Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyra Clemons.
Hi Kyra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started thinking about my company a few years ago in my sister’s one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles as we watched the fireworks on the fourth of July and complained about not being fulfilled or having creative outlets while working these “9s to 5s” or in my case 7:30am to 4:30pm at the time. My sister and I first thought about what my company would be while we celebrated and struggled through this thinking process together. I started listing my God-given talents and gifts…writer, photographer, videographer, fly-ass Black girl with influence and light. After reflecting, I turned to my sister and shared the thousands of ideas flowing through my head and the pen. I did not want to create a single-framed business, I wanted to create an intersected company. As I jotted down ideas, reflecting intentionally, I decided not to make my company one-dimensional. Then, I thought, “what do I call the company?” my sister and I are extremely close, my best friend through blood. I knew I had to incorporate the word “sister”, not just to represent the bond I have with my sister but the bond amongst all sisters, women to women, women to girls, girls to girls. With fluency, respect, love, and wisdom, we should honor every single sister we meet… to Sisters in Wisdom is a letter to women, a gentle yet daily reminder to the world to give grace to women, sisters… especially Black women, because we are unicorns. We deserve to be preserved and cherished for the many strengths we have… stop placing us in boxes. We represent all seasons. We are timeless monuments of grace and mercy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Without a test, there can be no testimony. Born and raised in Southwest Atlanta, a product of Atlanta Public Schools. The road to success, while growing in wisdom, love, and grace has not been easy. Growing up in a single-parent household, I watched my mom struggle BUT never give up. Through prayer and tenacity, and making a decision at a young age to…in the words of Angela Davis, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”. Being a Black creative and remaining true to myself has been one of the biggest struggles I have had. My innovative company represents me, to Sisters in Wisdom represents me being a colorful daughter, sister, cousin, educator, and businesswoman is what my ancestors have called me to be. Remaining true to me, a Young Black woman in wisdom who lives in this world but really not of this world. Finances and the willingness to create consistently have been two of my next biggest struggles, finances because possessing the latest digital equipment is important in creating, in a digital market that is constantly evolving, with the most up-to-date software is extremely important.
Also designing merch which mirrors my lifestyle, I have found that outsourcing my merch has been a lot more straightforward for me than producing in the USA. Early on in selling my merch, I was making t-shirts and hoodies myself but I wanted to expand my brand and the quality of my merch, while not losing money because I am outsourcing to multiple third-party companies. Also, time and the energy to create and take care of business outside of being an educator has been extremely challenging. I am a middle school teacher by day, which is so rewarding but oftentimes can be super draining and taxing. I literally have to plan, plan, plan and plan some more and hold myself accountable to my day job, but also accountable to my company which suffers at times. I absolutely love being a teacher but juggling a full-time business and full-time job tends to pull me in so many ways, oftentimes I do not have time for myself which is very important as a creative. Time alone helps me to find my creative self and gives me the energy to share this with the world. I am still trying to strike this balance, but I am much better than where I started.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an all-round creative, I am literally a “Jackie of all trades” and I am mastering them all through studying my craft and studying/speaking with mentors in real life and simply following other creatives on social media, sliding into DMs to inquire about interests and general advice. I am known for being an absolute budgeted sneakerhead with a crazy style to match, I am specialized in being creatively me, bringing my cozy, comfortable lifestyle to platforms in hopes to inspire and motivate other Black women and girls to live unapologetically out loud. I am most proud of the vision of growing an intersected multimedia, multi-faceted company and looking forward to seeing my growth as a businesswoman, this has not been an easy task. I write I am a walking parable and poem at the same damn time, so much of my earlier merch included parables (words of wisdom), I photograph on my iPhone and Canon devices, I edit all my photos and videos, I create memories via photography and videography. I create collages, 3D collages are my thing, specializing in Black art, while using what most people consider trash, I can make it a 3D treasury… I commission pieces big or small, my sneaker collection is madness. My sense of style is individualized…you can find me in colors and patterns, my style is extremely unique. It’s been that way since I can remember, I was wearing Chuck Taylor and floral skirts at the age of five. I have learned to embrace and appreciate my gifts, everything that I mentioned above is distinctive to ME. I try not to compare my journey to others. I admire how skilled and talented other influencers are, but I thank God every day I am who I am. I just ask every day for the grace and wisdom to continue to grow in all the flavors of my eccentricness.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Just start, if you have a vision or gift use it before you lose it. During COVID-19, I worked remotely the entire year as a teacher, schools were not the same for students or us educators. I truly realized I needed this break from being in the physical classroom with students. I was extremely burnt out and honestly on the verge of quitting education entirely. After taking time to reflect in my one-bedroom apartment by myself in Bed-Stuy, looking at the four walls that honestly felt like they were closing in on me and my dreams. I had to ask myself, “What’s next?”, at this moment I prayed harder than ever before and went back to the conversation my sister and I had on the fourth of July in Los Angeles. I really got serious about my company. I started designing, taking more photos, watching more videos, reading more, taking more notes, and writing more while resting my mind, body, and soul in order to keep myself busy and not slip into a state of depression or find myself neglecting my natural God-given abilities. Creating during this time saved me, whether I posted my creations or not, being able to think and execute saved and motivated me to keep going. I knew I was on the brink of cultivating a well-founded company, I saw myself running for years, years, and more years to come. The ultimate goal was producing a breakthrough company for not just me but for other quirky, awkward, stylish, sneakerhead, creative, Black sisters and girls alike…who often were seen and most times unseen. COVID-19 changed so many lives, mine included… COVID-19 allowed me to start from a place of trouble, concerned for the future to end in triumph, glory, and thanksgiving. The blessing is in the lesson… Keep going, setbacks, are set ups. Faith over Fear ALWAYS!
Contact Info:
- Website: tosistersinwisdom.com
- Instagram: @tosistersinwisdom
- Twitter: @2sistersnwisdom
