Today we’d like to introduce you to Kareema Black.
Kareema, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
365 started off as a T-shirt brand resisting the concept Of Black history month, the name was inspired by a Kanye west Quote from Def Poetry Jam “I state the stats to stunt, I don’t need to the front, make black history every day, I don’t need a month.”
We are Upcycled non-binary clothing company shifting the focus in style, fashion and trends, our work is focused on blackness, thought style and statement.
Today, I hand paint or hand write on all of my pieces.
Our very first fashion show entitled The Platoon features designers and brands who represent consciousness as a lifestyle, we will be parading through Clark Atlanta University lead by a drum line and six local designers and three brands. Our premise is to introduce new ideas to the surrounding communities and building culture through fashion and cognizance.
We’ve been featured in several fashion shows in Atlanta, so to have our very first show is beyond exciting.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anytime a black person introduces the world to Black empowerment, the road will never be easy. My message has reached a lot of people and in the same sense it has been bestowed upon deaf ears, and blind eyes, black people are more reluctant to support my radical messages, whereas other cultures understand clearly, it’s been a struggle just to get black people to purchase merchandise that relates closer to them than a dashiki can. It’s been a beautiful struggle to overcome those obstacles as a black woman in fashion who has a message, most people think I’m a black male, that just further portrays the misogyny on top of self hate within our culture, and it fuels me to keep going, there are layers upon layers, but to sum it up, this is my journey and I wouldn’t change it for anything, I am being groomed and equipped to understand how to adjust, adapt and keep pushing. My advice to women doing the work, don’t stop, and don’t conform, create a lane for yourself and step on the gas, balance is everything.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a creative, a designer, and more. I make clothing, hand painted Upcycled pieces, clothing line 365 Black Fxck 28 Days. I am an event curator, Whiskey & yoga, Pop up poetry cypher & Jam session(co-curator) The Platoon, Bro Brunch Atlanta. I am most proud of the spaces that I’ve created for people, I’ve worked with people who have never put the first foot forward into their crafts, I’ve given people their first platform, who have later gone on to create their own spaces, I’m most proud of the opportunities that I’ve provided through my events and clothing line. My DAMN button-ups (a collection from my line) are the best thing I’ve ever created, they stand out completely.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
The experience I had growing upset me up to be more aware today. Born in 1985 during the crack epidemic, I was immediately impacted being born with drugs in my system, raised by my grandmother in the ghetto of West Philly, I relocated with my aunt and uncle to a middle-class suburban neighborhood in southern New Jersey, where I was subjected to the other end of oppression and discrimination. My entire life has been preparing me for everything, success wasn’t apart of the plan for me, I was a crack baby.
Contact Info:
- Website: 365blackfxck28days.com
- Email: 365@365blackfxck28days.com
- Instagram: 365blackfxck28day
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