directors cut of “When I Get Home” everyday when it was on YouTube it’s insane. Dev Hynes, he’s one of my biggest inspirations ever. Joey Bada$$, he’s my favorite rapper. Definitely Jamel Shabazz. Even beyond a collaboration, I would just like to have a conversation with him, he’s one of the most notorious street photographer ever.

If you’ve seen any really cool photos from the 90s, 80s, 70s in New York City, he probably took it. I’d also say Gunner Stahl. I just want to know what their stories are and how they approach their work.

FOCUS: Is there any other creative path you’d be interested in exploring or learning more about?

JP: You askin’ me questions I’ve never been asked before. I like that. Okay, I’ll say filmmaking. When I was at a low point of my life I kept saying I didn’t want to make a movie but I’ve only recently opened up to working with people. So definitely making short films and I’d also want to make a photo book.

FOCUS: That would be fire, I’m looking forward to that. How do you stay motivated in times when you aren’t feeling your best?

JP: I remind myself that this is the only thing that I wish to sustain myself off in life. I don’t want to work in retail, don’t want to work at McDonald’s, dont want to do any of that. This is literally my eggs all in one basket. I can’t stay stuck for too long, I always need to be doing something, I get that from my mom. I can’t not be doing something. I feel like the world is always moving faster than me, or the word is just going to pass by me. I don’t like that feeling. I don’t want to fall behind.

FOCUS: What advice would you give to other creatives who may be interested in pursuing their art and passions but are scared or don’t have the support?

JP: I say do it and do it now. Don’t dwell on your emotions and thoughts and what you’re scared of.

I would say just get started. Get your rough patches out the way. Learn what you need to learn. I’m a person who doesn’t believe in dwelling on you know, like bad situations or just like overthinking on if it’s good or not, or anything like that. Be comfortable with failing a few times, but it also doesn’t have to be perceived as failing all the time, it’s really just learning. When I first started like 2019 I wasn’t really like focused on how, like how much better I am than anyone else. It was just having mad fun, just experimentin like, ‘Yo, bro, you tryna come downtown by Dumbo to take flicks real quick?’ That was some of the most fun I had with a camera, ever. You know, that’s really what matters, don’t get caught up in the sauce.

Q & A

Jasiah values where he comes from just as much as where his visions will take him, and this is what makes him the powerful creative that he is. He reminds us that the beauty in creating art lies much deeper than admiration; it’s all about the intention of the creator and the impact on those who consume it. He’s dedicated his time to encapsulating the culture in his community while staying connected to his highest values. The future is bright for Jasiah as he continues the legacy of Black creativity that has shifted the world for decades.

ANI HOO PURE WORLD OF LOVE & DISCO-FUNK

WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL Ania Hoo photographed by Andre Uncut | @andreuncut

" I always had the dream of becoming a singer"

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nspired by Marvin Gaye, Teena Marie, and Prince, singer-songwriter Ania Hoo uses her disco-funk-infused sound to share her vulnerability. Her new EP Pure, comes after reflecting on her personal growth and her journey to becoming who she is today. She taps in to her love for Marvin Gaye’s “loving and painstaking” songwriting to bring her deepest feelings to the surface with songs like “In Love,” “I Need It,” “Pink Trees,” “Come My Way,” and “Waiting.”

The New Jersey native fell in love with songwriting after attending open mic nights and poetry slams with her mom at a very young age. She started singing in churches and retirement homes at the age of nine after a family friend heard her talent and encouraged her to keep singing. The 21 year old tells FOCUS, “I always had the dream of becoming a singer.”

Throughout each stage of her life, Hoo intentionally took the time to make her dream a reality. When she got to middle school, she started taking voice and piano lessons -- she remembers her dad telling her, “If you want to make music, you have to learn an instrument.” But she soon came to the realization that she preferred singing over playing the piano. She learned how to do scales and read music during her voice lessons and hopes to return to learning how to play the piano in the future. In high school, she reconnected with writing poetry and released her first song, “Feelings,” on Soundcloud during her sophomore year.

“When I first started making music, I wanted it to sound as corny and lovey-dovey as possible,” Hoo said. “The first song I put out on Soundcloud was about a crush. I never told him it was about him, but I did show him the song. Every song after that was about crushes.”

When writing her new EP, Pure, she shifted to focus on herself. She says, “My new EP wasn’t inspired by anyone; it was just about me and my innocence coming out of high school and growing into the person I was and am now.”

Hoo embraces her unique sound and describes it as a mix of genres like alternative R&B, Pop, Disco, and Funk. She makes it clear that she wanted to dance when making her newer music in contrast to her previous songs, which had slower sounds.

“In Love” was the first song Hoo wrote for Pure, and it ranks #1 as her favorite song she’s written so far. After writing the opening lyrics, she was so impressed with what she came up with and knew she could go even harder to complete the song and set the tone for the remainder of the project. When it comes to writing music overall, she admires the songwriting of Marvin Gaye, Teena Marie, Prince, and the music of the ’70s.

She describes her love for disco music beyond the beat and says, “When you listen to the lyrics, it’s breathtaking, its poetry.

I’m a very big fan of that.” The singer-songwriter feels most appreciated for her work when she’s performing but can admit to the awkwardness she feels on stage. She jokingly says, “I also feel the most awkward on stage because pretending to entertain people in my room is different than entertaining people in person.” Nevertheless, she tries to connect with the audience and pull them out of their shyness.

As an up-and-coming artist, Hoo has learned the most from the challenges she faced while preparing to drop Pure. She dealt with naysayers and people who gave her a million reasons why she shouldn’t shoot for what she wants. Nevertheless, she stood her ground and trusted herself. The singer-songwriter told FOCUS, “People have tried to stop me from releasing my EP simply because I didn’t have a music video and a bunch of other things. But I didn’t have a ton of the things they were talking about because I’m a young up-and-coming artist; it’s very hard.”

She wants to remind other up-and-coming musicians and anyone who may be hesitant to commit to their passion that “it’s now or never. There is never one ‘right time’ the right time is now, so just do it.”

Like most 21-year-olds, Hoo is trying her best to figure out adulthood, but she remains hyperfocused on her music. Looking ahead five years from now, the “In Love” singer hopes to be on the Billboard Hot 100 and sees herself creating a collective for women artists where they can record and write music. Hoo’s dreams don’t just end there; she plans on winning at least two Grammys by the time she’s 30 and sees herself continuing to make music while exploring different parts of the world like Brazil and London.

" If I could have my song be a part of any show, it would be Insecure. Honestly, any show where a Black girl is going through something. I want my music to be the soundtrack to a Black girl's life."

who tf is

myles brando

WRITTEN BY: ARIANNA FLEURIOT

“ Anytime I’m feeling down, I’ll just, you know, write music just to really get what I’m feeling off my chest. It’s like I’m talking.

It’s like therapy. “ MYLES BRANDO

At just 18 years old, Myles Brando is a triple threat making his way in singing, songwriting, and producing. He uses music and unique sound to bridge the gap between old-school music and new school with inspiration from rappers like Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls.

Brando credits his love for music to his childhood in Brooklyn, NY. He was exposed to classical music through his mother’s involvement in the church choir and was exposed to the New York City underground rap scene from his father, who was a part of the East NY rap group “Us.” Brando always enjoyed singing and credits R&B as being his favorite genre of music.

One of the aspects of Myles Brando’s music that makes it unique is the artist’s emphasis on intentionality. The 18-year-old creates music that is pleasing not only to the ear but also to the soul. In Brando’s song titled “Black Owned Freestyle” the artist melodically draws attention to the importance of Black-owned businesses. In Brando’s most recent single, “You Got it” the artist empowers women and works against the harsh standards of beauty prepetuated through social media. He told FOCUS Mag, “I just needed to get that message out and like, Let every girl know, or every lady or woman know like, you got it no matter what. No matter

what you see, no matter what nobody or what people tell you, you got it.”

Brando’s creativity and talent allow him to step outside of just being a rapper. The Brooklyn native showcases his versatile style and talent in his single “You Got it.” The artist not only proves his rapping skill with his quick flow and cadence, but he also sings a catchy chorus that shows his vocal range and R&B influence.

Speaking on his love for song-writing, Brando explained that song-writing is like therapy, “It’s like therapy. It’s like a therapeutic kind of thing, where I’m just releasing all that I have to say and it just really helps me understand the situation that I’m in more because it’s on a beat.”

When asked about where he sees himself in five years, Myles Brando told FOCUS that he hopes to release more projects and even discussed branching out into the fashion world and Broadway. He hopes to one day be able to collaborate with his favorite artist, Stevie Wonder. “I would

love to work with Stevie just because he’s my favorite artist and his voice just flows all over the beat. He just makes everything so effortlessly beautiful, and I would love to be a part of something like a song or producing with him or whatever. Just working with him just to see how he takes his approach to music and making music and creating.”

Brando encourages other up-and-coming artists and reminds them that “Consistency is key. You’re just going to keep getting better at what you want to do or what you have a passion for. You’ve got to be strict. Like, you’re going to feel like this is not for you. Because that’s part of the process and stuff like that, but you still got to stick, stick it out and see what’s on the other side.”

The hunger, and drive that Brando has for music is what makes him stand out. With an amazing singing voice, a great pen game, and an ear for beats, this is only the beginning for Myles Brando.

Myles Brando photographed by Phillip Provilus | @phillipprovilus

Ion know Freedom that well.

I see others holding it tight, their fingers bouncing back light. Their faces jubilant. I see them next to freedom equally and mourn. As if true Freedom, were something I’ve ever known.

Despite no shackles between my feet I was born unfree as man. Taught to be one.

To be point. To be top.

Simultaneously holding the whipping whip and being the lashed back.

I mean damn.

We knee deep entrenched resting behind an ivory uvula.

Mouth erecting slurs sustained from the bleaching. Mouth erecting smoldering stake witness stands.

Man said you deserve it.

Black femmes tired of extinguishing. Tired of idle immolation and we keep stroking the phosphorus. Black folks lets you burn cuz white men “struck the match match first.”

We think the revolution a battle of arms instead of an embrace.

We think to be free we can ignore someone else’s clanking.

We are no better than the master, merely holding his tools for him hoping to be kept whole.

Ion know Freedom that well but I’d like to.

Perhaps, freedom and I could walk through Central Park and discuss how their name isn’t Freedom and I’d say something like “but you look like a freedom.”

But looks can be deceiving.

Freedom does not monopoly our hands nor approach us privately.

No Free person is an island.

No Free person knows someone unfree.

There is a Nile long list of names some of us know while some ignore the sonorous dripping.

None of us are Free.

Freedom is a stranger.

The master is familiar.

A flag threatening near every office prisons, forced labor genocide. Femicide.

Suicide killing indigenous folks higher than any other demographic– queerphobia. Indigenous communities lacking federal support when someone goes missing. Erasure. We speak over the bones crunching underfoot.

We cage our fear. We fear love? We fear ourselves?

We fear Freedom. We fear children who glitter like the moon. We’d rather the tide pull them under and insist this ain’t want drowning looks like.

Chasing our own legacies running in generations but never escaping the fields. We’ve only been where we’ve gone. Yet we’re “excellence.”

I have never seen Freedom. Or at least it has not called out to me as an old friend whose life has been chainless.

Freedom don’t know me like that, but I’d like it to.

I’d like to invite Freedom to Thanksgiving and watch it banter with the family. Watch it get up and make its own plate.

I wanna laugh at my brother correcting Freedom and laugh at Freedom correcting my brother. I want Freedom to feel like a relative whose finally found their lineage and has a story to share.

We gon make that happen.

by

freedom

nathaniel isiah swanson

h P otograph by lO adimeji Odunsi | @oladimeg | Source: n U splash.com

e r u l l Ka

STEPPING IN

STYLE with

ELL ICIA BOV

Y: FEST ITTEN B

WR

Whether she’s creating moodboards to reflect her style or upcycling clothes using what she finds in her closet, 24-year-old stylist, Kallure is always moving through the world with confidence. In 2019, she styled her first fashion show of 40 models for Rey Jaiteh’s, Rey ‘19 Fall/Winter Collection, and trusted her skills in styling to continue working with photographers and models on various photoshoots.

Before stepping into her career as a stylist, Kallure shared that fashion has always been something that came naturally to her, she told FOCUS Mag, “My inspiration came from sneaking into my mom’s closet.. she just had pieces that I liked. I’d wear some of her stuff to go to school and be extra cute because I had to wear a uniform at the time, but I hated it. I hated wearing navy blue and white like, what the hell is this? It was just so boring.” She continues to say, “At the time, I was super expressive. I’d always want to add something more whether it was a belt around my dress, or some crazy socks, or whatever.

I feel like that’s what styling is; just having fun.”

When inspiration calls, you should always be prepared to answer and take action. Kallure’s inspirations manifest through her everyday encounters, her moods or even one specific piece of clothing. She said, “Honestly, I feel like everyday life has inspiration; I find inspiration everywhere. I was at a chicken spot the other day, and I was looking at the colors of the menu and everything and I just thought it would be cool to do a photo shoot there. I thought about culture and just bringing in what I grew up around to editorial. Inspiration is everywhere, honestly, it’s all about perception.” Her creative process when styling often includes the designers, models and concepts she works with and she prides herself in being open to trying new things.

The world of fashion is always evolving and Kallure doesn’t plan on being left behind. She continues to stand out as a stylist because she not only appreciates fashion for what it is but for what it could be. She loves buying new pieces because she can always envison herself wearing it, but when she realized her clothes started piling up in her clothes, she found a new way to put them to use by upcycling. She said, “Honestly, I’ve been upcycling all my life, and I never really knew and I think it just became more highlighted. I made my first dress recently, out of a maxi dress that I got from Forever 21 because it was so big and then I was also doing the thing with upcycled denim tote bags, where I was turning jeans into bags just to see what it would look like. You can always bring things from the past and make them new.”

Follow along as Kallure continues to share her favorite moments as a stylist, how she overcame some of her biggest challenges and who her inspirations are: Kallure: The projects that hit the most are the projects where I actually started designing. So, the project with Mozzie, ‘Her Name Will Be Her Legacy,’ the jacket that she’s wearing, that’s one of my first customers upcycle pieces. We went to the thrift store. She showed me the reference, and I was like, ‘alright, cool.’ That was the first time I actually went to do that, it was very fun because it brought out my creativity. It really just highlighted the fact that I love to re-do things. Honestly, you just have a vision, you just go for it. Sometimes the vision is not clear, but you know what you want to do. You just have to take it step by step and just be patient and just have fun with it. Just be creative. So yeah, I’m tapping more into that.

“I AM LIMITLESS”

Kallure photographed by @praeditos_ish

And I feel like that’s my niche. I never knew what my niche was. I never fit in, so I made my own lane because I never knew where I stood in fashion until I understood that fashion is just expression.

FOCUS Mag: What would you say some of your biggest challenges are as a stylist, and how do you overcome them?

Kallure: So, being that I’ve only been styling for probably like, three years or so, sometimes I think to myself, ‘you’re not doing enough.’ But more recently, I’ve been learning how to be grateful for where I’m at and just be present with all the work that I have. When you’re not present, it’s hard for you to really look at where you came from. So, I think my biggest challenge was just learning how to ask for help. I’m a very independent woman, but when you want to get to certain places, you need to ask for help. I was scared because being a stylist is very competitive. So, when you walk into certain places, you want to look like you know what you’re doing. But I had to learn how to humble myself, have humility, at least, and just be like, ‘Yo, I need help.’ If you don’t speak up, you will never know. But I overcome it by networking. You never know what opportunities will come to you when you speak up. I feel like I’m always going to be a student to life because even with working around people in the same field as me or in other fields, I’m just like, ‘I can learn from you.’ I feel like a lot of people just want to look like they got it but I’m the first one to say I’m perfect at being imperfect. I want people to see the bad side and the good side.

FOCUS Mag: I love that. These are words to live by, honestly. What are some of the moments where you feel most appreciated as a stylist?

Kallure: The moment that I feel appreciated as a stylist is when I work on projects or photoshoots where you have people who are comfortable with themselves, and they don’t try to make you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. I understand that everybody has their own take on what looks good, but when you have a stylist, respect the stylist. I feel like I’ve worked with a lot of models, and stuff like that, who always try to tell me what to do, and that only has taught me to be more assertive. I also feel appreciated when my friends ask me for advice, when they’re going out somewhere and they ask, ‘does this look good?’ .. yeah when people ask for advice, I think that is the greatest thing because that means you see me.

You see my life, and you see what I do, and you value my opinion.

FOCUS Mag: Is there someone you’d want to style one day?

Kallure: I would love to style Teyana Taylor. She embodies femininity and masculinity. She’s one of my biggest inspirations in fashion, not just because of what she wears but because of who she is. She makes me feel comfortable knowing that women like us exist. You know, we don’t need any titles. We are who we are.

“Her Name Will Be Her Legacy”

Model: @maziismazi Photographer: @cody_dash Hair: @stephlyn___ | @stephlynwigs MUA: @kaiylafranklin Stylist: Kallure | @iamkallure @lewksbykallure

Designer: @awakaday Brand: @kaday.ko Photographer: @gallerypax Stylist: Kallure | @iamkallure @lewksbykallure

TYLE STIPS

FOCUS Mag: Since we’re on the topic of inspirations, are there any other people in the fashion industry or in your personal life that inspire you?

Kallure: I’m really inspired by Law Roach; he’s one of Zendaya’s stylists. He’s top notch to me. I love how he takes runway pieces and places them perfectly on Zendaya. He understands her, it’s like they speak a language through clothing. He brings her looks to life and has so much versatility. I’d also say, Misa Hylton. Just from editorial to streetwear, her work is fire.

FOCUS Mag: How do you balance self-care with your passions, and what do you like to do outside of styling?

Kallure: So, because I’m always busy, whether it’s my 9-5 job or my styling, I always set aside a day, usually Sundays, for myself. I need one day, to get myself together where I do absolutely nothing. I had to teach myself that it’s okay not to do something. I also like to go to art galleries, and I love reading. I also love spending time with my family, and most recently, I’ve started exploring different places in the city where I previously didn’t feel like I belonged.

FOCUS Mag: Where do you see yourself and your brand in the next 5 to 10 years?

Kallure: I go with whatever God gives me. I let him take the lead. I’ve been through so much, but my faith in God is really so strong. I really do feel like no matter where I go, I’m going to be okay. As I’ve gotten older, and started solidifying my career, I see myself owning some type of line or brand clothing brand, specifically for upcycling. In 10 years, I see myself sitting at the top tables with all the well-known stylists or walking into places that I’ve always dreamed about.

Kallure’s

ADVICE:

“Don't look at who's doing what.Stay focused on what you want to do.”

“MAMADI” The Fall/Winter Collection Photographer: @knight.bertram Assistant: @bydamora

MUA: @sshania_slays Stylist: Kallure Designer: @reyjaiteh Models: @acsuave @tiarrapearson

Kallure’s

1. Be Confident

2. The outfit you’re scared to wear is most likely the outfit you should be wearing. Dare to be different 3. Do your research. Research everything from your favorite designers and brand... everything 4. Don’t be scared to express yourself 5. F*ck a trend, create your own lane

“Duality” Creative Director + Stylist: Kallure | @iamkallure @lewksbykallure Photographers: @mobvisionaire + @m1k1z1

the dedication behind the artist and his brand WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL From photography to fashion and graphic design, MAC West is a jack of all trades, mastering every lane he enters. The 25-year-old artist prides himself in blending and exploring various forms of art to reflect what matters most to him. His brand MAC by MAC West, launched in 2019 and features clothing and accessories inspired by his love for fashion and graphic design.

FOCUS: How did you get your name?

MAC West: My brother gave me my name.

There was a song we used to listen to called JUMP

by Kris Kross, and one of the lyrics had Mac in it. I always loved that song, and every time he put it on, I’d listen to it, so he gave me the name. The ‘West’ part came from two things. 1, I like Kanye West, and 2, my brother also played a lot of West Coast rappers when we were growing up, so those things combined make me MAC West.

F: What was the inspiration behind your brand?

How did you get started & looking back, how would you describe those early stages/experiences?

MW: I wanted something that was a reflection of me and had my name. When you look at all the top

designers and expensive brands, it’s always somebody’s name or last name. I wanted that. It’s a reflection of me. Saying the name of the brand gets my name out. In the early stages, I did doodles in the back of my notebooks at school. So I had the artistic ability, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it yet. Fashion has always been a huge part of my life.

F: What’s your first memory of fashion/being a designer?

MW: My earliest memory of graphic design was watching my older brother design logos for clients on his computer, and I always thought that was cool because he was the only one in my family doing it at the time. I started graphic design in 2013. I grew up in a traditional Jamaican household where being a designer wasn’t common, so to see somebody like my brother do it made me feel like I could do it too. I’m grateful for that. Doing graphic design transitioned into me making designs for my fashion brand.

FOCUS: How do you keep yourself inspired and come up with new ideas for your designs?

say the top 3 values are that you can guarantee will be given to a client/customer?

MW: A lot of the time, it comes to me. I pay attention to billboard ads, and what people wear. I like to subscribe to people on YouTube who are also designers with experience. There are still moments when I doubt things or overthink. My friends also inspire me; having good people around you will always be a great help, and I’ve recently gotten big on family as I’ve gotten older. Shoutout to my friends forreal.

MW: Quality, customer service, and time. I’m open with my clients, I don’t like to play with people’s money,

FOCUS: What is one of your favorite pieces you’ve made?

MW: Definitely this hoodie from my third season because of the quality.

FOCUS: What kinds of challenges did you face while working on your brand and passions? How did you overcome those?

F: With all of your years as an artist what would you say the biggest lesson you’ve learned is?

MW: Take the risk! If you fail, try again. My barber randomly told me, ‘Every time you fail, you get closer.’

Another lesson is to make sure you’re doing the things you love.

FOCUS: How do you balance self-care with your business and passions? What do you do when you aren’t MAC West?

MW: I’m always MAC West. I try to take time for myself as much as I could. Either sleep in, watch TV, or maybe have a drink.

FOCUS: Where do you see your self & your brand in the next 5 to 10 years?

MW: Definitely moving out of my comfort zone. I used to always hear people say, “If you’re MW: I’m thinking of my comfortable, you’re not growing”

journey as a plane just taking off.

I never understood it, and I

Everything I’m doing now is just thought it was crazy, but now I the beginning. I’m always thinking realize it’s so true. I hate that I

years ahead. Where I am today is have to be uncomfortable to move what I’ve been thinking about since forward, but it’s so true. One of

high school. So in 5 years, I want to my obstacles was finding the best MAC WEST SZN 3 HOODIE

continue growing. Expand to having manufacturing for my clothes. a warehouse, a more streamlined process of fulfilling There’s a lot of gatekeeping in this orders. Ten years from now, I’d love to have a few emcommunity, and you kind of understand it because ployees. Have a physical store. I want MAC West to be you dont want everyone to have the same things THAT name. As soon as you type an ‘M’ in the search as you. Another obstacle I overcame was putting bar, I’ll be the first thing to pop up. the money down. Essentially, it’s a risk. Risks can be scary, but once you get past that, you can keep FOCUS: What advice would you give someone who moving forward. is struggling to believe in themselves or are scared to chase their passion rn?

FOCUS: In a previous interview with Crystalvzns Network, you spoke about knowing your worth MW: I’ve been there. I’m sure anybody who’s done as an artist and balancing your clientele with the anything has been there. I think the number one amount of time you have. How did you get to the thing is to have patience with yourself. Realize where point of knowing your worth as an artist? you are in life; not everybody’s journey is the same.

Two, be uncomfortable and dont let fear fault you.

MW: You just have to stand on it. There will be Dont let fear take over, It feels like a pain but its all times when business may be slow, and desperation growth. Fear is normal, but it also doesn’t exist. Love may start to set in, but you just have to stand on it. yourself, and love what you do; when you love what You don’t have to jump at the first fish that bites. you do, the rest will follow. That’s all you need. Dont let anyone tell you you can’t do anything. Not your FOCUS: For anyone who hasn’t worked with you parents, friends, or online people. Sometimes your before or bought from your brand, what would you

biggest supporters will be strangers.

HONEY’S APPAREL

BRINGS BACK Y2K FASHION WITH INCLUSIVITY AT THE FOREFRONT

F

WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL

rom velour tracksuits to mini skirts, tiny purses, and super low-rise jeans, Y2K fashion is back! But this time, we’re making room for inclusivity with the Black woman-owned brand, Honey’s Apparel. Inspired by the nostalgic feel of the early 2000s combined with a commitment to making everyone feel beautiful, Brooklyn native, Hunesher took the initiative to create Honey’s Apparel, a clothing brand tailored to those who love all things Y2K fashion. That isn’t the only thing that makes Honey’s Apparel stand out; it also offers a variety of velour tracksuits ranging from size XXS to 5XL, giving everyone the chance to feel represented.

FOCUS Mag caught up with the Founder and CEO of Honey’s Apparel to discuss her inspiration behind the brand, her journey to becoming who she is and what makes Honey’s Apparel special: FOCUS Mag: What was the inspiration behind Honey’s Apparel?

Hunesher: So, I bought from another brand a few years ago, and the quality was terrible, so that really jumpstarted me, but before that, I was stealing a lot of my mom’s clothes out of her closet ..she had some velour tracksuits that someone gave her for Christmas years ago, and she never touched them, so I took them. I still have those tracksuits those really inspired a lot of my collection especially my Kim Tracksuit.. that collection was inspired by my mom.

FOCUS Mag: Your brand is one of the few that include sizes up to 5XL. I love that so much. What made you decide to do that, and why do you think representation like this is important?

Hunesher: Honestly, I just feel like it’s common sense because there are not just sizes XS or XL, or people who wear XS to L. I do have plus size friends, and my sister when she was plus-sized – I watched them struggle to buy clothes, and it just makes sense like why not have clothes for people who can wear them.. why exclude a large chunk of people that just doesn’t make sense to me. I also think it would be very lazy for me not to expand my sizes as a business owner who has the resources , and I think that it’s also very important to have these sizes because they’re people too. I dont want to be the reason why someone feels shitty because they can’t get a cute outfit they saw. When I was buying velour tracksuits for myself, their sizes were all over the place, and I couldn’t quite fit it; and the size over didn’t make sense and I couldn’t mix and match sizes because my top and bottom are not the same sizes as well, that’s also another reason.

FOCUS Mag: I agree 100%; there’s no excuse why most brands still aren’t offering enough sizing options for customers.

That actually leads me to my next question, what’s one of your favorite parts of owning a brand like Honey’s Apparel?

Hunesher: Seeing my customers in my clothes! When they tell me, ‘oh my god, this makes me feel so good,’ and I’m just like yeah, that’s the point, I did my job. Some customers, they’ll come to my post because it’s usually mostly me making my content, and they’ll be like, ‘oh, they dont have my size,’ and then they’ll come back to the comments and say, ‘oh wait, they do have my size’ so, just seeing their reaction that I have the space for them that’s like the best part. Also, the experiences that my customers go through with my tracksuits, like, I’ve had customers who were pregnant, and customers who were on their weight loss journey with my tracksuit, and I’m like that’s really crazy to me, and it makes me feel so connected to them.

FOCUS Mag: What keeps you inspired when you aren’t feeling your best? How do you stay connected to your creative side?

Hunesher: Honestly, my friends! I still struggle with coming to terms with my business. A lot of the time, I really don’t realize that my business is the sh*t, or at least at the height that my friends do. Sometimes they have to check me like ‘hellooo! you’re doing all these things!’ and also my Facebook Memories because sometimes I see that last year I posted about where I wanted to be, and now I’m here, so that really inspires me. The two people that I have on my team right now, they’re always rooting for me; they’re my cheerleaders and everything..they really inspire me more than they probably know. Also, seeing my nieces and nephews because I know once I’m set I can help them, and that inspires me. My goal this year is to have much more of a social life so I’ll see where that gets me, but creativity-wise, I have to keep a schedule. I try not to work on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and I try not to work past 5 pm if I’m being nice to myself. I notice that I’m not as creative if I work too much, and I can have creator’s block. I talk to myself a lot in the mirror; it helps a lot; even if you feel the absolute worst, you should say something good out of your mouth into the mirror.. you’re going to feel that sh*t, and that really brings you up.

XL

2X

3X

4X

5X

" it would be very lazy for me not to expand my sizes as a business owner who has the resources , and I think that it’s also very important to have these sizes because they’re people too. I dont want to be the reason why someone feels shitty because they can’t get a cute outfit they saw.”

- Hunesher for FOCUS MAG

Honey’s Apparel is taking the lead in doing what the fashion industry has yet to grasp. The brand is led with purpose, care and consideration for those who have too often been excluded.

If there’s one lesson we could all learn from CEO Hunesher, it’s that real changes come with creativity and the confidence to take control. The beauty of this reminds us that there is more to creating a fashion brand than selling clothes. It’s important to sit down to reflect and ask yourself ‘how does what I create make people feel?’ ‘How can I improve the experiences of those who trust me to create?’ Hunesher hopes to be a household name like ‘Juicy Couture’ and with her dedication and love for including those who are often misrepresented and underrepresented, there’s no doubt her brand will be one that we continue to love for years to come.

XXS

XS

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M

L

JENALI BRINGS A NEW MEANING TO luxury WRITTEN BY: ARIANNA FLEURIOT + FESTICIA BOVELL

W

hen creative director and designer Honesti J. founded JENALI, she set her sights on curating a brand that is both luxurious and inclusive; she defines it as altered luxury. Though the brand makes use of the luxury business model, it incorporates new elements that distinguishes it from your typical luxury fashion brand.

Founder Honesti J. explained to FOCUS that the brand “bridges the physical and the digital aspect of luxury, and makes it come together. It brings in people from different cultures and different backgrounds to express their view of luxury.”

If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself; JENALI is the perfect example of this. When entrepreneur, Honesti channeled her frustration with what was lacking in the fashion world, she went to the drawing board to find a way to fix it. She was tired of putting on a hoodie and having it completely ruin her hairstyle; this was the birth of the first JENALI Satin-lined hoodies. As the founder worked to turn her vision into a physical product she emphasized the feeling of luxury. Honesti explains the beginning stages of creating her brand: meeting with manufacturers, sketching design, choosing packaging, and even decision on how items should be shipped. Throughout the process, Honesti reveals that she’s had a creative shift, “Now though, it’s changing, because the brand is changing, so my experiences are going to be a little bit different. Right now, I’m at a place where I don’t want to do hoodies anymore. I’m leaning more towards collections.”

Honesti explained the barriers that existed while she sourced overseas and the ways in which it limited how hands on she could be in the production process. As the entrepreneur continues to develop her brand, she is excited to gain more creative control and be a part of the production process. With a new product developer and hiring a marketing agency, Honesti is looking forward to continuing to grow. She said, “It’s all coming together. Everything slowly started to build.”

The 23-year old designer, remembers falling in love with fashion at just 7 years old, “I had a fashion illustration book and I was like, ‘oh my my god, this is so cool. I love it.’ I was like, ‘I want to do this’ and then my mom bought me a sewing machine and I started sewing clothes for my dolls.”

When asked about her creative process and coming up with designs, Honesti credits both reading and traveling as two sources of inspiration, “I get ideas from the books that I read. I also like to travel. I feel like traveling also aids in my inspirational process a lot. I’ll also see pieces on people and just know that I could do it better. I’ll keep that as a mental note and I’ll be like, ‘Yeah, we’ll circle back to this.’”

Honesti’s dreams go way beyond having a clothing brand that people are interested in, she hopes to redefine inclusivity as a whole and influence how people think. She told FOCUS, “I see JENALI being the brand that just has an IT factor. Having that attraction and that influence over people. I can definitely see it influencing people to also think differently about other people and being, like, a little bit more accepting.”

Quality over quantity is something we often hear people preach. Quality is the backbone of JENALI and the Bajan founder prides herself in always providing the best for customers.

She says the biggest lesson she’s learned as a designer is that, “it’s important to take your time, especially in the designing process, because there are a lot of things that go into the designing process that you really shouldn’t skip. If you skip it, it’s gonna show and your customers are gonna tell you like, ‘Yo, there’s little something off here.’”

Honesti continues to share that moving at her own pace has helped her lean into being more patient with herself as a designer. “There’s always that that constant feeling of, ‘I got to get this out, I got to get it to somebody.’ But now I’m just like, ‘who am I racing? Like yes, it’s a it’s a competitive market but at the same time when you know that you’re putting out quality work and you know that it’s fire you know that your customers love it... there really is no reason to rush.” She said.

Outside of designing, Honesti takes time to read, relax and learn new languages, and explore other arts like painting. “The beauty about being an entrepreneur is you can make time for certain things that you want to do. So, I’ll probably take a day to myself and just relax with a face mask.. do whatever I want to do if I want to do nothing that day that I’ll do nothing and go to sleep. It really depends on how I’m feeling.” She said.

As we watch Honesti J. continue to florish and use inspiration from her upbringing in NYC and Barbados, she will continue to tap into all of her resources. Whether its her bachelor’s degree in Internation Trade and Marketing, her powerful network or simply her day to day experiences, there is no doubt that JENALI will grow into the brand that everyone looks to when they want to combine quality, luxury and inclusivity.

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HONESTI J. FOR FOCUS MAGAZINE

have Images provided by: JENALI | @jenalibroadcast Creative Director: Honesti J. Model: FKA Prophet

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We’ve taken centuries to form.

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Mahogany in dead man’s float.

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As we claim boulevards through Ebonic tongue.

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Speckled under NYC fitted brims and Chi-town bitches with afro puffs.

Niche habitats for sub-species, Anointed by God. Stop and frisk be the same as crucifixion.

Show me disparity.

What is difference?

Beast or man Home or concrete jungle Ecosystems in this climate always collapse.

GENTRIFICATION

is euphoric

So, It’s ironic to see so many flowers bloom Relapse, So many niggas die against concrete Bringing earth side daisies Collapse, Cabrini Green Relapse, White folks gone call this shit breathtaking Affordable Bountiful and lush Relapse, Displaced spirits Rent hike Hell.

They come in droves, And frown at the sight of us.

When you see your neighbor, do you see yourself?

Fearful.

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This is breathtaking shit.

Can’t you all see it?

V i o l e n c e WRITTEN BY: NYVIA TAYLOR @nyviasthroatchakra

Image: Di“ sparities o rP ject” shot y b a J siah o P e w s r

THE

OCTOBER 2022

ISSUE

@wearefocusmag www.wearefocusmag.com